Wong smashes three national weightlifting records in Melbourne

SINGAPORE - National weightlifter Scott Wong was in smashing form at the Victorian Weightlifting Association Open & Masters Championships in Melbourne today (July 2) as he obliterated three of his own national records.

Competing in the 105kg category, the 25-year-old lifted 136kg in the snatch and 170kg in the clean and jerk for a combined total of 306kg to finish top among 19 competitors.

The combined haul smashed his previous national mark of 290kg which he had set at the British Students Championships in London earlier in April..

Wong also erased his own marks in the snatch (133kg) and the clean and jerk (163kg).

What made Wong’s feat more impressive is that the University of Manchester’s final-year medical student only started full training in February this year after completing his exams. He took a six-month break from training to focus on his studies.

A former national discus thrower, he is due to graduate on July 11, and will return to Singapore in September to begin work.

"I did the best I could, given the circumstances," he told TODAY in a phone call from Melbourne.

"I got here for the competition 27 days ago, and on the first day, I injured my back too, and it took me about a week before I started lifting again.

"I am very happy with my performance. This is the first time in a competition that I got all my six lifts successfully, and I also broke three national records. Everything just worked for me, although it is by no accident.

"In fact, my coach (former Olympic silver medallist Yurik Sarkisyan) and I know my physical capability is really beyond what I posted today too.

"What we need is actually more good training together. If the preparations are good, there’s a lot more that I can do."

Wong is virtually trained by Sarkisyan who is based in Australia. The pair communicate via video calls daily. Wong also flies to Australia twice a year to train with Sarkisyan and pays his own coaching fees.

"My sights are still firmly on the 2018 Commonwealth Games," said Wong who has to meet the qualifying mark of 312kg.

"I think it is very possible for a podium finish there, but of course, it is down to a little bit of fate as well.

"We have to stock take now and then. So how do we within the next one-and-a-half years, get me to be at a level competitive for the Games when I also have to juggle my housemanship, my work and training?

"It is a little bit like good architecture. You need the materials, good technique, and you can build a good house. I think I have all the ingredients in place (to do well for the Commonwealth Games.)"

Perhaps Wong’s only wish is to get support under the Sports Excellence Scholarship (spexScholarship) scheme by Sport Singapore (SportSG). The scheme provides elite athletes with an enhanced level of support, including a monthly stipend of between S$1,200 and S$8,400. "What I am hoping to see as an athlete is support being catered for individuals based on their unique circumstances," he said.

"According to the criteria, you must be willing to train full-time, clock a certain number of hours in a week, and so forth, but the reality is how can every single athlete perform to those same standards set across all sports? It shouldn’t be a one-size-fits-all policy.

"I am hoping that support will be given to anyone who is willing and able to perform."