From Farah Najihah Zuraimi
NAKHON RATCHASIMA, Jan 25 (Bernama) -- Eighteen, fearless and undaunted.
Tuaran-born sprint sensation Ivan Jovic Suan announced his arrival on the regional stage in emphatic fashion by winning three gold medals on his debut at the ASEAN Para Games (APG) Thailand 2025, including two victories over his Malaysian Paralympic-medallist idol.
Ivan stunned the field with victories over fellow Malaysian and Paris Paralympics medallist Eddy Bernard in both the 100m T44 and 200m T44 events, a feat few had anticipated given his past struggles against the experienced sprinter, and went on to claim the 400m T44/T63 title.
The highlight of his campaign came in the 200m T44 final, where Ivan delivered a sensational run to shatter the Games record with a time of 24.25 seconds, eclipsing the previous mark of 26.40s set by Indonesia’s Ryan Arda Diarta at the Cambodia 2023 edition.
“I never expected to win three gold medals. Training last year while studying was really hard. I had to wake up at 4 am, jog two kilometres, go to school and train again. Sometimes I only got five hours of sleep a day.
“And to be able to win against my own idol, Eddy—I was really confused because I had lost to him every single time since we first met at Para SUKMA in 2022,” he said.
Ivan said the exchange after the race was just as meaningful as the victory itself, reflecting the mutual respect between the two Sabah-born athletes.
“He told me, ‘Masih boleh lagi ni, jauh lagi perjalanan’ (You still have a long journey ahead),” Ivan said, describing the words as both encouragement and motivation for the challenges to come.
Despite the growing attention and rising expectations surrounding his rapid ascent, Ivan remains calm and focused, already setting his sights on a much bigger target: breaking the world record in the 100m, which he considers the next step in his journey.
With confidence and youthful ambition, he left no doubt about his intentions.
“I’m going to destroy your dream to make mine a reality. Get ready for that,” he said confidently.
Behind Ivan’s meteoric rise is a family that never wavered in their belief in him. His mother, Josephen Maria, 50, said doctors had told her that Ivan, born with a physical impairment in his left leg, might have difficulty walking.
However, she said his sporting ability became more apparent as he grew older, with encouragement from those close to him who saw his potential and believed he could compete at a higher level.
“At first, we didn’t see his talent. It was only when he entered secondary school and started winning medals in the 100m, 200m and long jump that we knew he could do this,” she said.
On Ivan’s preference to train in Sabah instead of Kuala Lumpur, Josephen said she fully supports her son’s decision, noting that the family-led training approach has already delivered results.
“If training at home has brought him this far, why not continue supporting him in Sabah for now?” she said, adding that the family remains open to future possibilities should the need arise.
--BERNAMA
