PARTIALLY-BLIND Jonathan Wong has two important assignments ahead — the World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai, from Nov 7-15 and Para Asean Games in Manila next month.
And the 28-year-old Sabahan, who competes in the T12 (visual impairment) long jump event, has left no stone unturned in his preparation.
He recently travelled all the way from his hometown of Kota Kinabalu to Seremban to compete in the T12 men’s long jump event at the final leg circuit of the National Para Athletics Championships at the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium.
“I am targeting 7.20m in Dubai and qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics,” said Jonathan, who achieved a personal best of 7.22m en route to winning gold at the China Open in Beijing in May last year.
Asked who was the inspiration behind his success, the affable Jonathan replied: “My mother, Susan Wong. She inspires me as she watches and cheers me on whenever she can find time away from her career as a real estate developer in Kota Kinabalu.”
Jonathan, who began his career as a triple jumper before switching to long jump, also aims to defend his title in the Para Asean Games in Manila.
In the 2017 edition in Kuala Lumpur, he won the long jump gold with an impressive leap of 6.98m.
His best achievement this year came on Aug 31, winning the long jump event with a 7.03m effort at the Handisport Open World Grand Prix Para Athletics Tournament in Paris.
So, why the switch from triple jump to long jump?
“Since local para athletic meets seldom have triple jumps, we decided that he should concentrate solely on long jump,” explained his coach of 10 years, Yee Kwok Wai.
“He is a very disciplined athlete. He undergoes weight training once a week in the gymnasium as well as work on his speed, strength and endurance at the Likas Stadium. He also does plyometric exercises there.” S. Solomon Samuel