15 golds and counting for Sukma shooting giant Zen Hong

Shah Alam witnessed Cheah Zen Hong of Pahang break his own Malaysia Games (Sukma) record and defend his men's 10m pistol gold title at the National Shooting Range in Subang on Wednesday. The 20-year-old shooter secured a historic seven-gold haul in 2024 Sarawak, adding to the five golds he won in the current edition. Zen Hong amassed 236.8 points, surpassing his previous record of 231.5 points set during the 2022 Kuala Lumpur edition.

In the climactic final, Zen Hong overtook teammate Danial Hakim Abdul Razak with two crucial shots, while Danial Hakim settled for silver with 234.6 points. Sarawak's Danial Lai claimed bronze with 213.3 points. Zen Hong, who debuted in 2022 Kuala Lumpur Sukma with three golds, remained focused on his fundamentals throughout the 24-shot final, crediting his coach's advice for helping him maintain composure.

Despite his focus on breaking the record, Zen Hong emphasized that his main priority was to deliver his best performance and build momentum. Looking ahead, Zen Hong aims to replicate his remarkable 2024 Sarawak performance and contribute medals to Pahang, stating that he does not prioritize the number of medals won. The team event saw Pahang maintain dominance, with Zen Hong, Danial Hakim, and Zainal Azim Ahmad Mahmud clinching gold with 1,687 points. Sarawak finished second with 1,676 points, and hosts Selangor claimed bronze with 1,647 points.