This work is originally published by Cahya Mata Sarawak. DayakDaily has been given permission to share this story on our platforms.
By Martin Yee, Kenny Ee, and Marlynda Meraw
AS the first Sarawakian to capture Southeast Asian (SEA) Games gold in the hammer throw, Wong Tee Kui began his journey far from the javelin field. In his school days at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) St. Anthony in Sarikei, Tee Kui was more familiar with volleyball and table tennis than with the hammer throw, an event still foreign to Sarawakian athletes in the 1980s. His early years gave no hint of the destiny that awaited him, playing out in school halls and on volleyball courts. But fate, as it often does, had other plans.
It was a chance encounter with the legendary Nashatar Singh Sidhu, the national javelin champion, that changed Tee Kui’s course of life. Nashatar saw possibilities in the young man who was struggling to make headway in the shot put and discus throw during a police athletics meet.
With his sharp eye and wisdom honed from years in athletics, Nashatar knew Tee Kui’s compact build would be better suited for the hammer. His suggestion planted the seed that would someday grow into an illustrious career, though Tee Kui’s first attempt at the hammer throw was far from impressive—he managed just 10 metres of distance. Yet something sparked, still—and despite Tee Kui’s unfamiliarity with the event and the technical challenges, he stayed the course, training hard and pushing his limits day in and day out.
By 1989, Tee Kui’s perseverance resulted in him securing a spot on the national team for the SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur, winning bronze with a distance of 47.96 metres, trailing only Samret Singh, the national number one. That bronze wasn’t just a medal—it was a critical point. The podium finish ignited a passion and determination in Tee Kui that would fuel his career. From there, he earned a place at the prestigious Beijing Physical Education Centre in China for further training, alongside top Malaysian athletes such as high jumper Lou Cwee Peng and hurdler Nur Herman Majid.
This stint in China marked the beginning of Tee Kui’s transformation. He returned with fresh insights and techniques, which propelled him to new heights. By 1991, he was ready to rewrite history. At the SEA Games in Manila, Tee Kui delivered a stunning performance, winning gold and setting a new record with a throw of 55.54 metres—his first international gold medal and Sarawak’s first SEA Games hammer throw champion.
His success didn’t stop there as Tee Kui claimed a second consecutive gold at the Singapore SEA Games, surpassing his own record with a throw of 56.50 metres. By the 1995 SEA Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand, he was a dominant force, securing his third straight gold. In between, at the Singapore Open, he further shattered records, achieving 58.52 metres—a new national best. His performance placed his name into the annals of Malaysian athletics, not only for the SEA Games triumphs but for breaking the national record an astounding 12 times throughout his career.
Even in his late fifties, Tee Kui remained active, participating in veteran meets. His love for the sport still burning bright. As a trailblazer, he inspired a generation of hammer throwers in Sarawak, such as Jackie Wong Siew Cheer, who became the next national champion, and his niece, Grace Wong Xiu Mei, who followed in his footsteps to become a SEA Games gold medallist in the women’s hammer throw event.
Appointed as Simunjan’s police chief in 2022, Tee Kui, as Deputy Superintendent of Police, continues to serve his community. His legacy, however, lies not just in the positions he held, but in the golden path he laid for Sarawak and Malaysia, throwing the hammer farther than any had imagined.
Tee Kui will forever be remembered as the Hammer Lord of Sarawak, the man whose first golden throw brought glory not just to himself, but to the country. –DayakDaily
