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
Ballang Lasung was hailed by many as a natural-born athlete, a man whose raw talent in the javelin seemed almost otherworldly. He picked up the javelin as a schoolboy and was transformed into an extraordinary thrower, amassing four Southeast Asian (SEA) Games gold medals—more than any javelinist Malaysia had ever seen in that era.
Born in Lawas and a proud member of the Lun Bawang community, Ballang’s athletic career began on the football and volleyball fields. But it was his teacher, recognising his strength and untapped potential, who urged him to try the javelin. In 1970, at the Inter-School Meet, Ballang offered a glimpse of the greatness that laid ahead. Although new to the sport, he threw the javelin with such astonishing force that it nearly spanned the entire length of the field, landing close to the far end of the track. Officials and spectators were left in awe at his throw that set a new record of 180 feet 1½ inches. A champion was born that day.
From 1975 to 1985, Ballang dominated the javelin event in Sarawak, winning it for ten consecutive years. Before his era, throwers like Turan, Premjeit Singh, and even Ng Swee Peng had made their mark, but Ballang’s performances would eclipse them all. His accomplishments stood alongside those of other legendary pre-independence throwers such as Bugis Mayeh, Paran, and Daniel Ragam.
In 1977, Ballang entered the realm of the extraordinary, surpassing the 70-metre mark with a throw of 229 feet 7.906 inches. At the time, Nashatar Singh Sidhu, an Asian Games gold medallist and one of the giants of Malaysian athletics, held the title of national champion. But the golden boy of Sarawak was ready to challenge him. Nashatar had claimed SEA Games gold from 1965 to 1975, but in 1977, Ballang dethroned him in Kuala Lumpur with a stunning throw of 70.28m (230 feet 6.929 inches), signalling a new era in Malaysian javelin.
However, Ballang’s victories were not without setbacks. The Asian Games in 1978 proved to be a low point, as illness struck him just before the competition, limiting his throw to 64 metres (209 feet 11.685 inches). Not giving up, he rebounded in 1979, claiming his second SEA Games gold in Jakarta with a throw of 70.16m (230 feet 2.205 inches). The Commonwealth Games, however, brought further heartache, as an injury hampered his quest for a medal. This injury was the first of many that would challenge him in the years ahead, forcing him to take a break in 1980. Though he later attempted to qualify for the Asian Track and Field Meet, his throw of 67.80m (222 feet 5.291 inches) fell short of the 73m (239 feet 6.016 inches) qualifying mark.
Still undeterred, Ballang continued to push forward. In 1981, he travelled to the Western Australia Spring Meet in Perth, where he claimed the gold medal with a throw of 67.90m (222 feet 9.228 inches). Two years later, despite nursing an injury, he won his fourth and final SEA Games gold medal with a throw of 57.42m (188 feet 4.63 inches). His regret, however, was never having the chance to compete in the Borneo Games— an event so dear to the region.
Nashatar Singh, his former rival, once remarked on Ballang’s exceptional talent, noting that despite his smaller frame, he possessed immense strength and prowess. For Sarawakians, Ballang was more than just an athlete; he was a symbol of their land’s resilience, a sports legend who embodied the rich diversity of Sarawak’s ethnic communities. His legacy, carved in golden victories and unforgettable performances, was one that few could ever match.
Even legends are not immune to the frailties of life. In 2003, Ballang was struck by multiple system atrophy, a rare debilitating condition that would slowly take its toll. For five long years, he battled the illness, his body failing but his spirit never dimming. In 2008, at his home, surrounded by loved ones, Ballang passed away. The man who once ruled the javelin field with such grace and strength left behind not just records, but a lasting memory in the hearts of those who admired him.
His legacy lives on, a shining example of Sarawak’s sporting greatness, a reminder that even in the face of adversity, greatness can endure. –DayakDaily
