Valentino Bon Jovi Bong (born 14 February 1989) is a professional squash player who has represented Malaysia. He is also a coach.

Early life

Bong was born on 14 February 1989 in Kuching, Sarawak in Malaysia. He was born to a Filipino mother,

Cavite Cavite, officially the Province of Cavite (; Chavacano: ''Provincia de Cavite''), is a Provinces of the Philippines, province of the Philippines located in the Calabarzon region. On the southern shores of Manila Bay and southwest of Manila, i ...

-native Gloria de Dios, and a Malaysian father who works as an officer at the Malaysian customs. Bong is the eldest child among four siblings.

Playing career

Valentino Bong has represented Malaysia in international tournaments. He has competed at the men's double event at the

2014 Commonwealth Games The 2014 Commonwealth Games (), officially known as the XX Commonwealth Games and commonly known as Glasgow 2014 (; ), were an international multi-sport event celebrated in the tradition of the Commonwealth Games as governed by the Commonwea ...

and at the men's team event of the

2015 Southeast Asian Games The 2015 Southeast Asian Games, officially known as the 28th Southeast Asian Games, or the 28th SEA Games, and commonly known as Singapore 2015, were a Southeast Asian multi-sport event held by the city-state of Singapore from 5 to 16 June 201 ...

where he helped his team win the gold medal. At the 2016 Southeast Asian Cup, Bong achieved the men's individual squash title. He plans to play for the Philippines at the

2018 Asian Games The 2018 Asian Games ( or ''Asian Games 2018''), officially known as the 18th Asian Games (), and also known as Jakarta-Palembang 2018 or Indonesia 2018, were a Asia, continental multi-sport event that was held from 18 August to 2 September 201 ...

and

2019 Southeast Asian Games The 2019 Southeast Asian Games, officially known as the 30th Southeast Asian Games, or the 30th SEA Games, and commonly known as Philippines 2019, were the 30th edition of the SEA Games, Southeast Asian Games, a biennial regional multi-sport ...

after he meets the requirements of three years residency in the Philippines and a Philippine passport needed for a sporting nationality transfer.

Coaching career

He joined the national squash team of the Philippines in January 2017 as its coach.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Bong, Valentino Malaysian male squash players 1989 births Sportspeople from Kuching Filipino people of Malaysian descent Malaysian people of Filipino descent Squash players at the 2014 Commonwealth Games Living people SEA Games medalists in squash SEA Games gold medalists for Malaysia Competitors at the 2015 SEA Games Commonwealth Games competitors for Malaysia