By Bavilia Sandra Vitus
KOTA KINABALU: 25 January 2026 — The success of national para sprinter Ivan Jovic Suan in winning the gold medal in the men’s 200m event at the 2025 ASEAN Para Games (APG) in Thailand is seen as the result of a well-structured, phased training programme implemented from the early stages of preparation.
His father and coach, Victor Suan Orow, 49, from Tuaran, explained that the primary objective of the coaching team from the outset was to ensure Ivan reached peak performance at the APG.
According to him, preparations began as early as October 2025 with a 12-week General Preparation phase, focusing on the gradual development of physical conditioning and technical fundamentals.
“Ivan’s performance showed consistent improvement throughout the preparation phase. Based on our training monitoring, the target to succeed at the APG was set from the beginning and was successfully achieved,” he said when met.
Following the APG triumph, Ivan, also known as “The Flying Lotud”, is now scheduled to undergo a transition phase before entering a new training cycle in preparation for the World Para Athletics Championships in Nagoya, Japan, which will serve as an important platform to assess his performance at the international level.
Commenting on Ivan’s background in athletics, Victor noted that his early exposure to the sport was strongly influenced by a family environment deeply involved in athletics. Both parents are former sprinters at state and national levels. Victor represented Sabah at SUKMA 1998, while his wife, Josephen Maria, represented the nation at the 2001 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games, winning a bronze medal in the 4×100m relay. Ivan’s siblings are also active as state-level track and field athletes.
Ivan’s training approach also emphasises a balance between academics and sports, with strong time-management discipline forming the foundation of his daily routine.
According to Victor, the biggest challenge lies in ensuring that each athlete receives a training programme tailored to their individual needs and physical capacity, particularly when working with para athletes who require close monitoring of training loads.
In terms of long-term planning, the main focus is now directed towards the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games, which is expected to be the pinnacle of Ivan’s competitive career.
Based on current performance analysis, Ivan is targeted to achieve a time below 11.2 seconds as a benchmark for competitiveness at the Paralympic level, with the current world record standing at 10.92 seconds held by Mpumelelo Mhlongo from South Africa.
“Competitions leading up to LA 2028 will be used as platforms for evaluation and performance enhancement. The main objective is to ensure Ivan reaches peak performance at the right time,” he explained.
For the record, Ivan Jovic Suan is the Para SUKMA 2022 champion in Sarawak, where he also set new records in the 100m, 200m and 400m events. He further claimed a bronze medal in the men’s 100m T44 at the 2024 World Para Athletics Grand Prix in India.
His latest success at the APG 2025 further strengthens Ivan’s position as one of the country’s leading prospects in para sprinting, with a structured training approach and grassroots development seen as key factors in shaping a world-class athlete.
First picture caption: Ivan clinches gold as he crosses the finish line at the 2025 ASEAN Para Games (APG), Thailand
