SEA Games: Hammer throw controversy, Malaysia accepts jury decision

 

The Malaysian contingent has accepted the jury’s final decision regarding the gold medal controversy involving national men’s hammer thrower Jackie Wong.

Wong was ‘robbed’ of the coveted medal on the first day of the 2023 SEA Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Monday.

Malaysia’s chef de mission Mohd Nasir Ali (above) said this was because Wong already received his medal and thus saw him miss the opportunity to defend the gold he won in 2021 after his arch-rival from Thailand, Kittipong Boonmawan, wrested it.

He said Malaysia launched two protests, from Wong himself and a written protest from team manager R Annamalai, but both were rejected by the organisers.

“We have done what needed to be done... After all, yesterday we received the medal, if you want to argue, you have received the medal, so it means we have accepted the decision (on the winner of the men’s hammer throw event),” he said.

Wong made a throw of 64.20m in the third attempt out of six throws but failed to beat Kittipong’s distance of 64.49m also in the third attempt.

National men’s hammer thrower Jackie Wong

The Thai wrested the gold back from the hands of the national record holder and repeated his 2019 feat.

However, the controversial competition saw Wong, who won in 2017, claiming he made a final throw of 64.64m before his result was disallowed following a technical error by the judges at the Morodok Techo National Stadium.

Meanwhile, Mohd Nasir remains confident Malaysia can reach the target of 40 golds before the biennial games close on May 17 despite losing several golds including by the men’s and women’s indoor hockey squads.

“I am confident that our athletes will try their best, we will not give up and be discouraged because we are still fighting here,” he said.

On Sunday, the national men’s indoor hockey squad, who were expected to win the gold, lost 1-2 to Indonesia in a penalty shootout in the final.

It was the same script for the women’s team when they lost in the penalty shootout to Thailand, 1-2, after both teams were deadlocked in the actual game.

As of yesterday (May 9), Malaysia, which is ranked seventh, has collected 15 gold, 15 silver, and 32 bronze medals.

- Bernama