JAMES Wong (pic) may only have an arm but nothing is impossible for him.
Sunday, 24 Sep 2017
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Malaysias James Wong celebrate for mens 100 meter Butterfly SB14 category during
9th ASEAN Para Games at National Aquatic Centre, Bukit Jalil. FAIHAN GHANI/The Star. |
The 23-year-old now hopes to make history as Malaysia’s first para swimmer to stand on the podium at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, next April.
James, who was born with part of his left arm missing, enjoyed a smashing campaign at the Kuala Lumpur Asean Para Games as one of the seven individual winners for Malaysia in the pool.
James erased a 12-year-old record on his way to winning the men’s S8 100m butterfly in 1:12.94 on Wednesday. The previous record of 1:30.23 was held by fellow Malaysian D. Kulek back in 2005 in Manila.
He also secured a silver in the 200m individual medley and a bronze in the 100m breaststroke.
James, who is studying and working as a part-time coach in Adelaide, Australia, said he wanted to con-tribute to Malaysia’s gold-medal count to justify the faith of those who believed in him.
“A complete set of medals. I want to dedicate this to those who continued to believe in me although I failed to qualify for the Paralympics in Rio last year.
“After Rio, there was a moment where I even stopped believing in myself,” said James, who went to Australia in 2011 to give himself a shot at becoming a champion swimmer.
“After this, I will try to qualify for the Commonwealth Games next year. My latest time in the 100m breaststroke (1:24.24) ranks fourth fastest in the Commonwealth rankings.
“The top eight from Oct 31 last year to Oct 31 this year will automatically qualify for the Commonwealth Games,” said James, whose long term goal is to qualify for the Tokyo Paralympics in 2020.
http://www.thestar.com.my/sport/swimming/2017/09/24/james-eyes-cwealth-podium-after-smashing-performances/
Also read:
James never let his disability stop him from excelling
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Fraidden and James produce stellar shows in the pool
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Peerless: Malaysia’s Fraidden Dawan celebrating his win in the 400m freestyle (S10)
at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil yesterday. |
Thursday, 21 Sep 2017
FRAIDDEN Dawan won a fifth straight men’s 400m freestyle (S10) title while James Wong smashed a 12-year-old record in the 100m butterfly (S8) to provide the golden splash for Malaysia on the third day of the Kuala Lumpur Asean Para Games swimming competition.
(S10: swimmers have either lost the use of one hand or have movement restrictions in one hip joint; S8: For swimmers with joint restrictions in one limb or with double below-the-knee amputations).
Sarawakian Fraidden clocked 4:48.35 to improve on his own Games record of 4:55.99 set at the 2015 Singapore Games.
Tangkilisan Steven Sualang of Indonesia was second in 5:01.59 while Thai Suphat Punsiri got the bronze in 5:20.37.
The 30-year-old Fraidden has monopolised the 400m freestyle since the 2009 Laos Games, but yesterday’s win was especially significant as it was achieved in his daughter Evangelina Marian-sha’s presence.
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| James Wong |
“My daughter is only 14 months old and this is the first time she has come to see me compete.
“I’m pleased that I lowered my own Games record,” said Fraidden, who lost his right leg after it was crushed by a log while helping his dad collect firewood in Bintulu in 2000.
James, who was born with part of his left arm missing, won the 100m butterfly in 1:12.94 to break the previous mark of 1:30.23 set by compatriot D. Kulek in Manila in 2005.
Filipino Ernie Agat Gawilan (1:19.86) clinched the silver and Vietnam’s Nguyen Quang Vuong (1:23.63) the bronze.
Julius Jaranding completed his three-silver medal haul when he finished second in his final event in the (SB13) 100m breaststroke.
Julius, who is visually im-paired, clocked 1:20.51 to finish behind Indonesian Marinus Melianus Yowei, who set a new Games record of 1:14.57.
Marinus bettered his old record of 1:14.79 set in 2015.
Malaysia’s medal tally in swimming now stands at five golds, eight silvers and six bronzes. The competition continues today with 22 golds up for grabs.
www.thestar.com.my/sport/swimming/2017/09/21/golden-splash-fraidden-and-james-produce-stellar-shows-in-the-pool
Also read:
James never let his disability stop him from excelling
