Kota Kinabalu: Jonathan Wong Kar Gee is aiming to deliver his best performance and make Malaysia proud in the upcoming 2026 Asian Para Games and World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2026 in Nottwil, Switzerland, following his record-breaking leap in the Long Jump T12 at the 2025 Asean Para Games (APG) in Thailand that won him the gold medal.
The 2026 Asian Para Games to be held at Aichi-Nagoya, Japan from October 18 to 24 this year will bring together para athletes from across Asia to compete in a wide range of sport events.
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He revealed his plans for the year when attending the Sabah Sports Award ceremony here last Friday and made the announcement that he would compete in the 2026 Asian Para Games.
In addition, the Sabahan said he would consider participating in the World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2026 in Switzerland in May, this year.
“The event is one of the legs of the 2026 World Para Athletics Grand Prix series and is among the most historic and prestigious competitions in the circuit, attracting top athletes from around the world.
“Organised by the World Para Athletics, the event is regarded on par with the Paralympic Games, the World Para Athletics Championships, and the European Para Championships,” he said.
Jonathan said his participation in the two major competitions is aimed at improving his world ranking, as well as laying the groundwork and preparation for his next Paralympic Games.
On January 25, Jonathan set a new Games record with a leap of 6.83 metres (m) in the Men’s Long Jump T12 at the 2025 Asean Para Games in Thailand, clinching Malaysia’s 55th gold medal in the event.
“This is a very special moment. I am really happy to win Malaysia this 55th gold. It’s a significant number and it feels great to have achieved our target,” he said.
Jonathan added that the 2025 Asean Para Games was his first competition of the year and he was pleased with the result. It was his third consecutive medal in the same sporting event.
Looking ahead, he hopes to surpass his personal best of 7.22m set in Beijing in 2019.
“I hope to break it later this year once my training reaches peak form,” he said.
The national contingent targeted a total of 181 medals including 55 golds at the Games and Jonathan’s 55th gold medal enabled the nation to achieve its target.
The Sabah Sports Awards was graced by the Head of State Tun Musa Aman and his wife, Toh Puan Faridah Tusin at Magellan Sutera Resort.
The organiser also invited Jonathan, who was the award recipient for para athlete last year, and two-time world silat champion Nor Farah Mazlan, to unveil the award ceremony, and to handover the list of award recipients to the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Youth Development, Sports Advancement and Creative Economy Sabah, Datuk Mansur Asun to symbolise the start of the ceremony.
