By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 18: Women’s hammer thrower Yoyo Wong Zhi Yao marked her Sukma debut in memorable fashion after clinching the gold medal for Sarawak at Sukma Selangor 2026.
The 18-year-old from Sibu emerged champion with a throw of 48.14 metres, capping a remarkable period of progress after just about a year and a half of consistent training.
Yoyo said the victory was particularly meaningful as winning gold for Sarawak had been one of her personal ambitions.
“I am very happy with today’s achievement because I managed to contribute a gold medal to Sarawak. It was indeed my ambition to win a gold medal for Sarawak,” she told TVS after the event in Serdang today.
Her journey to the Sukma podium, however, has been far from conventional.
Yoyo had stopped schooling and was helping her grandmother sell kampua mee at a kopitiam in Sibu before her potential in hammer throwing caught the attention of coach Jackie Wong.
Recognising her ability, Wong encouraged the teenager to return to serious training and develop her potential in the sport.
“I could see that she had potential, even though she had stopped training for about two years.
“In a relatively short period of about a year and a half, she has been able to reach the level she showed today. I am very proud of her achievement,” he said.
Jackie said Yoyo’s determination and strong desire to improve her throwing distance had been among the key factors behind her rapid progress.
“When she comes for training, she gives it her all because she really wants to throw further. That thought is always on her mind and it is her goal every time she comes to training,” he said.
In addition to training in Sibu and Sarikei, Yoyo was also given valuable exposure through intensive training stints in China alongside other coaches and athletes.
Wong said the overseas training allowed her to experience a different training environment and work alongside athletes capable of throwing between 40 and 50 metres.
The experience, he added, enabled Yoyo to concentrate fully on improving her performance and accelerate her development.
Looking ahead, Wong said the immediate target is to help Yoyo qualify for next year’s SEA Games.
He said she had already been recording throws of between 50 and 51 metres during training over the past two to three months, with 53 metres now set as her next target.
“Based on the progress she has shown throughout this year, she clearly has the potential, and I am confident she can achieve that target. I also believe she can go much further in this sport,” he said. — DayakDaily
