Jonah breaks national shot put record, aims for 19m next

 However, his throw of 18.81m, surpassing his previous mark of 18.78m last year, earned him only the fifth place at the Asian championships.

Sarawak-born Jonah Chang Rigan said he is capable of reaching 19m and hopes to do so at the Taiwan Open. (MAF Facebook pic)

KUALA LUMPUR:

 National shot putter Jonah Chang Rigan broke his own national record at the 2026 Asian Throwing Championships in Mokpo, South Korea, today.

The Sarawak-born athlete recorded a throw of 18.81m, surpassing his previous mark of 18.78m last year when winning the gold medal at the SEA Games in Thailand.

“I should have recorded 19m. But it’s okay; I will do it at the next competition, the Taiwan Open,” he said in a video posted by Malaysia Athletics. “Now I can see that distance and I feel capable of hitting 19m.”

Despite breaking the national record, Jonah’s throw was only good enough to secure him fifth place at the Asian championships. The gold and silver medals were won by China’s Chen Hongfei and Chen Chengyu, with throws of 20.18m and 19.64m respectively, while the bronze went to Kazakhstan’s Ivan Ivanov with a throw of 19.41m. - FMT