PETALING JAYA: Cheah Zen Hong is in seventh heaven after matching his seven-gold haul from two years ago at the Selangor Malaysia Games (Sukma).
The Pahang shooter added another two gold medals on Thursday (Aug 20) in the men’s 25m standard pistol team and 10m air pistol mixed team events, while also taking silver in the men’s 25m standard pistol individual event.
His latest haul means the 20-year-old has already equalled his achievement at the 2024 Sarawak Sukma, with more events still to come on Friday (Aug 21).
Despite already having seven golds in the bag, Zen Hong is not easing off just yet.
"To be honest, my focus was a little off today (yesterday), but I will try to get it back tomorrow (today), find my momentum again and hopefully finish on a high," said Zen Hong.
"There were a few events where I did not perform as well as I wanted, but I will keep fighting until my final event and try to win more gold medals for Pahang."
Zen Hong began his day at the National Shooting Range in Subang by helping Pahang win the men’s 25m standard pistol team gold alongside Ahmad Danial Hakim and Zainal Azim with a total score of 1,620 points.
Selangor’s Thaqif Norhaqeem, Amzar Afif and Aniq Ammar Al-Syahmi finished second with 1,581 points, while Terengganu’s Banin Al Ghazali, Toh Eu Jin and Ikhwan Farrisz took bronze with 1,566.
Zen Hong later teamed up with Damia Hani Sakran to capture the 10m air pistol mixed team gold with 472.1 points.
Sarawak’s Cynthia Grace-Justin Joanes settled for silver with 454.9, while Terengganu’s Wan Nur Annisa-Toh Eu Juinn took bronze with 386.2.
The victory was also a memorable one for Damia, who improved on the silver she won in the same event at the Sarawak Sukma two years ago.
"This is my first gold in the mixed team event after I managed silver in Sarawak two years ago. I think some of Zen Hong’s luck rubbed off on me. He gave me plenty of advice during the final because I was very nervous and feeling a bit of pressure.
"I’m grateful that we managed to win the gold," said Damia.
Zen Hong had already won gold in the 10m air pistol individual and team events, 25m rapid fire pistol, as well as the 50m pistol individual and team events.
He will have another chance to add to his haul on Friday (Aug 21) when he competes in the 25m sports pistol individual and team events.
