Seventh spot hard to swallow but Jonah values experience

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, September 27, 2026

Malaysian shot putter Jonah Chang Rigan finished seventh at the Asian Games with a best throw of 18.89 meters, falling short of his national record but gaining valuable experience against top competitors. Meanwhile, hurdler Mohd Armin Zahryl Abdul Latif placed 13th overall in the 110-meter hurdles, missing the final but demonstrating potential for future growth in his debut appearance.

Malaysian shot putter Jonah Chang Rigan concluded his debut at the Asian Games with a seventh-place finish, gaining valuable experience despite falling short of his personal best. The 23-year-old athlete, representing Universiti Malaya and hailing from Sarawak, recorded a best throw of 18.89 meters during the final held at Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium on Saturday.

Chang made two additional attempts, reaching 18.69 meters and 18.33 meters, but was unable to surpass his national record of 19.12 meters set earlier this year at the Qosimov Memorial in Kazakhstan. The gold medal went to Iran’s Mohamadreza Tayabise, who set a new Games record with a throw of 20.81 meters. Indian thrower Tajinderpal Singh Toor secured silver with 20.64 meters, while Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed Tolu took bronze with a distance of 20.48 meters.

Reflecting on his performance, Jonah Chang acknowledged the challenge but emphasized the value of competing against top-tier athletes in the region. “I did not hit my target of a personal best, but it was an experience to savour against some of the best in the region,” he said. He highlighted the opportunity to learn from fellow competitors and expressed a focus on steady improvement, with sights set on medaling in future Asian Games.

In track events, Malaysian hurdler Mohd Armin Zahryl Abdul Latif participated in the 110-meter hurdles, finishing fourth in his heat with a time of 13.91 seconds. This placed him 13th overall, outside the top eight qualifiers for the final round. The race took place under rainy conditions in the third heat, won by China’s Chen Yuanjiang in 13.52 seconds. The Philippines’ John Tolentino and Taiwan’s Hsieh Yuan-kai finished second and third with times of 13.585 and 13.60 seconds, respectively.

This marked Armin’s first appearance at the Asian Games. He entered the competition as Malaysia’s national record holder for the 110-meter hurdles, having clocked 13.58 seconds. Despite missing the final, his performance offers a foundation for further development on the continental stage.

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