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New national record for Yang, as she eyes SEA Games gold

SINGAPORE – Pole vaulter Rachel Yang’s dream of becoming the first Singaporean to claim the SEA Games women’s pole vault gold was handed a huge confidence boost on Tuesday (June 13).

National pole vaulter Rachel Yang won gold in a new national record height of 3.91m at the Thailand Open Track and Field Championships at Thammasat University. Photo courtesy of Rachel Yang.

National pole vaulter Rachel Yang won gold in a new national record height of 3.91m at the Thailand Open Track and Field Championships at Thammasat University. Photo courtesy of Rachel Yang.

SINGAPORE – Pole vaulter Rachel Yang’s dream of becoming the first Singaporean to claim the SEA Games women’s pole vault gold was handed a huge confidence boost on Tuesday (June 13).

Competing at the Thailand Open Track and Field Championships in Thammasat University, the 35-year-old bettered her rivals from the region to claim gold in a new national record height of 3.91m. But more significantly, victory over two-time Games champion Chayanisa Chomchuendee of Thailand will give the athlete the extra push she needs with just two months to the Kuala Lumpur Games.

Yang had never beaten the Thai in numerous encounters since 2010. “I was quite shocked at my own performance and I think she (Chayanisa) may have underestimated (her opponents),” said Yang, who had previously set a record of 3.90m enroute to a silver at the 2015 Games.

“I also had a new injury after trying out a new pole during training last week as I landed on the track and got a left heel contusion. This record came as a surprise as my coach’s (David Yeo) target for me was 3.80m.”

The fight for gold between Yang and home favourite Chayanisa was decided at 3.70m yesterday, with the Thai vaulter eliminated after three failed attempts. With Yang clearing two marks before hitting 3.91m on her second attempt, Chayanisa had to settle for silver (3.55m), while Singapore’s Justina Chan took the bronze (3.40m).

Yang’s victory also marks the start of a comeback for the athlete, as she underwent surgery for a torn anterior cruciate ligament last August before returning to competition at April’s Singapore Open. A month later, she qualified for the SEA Games after leaping 3.60m at the Celebrate Athletics Meet 1.

The mother-of-one, who is a Clients and Markets Assistant Manager at Deloitte Singapore, has now set her sights on gold in Malaysia.

But she is not about to let her victory over defending champion Chayanisa get to her head. “I definitely can go higher,” she said. “But people will now see me as a threat and train harder. I don’t want to judge (her performance) too early…I’ll just do what I need to do out there.

"This year's SEA Games is not going to be easy. There are two young Indonesian athletes with personal bests of 3.80m...we don't know their progress as they haven't been competing. But since Indonesia is hosting the Asian Games in 2018, they will definitely be competing at the SEA Games. It's going to be a tough fight."

Yang could also be headed to the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, after meeting the 3.80m qualifying mark yesterday. With the SEA and Asian Games, and next year’s Commonwealth Games, added to her career achievements, she has one more goal left: the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

She added: “My goal is the Grand Slam, which is all four major Games. After that, I can retire and have another child. I also want to bring up the next generation of pole vaulters and pass the baton on to them.”

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