KUCHING — A proud moment for Sarawak and Malaysia unfolded on Saturday when 17‑year‑old Solomon Ng hurled the hammer 55.82 metres to clinch second place at the Thailand Open International Track & Field Championships 2025 in Pathumthani.
Competing at the rain‑soaked National Athletics Centre in Samkhog, Ng braved swirling winds and a water‑logged circle. Only half a metre separated him from gold‑medallist Thanawat Chanthawong of Thailand, but the narrow margin did little to dampen Malaysian spirits. Every thrower dug deep as the downpour grew heavier, yet Ng’s fourth‑round effort broke through the gloom, sailing beyond the 55‑metre mark and sealing his runner‑up finish.
“Solomon kept his composure like the seasoned kampung boy he is,” said coach Willie Liew, who has mentored Ng since his high‑school days in Kuching. “We trained with old iron weights in muddy fields back home, so a bit of Thai rain was never going to stop him.”
The Thailand Open, running from 20 to 25 July, draws the region’s elite athletes seeking late‑season benchmarks ahead of December’s SEA Games in Manila. Malaysia sent a lean squad focused on strength events, and Ng’s silver became the contingent’s first podium of the meet.
Ng’s journey reflects Sarawak’s tradition of producing powerhouse throwers. Veterans like former national record‑holder Jackie Wong paved a path that youngsters now follow. Ng, who learned technique by watching grainy YouTube videos and practising with rusted kettlebells, said he was “honoured to lift the Jalur Gemilang” abroad. He now eyes a 58‑metre target for the Malaysian Open in October.
Sports science support remains modest for Malaysian hammer throwers, but Ng’s success proves raw grit still matters. At the same time, the National Sports Council has hinted at installing a new cage at Stadium Sarawak. If funding materialises, future talents may train on world‑standard facilities without losing the grassroots tenacity that defines Sarawak sport.
For now, Ng returns as a hero. A traditional ‘miring’ thanksgiving is planned in his longhouse, followed by a forward‑looking clinic where he’ll teach young throwers the basics. As coach Liew summed up: “Respect the old ways, embrace new ideas, and always throw further tomorrow than you did today.”
