From Muhammad Afiff Md Adnan
NAGOYA, Sept 29 (Bernama) -- National hammer thrower Grace Wong Xiu Mei’s single-minded determination to secure a podium finish and break the national record caused her to succumb to nerves, affecting her throwing technique in the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games final today.
However, Grace, who ended up in seventh place with a 64.15-metre (m) effort on her third throw at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium, still considers it a positive development, especially as she has been undergoing rehabilitation for a calf injury since February.
"This (64.15m) is my season's best, so I am a bit disappointed because I thought I could do my best here at the Asiad... even set a new national record.
"I was too focused on getting on the podium and breaking the national mark (of 65.41m that she set at the Bangkok SEA Games in 2025). I was nervous and couldn't control my thoughts. Perhaps, technically, I was not up to the mark,” she said after her event.
The 25-year-old admitted that the medal winners were a class above, with even the bronze medallist, Japan's Joy McArthur, hurling the heavy metal ball to a distance of 68.42m.
"Even if I had set a new national record, I still wouldn't get on the podium because the bronze medallist recorded over 68m,” she said.
Grace said her 64.15m effort nevertheless boosted her confidence after a calf injury kept her out of the recent Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
"Before this, I trained in Ningxia, China, with coach Gu Yuan. Then, before the Commonwealth Games, I suffered a minor injury and didn't go (to Glasgow). I have been undergoing rehabilitation and physiotherapy from February until now,” she said.
The Sarawak-born Grace said her decision to continue training in China with Gu Yuan greatly aided her preparation for the Asiad as the coach was already familiar with her physical condition and training regimen.
"In Malaysia, I did not have a coach. But even if I had a new coach, we would need time to get to know each other and understand the training process, but there was very little time.
"So, it was better that I trained in China with coach Gu Yuan as he knows everything about me and my body condition,” she said.
China's Zhang Jiale bagged the gold medal when she hurled the hammer to a distance of 78.72m to break her own Asian record of 78.22m, set at a national meet in Chengdu, China, in April. Her teammate, Zhao Jie, took silver with a 74.83m effort.
-- BERNAMA