{
  "id": 1637096,
  "title": "School dropout Yoyo hammers home Sukma cheer for Sarawak",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/school-dropout-yoyo-hammers-home-sukma-cheer-for-sarawak",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-18T05:00:10.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/sports/others/2026/08/1513623/school-dropout-yoyo-hammers-home-sukma-cheer-sarawak"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Sarawak's champion hammer thrower, Yoyo Wong Zhi Yao, has achieved a historic gold medal victory at the Selangor Malaysia Games (Sukma). Despite dropping out of school at a young age, Yoyo's determination and relentless training regime have paid off. The 18-year-old smashed the competition record by throwing the hammer an impressive 48.14 meters, securing the top spot and claiming the first gold medal of her career at Universiti Putra Malaysia Stadium on Tuesday. Her closest competitor, Nur Salsabila Zam Sairon of Perlis, took silver with a throw of 47.71 meters, while Pahang's Nurul Aiyani Kamaluddin secured the bronze with a 46.63-meter throw. Yoyo's coach, Jackie Wong, recognized the young athlete's potential after spotting her talent while she was still a school dropout. Since then, Yoyo has undergone rigorous training, regularly throwing between 50m and 51m during sessions, hinting at her future prospects in the national squad ahead of the 2027 SEA Games.",
  "summary": "SERDANG: Leaving school at a young age never extinguished Sarawak women's hammer thrower Yoyo Wong Zhi Yao's dream of achieving success at the Selangor Malaysia Games (Sukma).",
  "key_points": [
    "Yoyo Wong Zhi Yao, school dropout, wins gold in Sukma hammer throw",
    "18-year-old sets new competition record at 48.14 meters",
    "Jackie Wong discovered Yoyo's talent despite her dropout status"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Yoyo's gold medal win signals a breakthrough for Sarawak in the Sukma Games and validates her coach's decision to invest in her athletic potential despite her having dropped out of school.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}