SEREMBAN: NERISSA Spencer Dass is a champion sprinter, thanks to her elder brother Saswin Anthony who plays football for SMK Bukit Mewah in Seremban.

The 15-year-old Saswin coached Nerissa from Thursdays to Sundays for one to two hours for one month after her Primary School Achievement Test (UPSR).

As a result, Nerissa was awarded the best girls’ Under-12 athlete at SK Taman Rasah Jaya’s (SKTRJ) 18th Annual Athletics Championships recently.

She won gold medals in the Under-12 100m, 200m, 4 x 100m and 4 x 200m and a bronze in long jump under the guidance of teacher Abd Kadir Ismail.

Nerissa was unbeatable in both the sprints, finishing ahead of Mittra Harikaran and Tharishini Marimuthu who had to settle for two bronze medals.

Nerissa, whose ambition is to excel in athletics when she goes to secondary school next year, said: “Last year, I returned home with only silver medals in both sprint events.

“Since I was edged out of the gold medals by Mittra, I was pushed to train harder and focused more on speed since I am a tall girl.

“My brother Saswin raced with me during training. Before UPSR, I trained only on weekends and to build up my strength, I eat one boiled egg everyday.

“I am happy this year as even my younger sister Nimeesha, 10, took part in the girls’ Under-10 shot putt.”

Mittra said: “Athletics is a fun sport for me since I have many friends in school who love to compete.

“Nerissa, Tharishini and I have been friends for six years since we were in Year One.

“Last year, I brought home gold medals in the 100m, 200m, 4 x 100m and 4 x 200m gold.

“This year due to less practice, I won only silver in the 100m and 200m but took gold in the 4 x 100m and 4 x 200m alongside Nerissa as a Yellow House teammate.

“My mother (R. Samoondispari) and father (R. Harikaran) always watch me run during athletics meets and buy new sports clothing for me.

“They emphasise the importance of balancing both studies and sports.”

Tharishini said: “Last year I won bronze in the girls’ Under-11 100m and 200m as well as silver in the 4 x 100m, 4 x 200m and high jump.

“This year I won the girls’ Under-12 high jump gold, bronze medals in the 100m, and 200m bronze as well as silver in the 4 x 100m and 4 x 200m.

“I am happy to have won one gold medal this year under the guidance of Red House teachers Zuraida Ahmad and Anis Elma Abdul Razak.

“In March, Mittra and I represented SKTRJ at the MSSD Seremban 2 meet in the girls’ Under-12 100m, 200m, 4 x 100m and 4 x 200m in Paroi.

“In addition, I also competed in high jump.

“I play badminton at school and with friends in Taman Rasah Jaya to build my agility and speed like my idol, Usain Bolt.”

Meanwhile, Green House pipped Yellow House to the overall champions title with 193 points to 192 at the end of the meet.

Blue House finished third with 177 ahead of last placed Red House who accumulated only 118 points.

GEORGE TOWN: WHEN he was a boy 62 years ago, Singodayan Sillappan was full of energy, jumping around and diving – the good traits of a football goalkeeper.

As a Year Four pupil of SJKT Ladang Geddes in Bahau, he started playing as a goalkeeper in 1952. He went on to become Negri Sembilan’s first choice custodian in the Malaysia Cup competition. From 1963 to 1969, he was the state’s No 1, playing alongside Ponnudurai, Raghavan, Sundarajoo, Chow Kwai Lam and Peter van Huizen.

Recalling his childhood, the sprightly 72-year-old Singodayan said: “I love football because I enjoyed performing acrobatic skills such as diving and jumping. ”

Arumugam Pillan, the Negri rightback from 1982 to 1984, said: ” I remember that in Station Padang back in 1963 when Negri played Malacca, Negri won 1-0 because Singodayan was good in stopping high balls. He would position the defenders to cover the scoring angles of his opponents.

“Singodayan played one year in 1963 together with me in the Gandhiji team in the NS league, where we played against teams such as the Town Council, General Hospital, Police, Army, Postal, NEB, Telecomms, Malay Club, Pasma Teachers Club, NSCRC and Chin Woo.”

But Singodayan admitted he is disappointed with Negri’s current poor form in the M-League.

“For the past two years, I feel sad that Negri is no longer top in Malaysian football but I hope they will rise again with dedicated coaches.”

Last year was the worst season for Negri who finished 12th in the Super League and were relegated to the Premier League. They failed to win promotion this season.

As a secondary school student of Seremban English School, Singodayan was part of the state’s combined schools team in 1960. From 1962 to 1969, he worked in Labu Estate as a supervisor, from 1970 to 1983 in Bertam Estate in Alor Gajah, and from 1984 to 1998 in Yong Peng Estate in Johor where he retired.

In September 1969, Singodayan, who was born in Ladang Geddes on April 19, 1942, had to stop playing football because his mother was sick in Madras.

His father Sillappan was an estate supervisor who migrated from South India. His mother Pawayi Palaniappan, who came from South India, was a housewife caring for three children, where Singodayan was the youngest child.

Singodayan is married to Sarasu Ponnan of Labu, Seremban and they are the parents of five boys and two girls. Following in his footsteps are his sons Ramesh, 46, and Shangar, 42.

Ramesh played for Negri in the Bardhan Cup in 2006 and 2007. Shangar is a ‘B’ licensed FAM coach who in 2009 and in 2010, guided the Negri Under-15 and Under-18 school teams.

Singodayan coached Shangar when he was playing as a striker for the SK Yong Peng Under-12 team in Johor in 1984 and when his son was part of the 1989 MSSD Batu Pahat champion Under-18 team.

“My dream is for my grandson Kishor, 9, a Year 3 pupil of SJKT Lorong Jawa to be selected as a MSSNS player one day,” said Singodayan.

“Young aspiring players must have discipline, be more focused and have keen interest to excel in football at national level.”

Singodayan’s current pastime is watching sports events especially the English Premier League and M-League matches on Astro as well as reading the newspapers.

SEREMBAN: MANY girls may love the sounds of pop music or the piano. But for Gan Mei Yee, what is music to her ears is the sounds of smashes and squeaks of shoes on the badminton court.

The aspiring shuttler from Mantin said: “I love badminton because I am excited by the sounds of strong smashes and squeaks of my rubber shoes on the court.”

Mei Yee started playing badminton at the age of eight in SJKC Chung Hua, Mantin in 2006.

Four years later, she emerged as the girls’ Under-12 singles and doubles champion in her school.

In 2011, Mei Yee partnered Wong Yih Neng to bagging the girls’ Under-15 doubles bronze at the Seremban One District Schools Sports Council (MSSDS1) tournament.

Last year, she partnered Khetisswary Ramachandran to the girls’ Under-15 doubles crown at the MSSDS1 meet.

This year, Mei Yee, a Form Four student of SMK Mantin, bagged the girls’ Under-18 doubles silver with Khetisswary at the MSSDS1 meet and reached the quarterfinals of the MSSNS competition.

The 16-year-old trains at the Mantin badminton courts from 4.30pm to 7pm on Tuesdays under coach Noor Hidayah Md Yunus and trains on her own on other days.

“By playing badminton, I can reduce my stress of studying in school.

“My sister (Gan Hui Yee), father (Gan Chee Chai) and mother (Lee Yoke Kuen) provide me with encouragement, buy badminton equipment and cheer me on when I play in competition.

“Hui Yee, 24, who was a MSSNS player from 2005 to 2007, also teaches me the techniques in badminton.

“My most memorable moment is when I became the 2013 girls’ Under-15 MSSDS1 champion in doubles because I faced many formidable opponents.

“I believe that hard work, confidence and humility have helped me in badminton.

“I hope to become a Negri Sembilan senior player one day.”

Her coach, Noor Hidayah said: “She has high commitment, good agility and quick leg movements.

“She has the ability to receive fast services and smashes from opponents.”

SEREMBAN: ONCE again, it was time to reminisce about their days of prowess, how they were faster, higher and stronger than others.

For many former Negri Sembilan athletes, it was an occasion to talk of past glories at the Maktab Perguruan Ilmu Khas (MPIK) reunion dinner at the Royal Sungei Ujong Club in Seremban recently.

Anuar Idris, 52, who is an assistant director in the Sports Division of the Education Ministry, was beaming as he recalled his exploits in sports.

While studying at SMK Mentakab, Anuar excelled in athletics, football, hockey and sepak takraw.

“From 1982 to 1984, I represented MPIK in football, tennis, basketball and volleyball,” he said.

During the 1996 Malaysia Games, he was the team manager for former national sprinter Azmi Ibrahim.

“In 2010, our national team for the 2nd Asean Schools Games emerged champions in Kuala Lumpur where I served in the secretariat.

“My most memorable moment was in 2010.

“I was then the team manager for Asean Primary Schools Sports Olympiad when our team emerged overall champions in Jakarta.

“After we touched down at KLIA, our Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin invited us to his office to congratulate us.

“I still play tennis for the Malaysian Education Sports and Culture Association and Kajang Club.

“Our 1984 batch took two months to regroup at today’s dinner at six tables to celebrate our 30th year through Facebook, WhatsApp and Internet.”

Subramaniam Rathnam, who has been teaching at SMK St Paul for 11 years, said: “In MPIK, I took part in athletics and basketball.

“Currently, I am a hockey coach and team manager for the state age group and MSSNS teams.

“I am also involved in organising this reunion of 30 over MPIK physical education college mates today.”

Siti Halijah Sarani used to take part in athletics in MPIK. Now, she is a curricular senior assistant at SK Alam Megah Dua in Shah Alam.

She was a PE teacher at SMK Damansara Jaya from 1985 to 1993.

“I trained the school’s netball team who won medals in the MSSD Petaling meets,” she said.

“The qualities of a good athlete are keen interest, discipline and regular training to achieve success at any level.

“As a teacher, I always emphasise on the balance between studies and sports.”

Lee Voon Choong was a swimmer, gymnast and tennis player when he was studying at MPIK.

Now a remisier in Seremban, Voon Choong used to be a teacher and sports secretary at SMK Tanjong Sepat (SMKTS) in Kuala Langat from 1985 to 1990.

“SMKTS produced MSS Selangor players in basketball, volleyball and athletics.

“I still play tennis thrice a week and represent the Royal Sungei Ujong Club in tournaments.”

ONG Kui Hua was glad she attended the Negri Sembilan-level World Arthritis Walk and Awareness Campaign in Seremban Two’s City Park on Oct 8.

The 47-year-old from Sikamat was among some 700 people of all ages who took part in a fun walk and had free health checks.

Trainee occupational therapist Kuan Jee Min from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia was on hand to explain the basic facts of arthritis to Ong, who said: “When we are young, we have to exercise regularly, control our body weight and reduce sugar intake to prevent diseases.

“Practising a healthy lifestyle can save us unnecessary medical bills in our golden years.”

Another participant, Foo Ai Lian, enjoyed playing the puzzle game Blowing The Ball with her friend Joyce Yong.

Foo, who has a son aged 26, said it is better to go for regular medical examinations to prevent illnesses from getting worse.

“As a member of the Persatuan Artritis Negeri Sembilan (Pans) for the past year, I have learnt a lot of useful facts about arthritis. Now, I am here to teach others to learn more about this painful condition.”

The campaign was a collaborative effort by Pans, Tuanku Ja’afar Hospital (TJH) in Seremban and the State Health Department.

The fun walk was flagged off by the wife of the Menteri Besar of Negri Sembilan, Datin Seri Raja Salbiah Tengku Nujumudin.

The first 500 early birds who registered for the walk received a T-shirt, umbrella and goodie bag from Pans.

The event included a health talk and quiz, children’s mask colouring contest, free medical checks (comprising tests for body mass index, blood pressure, blood sugar, blood cholesterol), correct joints exercises and an arthritis clinic.

KUALA LUMPUR: Former greats of Malaysian athletics of the last six decades gathered at a hotel in Petaling Jaya recently.

About 300 Olympians, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games athletes, gold medallists in SEAP/ SEA Games, senior coaches and technical officials attended the gathering.

Among the former greats who turned up were Tan Sri Dr. M. Jegathesan, Datuk M. Rajamani, Mohamad Ariffin and Nurherman Majid.

The function, organised by the Malaysia Masters Athletics Association (MMAA), began with the lighting of flame by torch bearers, 1956 Olympians Annie Choong (84 years old) and Lee Kah Fook (83).

The gathering was to honour former great athletes, senior technical officials and senior coaches.

It also brought back golden memories of Malaysian sports from the 1950s.

Awards were also given out with the Best Coach Award going to Leo Leslie Armstrong, Best Technical Official to S. R. Chandran, Icon of Sports Administration to Datuk Sieh Kok Chi, Excellence Award to Major Suwaibah Nasir.

Awards were also given to medal winners in Asian and World Masters Athletics Championships, Olympians and ex-internationals

The gathering of the 80 national legendary athletes was recognised as the biggest in one event by the Malaysian Book of Records.

MMAA President S. Sivapragasam said: “The main aim of this programme is to gather all the past great athletes together and honour them for their contributions to our nation.

“As we all know, in the 60s, 70s and 80s, our great athletes took part for the glory of the nation without thinking of their own benefit.

“They were not given much incentive compared to now but still they thrived for the country.”

WHEN you are a diver from the same state as Olympian Pandelela Rinong, you are expected to be somebody.

And Eilisha Rania Abrial Rajagopal is living up to such expectations.

Aptly, Eilisha swept both the categories in the Malaysian Schools Sport Council (MSSM) aquatics championships at Tuanku Zara Aquatics Complex in Ipoh on March 25-27.

Eilisha never expected to reach this level.

Eilisha recalled that she used to admire the senior divers at the State Aquatics Centre in Petrajaya when she was just a beginner, learning to dive in the adjacent children’s swimming pool.

Never in her wildest dreams, did she expect to be a champion diver herself one day, representing Sarawak, a powerhouse in the sport.

The 14-year-old from SMK Tabuan Jaya found herself hailed as the new diving princess of Sarawak after winning the 1m and 3m springboard events.

In doing so, she has joined Sarawak’s elite group of divers like Gracie Juanita Terry Pega, Rosatimah Muhammad, Elizabeth Jimie, Pandelela Rinong Pamg Joheng and Traisy Vivien Tukit Jen.

“All the hard work and long hours of training in the diving pool have paid off in Ipoh today,” she said.

Soh Tze Kang emerged as Sarawak’s best performer in the boys event when he won the Under-12 1m gold and the 3m bronze.

The year six pupil of SJKC Chung Hua No. 5 from Kuching trains from Monday to Saturday from 2.30pm to 7.30pm for the past five year under coach Carlysle Chan Wee Chiek.

At the MSSM, Sarawak garnered three gold, two silver and two bronze but in the previous year in Melaka, they did better, bagging four gold, one silver and two bronze.

Rosatimah Muhammad, a 2001 KL Sea Games gold medallist who has been Sarawak state coach since 2008, said: “The competition is getting tougher by the year, but Sarawak is still holding on to the overall diving champions’ title.”

She said Sarawak has a new head coach in Shi Yang from China who was appointed in February this year. Shi Yang replaced compatriot Xiao Xia who left in March last year.

Sarawak’s other coaches are Carlysle Chan and Wesley Inyau Wella. The annual talent identification programme for 20 pupils from five schools around Kuching is conducted by state coaches twice a year in Febraury and June.

The shortlisted 10 children out of the 100 will be groomed for the springboard and platform for the state junior back-up squad based on their physique, flexibility, talent, skill and potential

“We have lined up the next group for the national back-up team namely Eilisha, Bertrand Rhodict Enrique Maccartney and pint sized Elvis Presley.”

NURUL Syzwani Mohd Syahrizal won her second shot put gold medal in three Malaysia Schools Sports Council (MSSM) athletics championships outings at the Johor edition on Monday.

Syzwani, who won her first gold in the 2016 edition in the girls’ Under-12 category in Terengganu, captured the Under-15 title with a distance of 9.03m.

“I did not expect to win today as my rivals had recorded better distances coming into this meet.

“ I train everyday from 3pm to 5pm at my school, SM Sains Hulu Terengganu (SMSHT).

“ I lift heavy objects such as lorry tyres, fire extinguishers and medicine balls as part of my training regime,” said Syzwani on Monday.

The Terengganu-born tasted her first success in the event at the 2015 Hulu Terengganu inter-school event when she was a Primary Five student of SK Felda Bukit Bading, under then coach Mohd Saripuddin Abdul Ghani.

She now trains under coach Mohd Faris Farhan Mohd Sidek of SK Kuala Berang.

Syzwani’s father, Mohd Syahrizal Abdullah is a palm oil Felda settler while mother, T. Nor Haida Tengku A. Kadir runs a provision shop in Hulu Terengganu.

Besides shot put, she is also an active netball player and represents her school.

Coach Faris said: “Syzwani is a dedicated athlete and has good potential to go far.

“She has good technique and possesses strength and power,” said Faris.

Terengganu Education Department head of sports unit Roslan Mamat Yusoff said: “Syzwani needs to polish her skills if she hopes of make a grade in the event.

NUSAJAYA: Ahmad Darbi Noor Risham is a determined lad who has been facing personal battles.

But the sprinter has big dreams and he hopes to be famous just like his idol and eight-time Olympic champion, Usain Bolt

Despite the setbacks, he clinched the boys’ Under-12 100m gold medal in the Malaysia Schools Sports Council (MSSM) athletics championships here in Johor on Sunday.

Darbi also added a bronze in the long jump event with a leap of 5.15m on Monday.

He endured heartbreak last year when his father, Noor Rishan Noor Lahkhan, passed away from liver cancer, leaving behind his mother, Anita Sukirno and four other siblings — Alif Ikmal, 20, Aishah, 11, Amnar, 7, and Danish, 4.

Anita works in a restaurant as a chef, while Alif works in a glove factory to make ends meet.

Darbi is a Primary Six student of SK Jaya Setia, His hobby is fishing.

“I dedicate the 100m gold to my late father who was very supportive when he was alive.

“I took up athletics as I was inspired by my brother Alif Ikmal who played badminton for Selangor.

“I only took the 100m event seriously last year and went on to win the Under-12 100m event in the Selangor Schools meet with a time of 12.35s,’ he said.

Darbi is aware that he needs to do more to succeed.

“I train between 3.30pm and 5.30pm five days a week, and also mix it up weight training,” he said.

Darbi also draws inspiration from former Jamaican sprinter Bolt.

“Bolt is my idol and he comes from a poor family, just like me,” Darbi added.

Biodata

Age: 12-years-old

Hometown: Titian Jaya, Selangor

Height: 1.61m

Weight: 31kg

Hobby: River fishing

Ambition: To be a football player

School: SK Jaya Setia (2014-2019)

Coach: Rahmat Mukhriz

DATELINE:

FOR most teachers, the safety of their athletes is of the utmost importance and always in the back of their minds.

And many of them had much to worry about at the five-day Negri Sembilan State Schools Sports Council (MSSNS) Athletics Championships which concluded yesterday at the Za’ba State Sports School (ZSSS).

Several troubling questions were raised by the Negri sports fraternity.

In view of the heatwave scorching Malaysia, why stage the championships in Kuala Pilah, said to be the driest place in Peninsular Malaysia?

Picking the dates for the competition, on March 18-22, is just as baffling since it falls smack during the Equinox season.

The temperatures soared above 40 degrees Celcius in the first two days of the meet but mercifully for the athletes, thunderstorm came in the late afternoons over the next two days.

Any layman will know that these are bad conditions to stage a championships.

In view of this, how can we expect the athletes to break records and for the quality of the competition to improve?

Fortunately, all long distance races and walk events were brought forward to the morning sessions to spare the athletes from suffering heat stroke, dehydration and exhaustion.

An Under-18 1500m runner helped by two Red Crescent cadets at ZSSS on Thursday morning after she failed to continue her race after three rounds.

Over 600 athletes and 100 teachers, who were coaches, team managers and technical officials, from Seremban One and Two, Port Dickson, Kuala Pilah, Jelebu, Jempol, Rembau, Tampin and ZSSS came for the MSSNS championships.

The choice of ZSSS as a venue also drew criticism.

There were only four male and four female toilets, resulting in queues most of the time.

How they wished it was held at the Paroi Stadium where the track is in mint condition following refurbishment last June for it to host the MSSM athletics championships next year and the Malaysia Games in 2022.

Even after a week of centralised training in their respective
district training camps, most of the athletes were not able to
give their best at the MSSNS due to the adverse weather conditions.

Former MSSNS chief athletics coach Teh Eng Eiau, 67, is concerned over the unsatisfactory conditions of the ZSSS’ synthetic track, especially at the start of the 110m hurdles and 100m sprint, as well as the runway of the long jump before the takeoff board.

In the steeplechase, the water pit was leaking into the earth, which made it difficult for the technical manager to fill up the pit overnight.

NEGRI Sembilan, known as a tennis hub in the country, has quite often

churned out good players.

And dedicated officials like Azam Baba has played a key role for Negri in grassroots development for the past three decades.

Azam carries out a junior development programme with the support of the Negri Sembilan Lawn Tennis Association (NSLTA) and Negri Sembilan Education Department.

The programme, pioneered by Azam, is aimed at creating players through tennis clinics and competitions at school, district and state level.

In addition, the joint committee also organised courses conducted by NSLTA for tennis assistants, coaches and officials at district and state levels.

Mini tounaments at district and state levels are held weekly or monthly for players aged 15 and above. Some of them play in the national circuit.

Courses are also organised for coaches and officials at district and state levels.

Azam’s most memorable moment came when he was awarded the Best Development Coach of the Year 2002 by the National Sports Council.

Azam said: “This programme has been a formula adopted by NSLTA to produce more players.”

He said the equipment for the programme in schools is basic and simple: a ping pong bat, light modified tennis racquet, rubber balls or deflated old tennis balls, badminton net and rafia netting to fence the mini court.

“Through this system, we have managed to produce hundreds of ‘mini tennis’ players.”

He said Negri has generated many top juniors such as Syed Agil Syed Naguib, Abd. Aziz Shazali, Darnadi Jamal, Nazarene Fuzi, Zul Azri Hassan, Asri Hamdan, Abd. Hazli in Davis Cup, Nor Zafira Taufek, Megat Khairul, Maria Fauzana, Fahana Taufek, Qistina Hassan and Nadia Yamina.

“Our latest products are Naufa Siddiq in Davis Cup, Iman Syuhada and Muhd Nor Fakhrul Radzi.

“We also send our players to national junior circuits and national open tournaments,” added Azam.

HE was training on his own for three years and when he got a coach recently, the latter was just recovering from an accident.

That’s the remarkable story of Vusuva Murugan, a distance runner, trying to go far in athletics.

The Form Five student of SMK St Paul had started the year promisingly by winning the bronze in the Negri Sembilan schools cross-country championships in February and the gold in the 10,000m walk in March.

However, things got harder for Vusuva soon after.

He could only finish 31st in the national schools boys’ Under-18 cross-country in Kangar in March and 10th in the 10,000m walk in Nusajaya in April.

The 17-year-old then decided to get some much needed help from Negri walks coach Mogan Rajoo who happens to live in Visuva’s housing estate, Taman Bukit Mutiara in Temiang, Seremban.

The 45-year-old Mogan has been on medical leave for the past six months following a motorcycle accident which led to him undergoing spinal surgery. Nonetheless, Mogan still spent time in coaching Visuva.

Mogan, in his heyday, was a champion walker. He set the Sea Games 10,000m walk record of 43min 34s in Chiangmai in 1995 and the national record of 43min 03s at the NS Open in Paroi in 1997.

Visuva has been training for the boys’ Under-18 10,000m walk at the Melaka Open in Ayer Keroh this weekend. And he hopes to walk tall.

Visuva said: “I want to win a gold outside of Negri for the first time (in Melaka).

“I have finally got the state walks coach to correct and polish up my walking techniques.

“I usually train by running and walking 10km a day on alternate days.”

NICOLE Goh Zhi Wei is not only a high scorer in exams but she can really leap high when it comes to sport.

The 16-year-old from Kuching won the girls’ high jump at the 54th Malacca Open Athletics Championships at the Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Stadium in Ayer Keroh.

Zhi Wei cleared 1.52m to beat Ng Kar Hui of SMK Kampong Jawa, Klang, for the gold.

The bronze medal went to Johor’s Nur Khaleesa Yasmin.

In doing so, she eclipsed her personal best of 1.50m recorded at the Sarawak schools meet in March.

A total of 670 athletes competed in the Under-18 and Open events at the annual two-day athletics championships.

Zhi Wei is one of those remarkable athletes who excel in both sports and studies, having scored straight 9As in her Form Three Assessment last year.

Zhi Wei attributed good home cooking of rice, chicken and vegetables by her grandmother Karen Chun for helping her to be physically strong.

Zhi Wei said her schoolmate, Dana River Yu Ping Sing, who is a sprinter, has always motivated her in training.

She said Russia’s World No 1 high jumper Mariya Lasitskene inspires her because Mariya never gives up.

“Likewise, I also like to challenge myself to see how far I can go in all the competitions,” said Zhi Wei, whose target is to qualify for the Asean Schools Championships next year.

KL’s E. Balasingam (eighth from left) and K. Ramasamy (seventh from left) with other gold medallists. (PIC BY S. SOLOMON SAMUEL)

HARD work always pays off, no matter what your age.

Just ask 83-year-old Balasingam Ellappan and 71-year-old K. Ramasamy, who both shone at the 33rd Malaysian International Open Masters Athletics Championships at Universiti Malaya Sports Arena in Kuala Lumpur recently.

Ironman Balasingam, who was born on Dec 1 1937 in Telok Anson (now Teluk Intan), Perak, showed off his strength, power and flexibility to clinch gold medals in the men’s 80-84 years category shot put and discus with throws of 6.70m and 16.30m respectively.

Balasingam, who now represents Kuala Lumpur Masters Athletics Association, said: “When I was studying at St Anthony’s School (SAS) from 1944 to 1951, I used to run in the 100m, 200m and sprint relays.

“From 1952 to 1955, I continued my studies at the Methodist Afternoon School (MAS), where I represented it in the 100m and 200m and I was the 100m champion at the Telok Intan District Schools Championships.

“As I firmly believe that consistent training produces results, I make sure I train on alternate days in Bandar Seri Putra in Bangi,” added Balasingam, who served as a health overseer in Telok Anson and Taiping from 1956 to 1992.

Evergreen sprinter Ramasamy, from Seremban, was also in his element in the men’s 70-74 years category — winning gold in the 100m (16.5secs); silver in the 400m (1min 38.3s) and bronze in the 200m (35.6s).

The retired SJKT Port Dickson headmaster, who has four grandchildren, said: “I competed in the Labourers’ Meet in 1974 in Negri Sembilan, running in the 400m and 4x400m. But now I’m focusing more on the shorter sprints.

“I usually jog 5km five times a week at the Paroi Youth and Sports Complex besides spending another hour doing weight training at home.”

A total of 373 men and 184 women aged 35 and above from Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Brunei, Mexico, Spain, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Uzbekistan and Poland competed in the two-day meet.

The winners of the meet will compete in the 21st Asia Masters Athletics Championships in Kuching, on Dec 2-7.

M. SARRVESH had a field day learning athletic skill at the Anto Keney Martin Athletics and Talent Identification clinic at SMK St Paul (SPI) recently.

The 14-year-old student, who is called the Carl Lewis of SPI, won the boys’ Under-14 Best Athlete award at SPI Sports Day in February after getting gold in the 100m, 200m, long jump, 4x100m and 4x400m.

Sarrvesh said: “This morning I managed to learn how to increase my speed and stamina in sprint events. The instructor, Keney as he is fondly called, emphasised on the importance of having a do-or-die attitude and it built up my confidence as a track athlete.”

Form Two student R. Tharanitaran said: “I enjoyed hopping from one practice hurdle to another for the first time.

“Keney reminded us to believe in our abilities and balance sports with education.”

Form One student Thishwin Nair Rames said: “I learned not to give up easily if you are aiming for the gold from Keney’s experience. He fell at one hurdle but still picked himself up to crack the national record.”

The aim of the course, organised by SPI, was to equip the 40 students with the knowledge of warming up, cooling down, stretching, drills and the fundamental techniques of hurdling, long jump and sprint relays.

Among those present at the clinic were coaches, James Lee, 71, and MAA Anthonysamy, 78, who both coached Keney during his schooldays.

Keney, 53, who studied at SPI Secondary School from 1979 to 1983, donned national colours, won gold and bronze medals in the Sea Games.

At the age of 23, Keney rewrote the oldest national record in track and field, which stood for 25 years, when he eclipsed the legendary Karu Selvaratnam’s 400m hurdles record at the 1989 national championships at Merdeka Stadium.

He went on to win the event at the National Championships for a record six times, and represented Malaysia in various international meets, including the 1990 Asian Games, 1989 and 1991 Asian Track and Field Championships as well as the 1989, 1991 and 1993 Sea Games.

IM Li Ying and Choong Javen emerged as the top paddlers in the 39th Malaysia Junior and Cadet Table Tennis Championships at Chung Hua High School in Seremban recently.

The pint-sized Li Ying, who represented Kuala Lumpur, beat Johor’s Tee Ai Xin 3-2 in the girls’ Under-18 final.

The teams who took part in the meet were Kuala Lumpur, Perlis, Kedah, Perak, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Melaka, Johor, Pahang, Terengganu, Kelantan, Sabah and Sarawak.

Li Ying, who stands at 1.57m and weighs 47kg, is a Form Four student at SMK Pusat Bandar Puchong.

“Consistent training has helped me to be successful,” she said.

Ranked among the top seven in Malaysia, Li Ying trained under Cindy Lim in the past four years.

“My highest achievement was winning a team silver at the Sea Junior in Bangkok in June.”

It was an all-Selangor affair in the boys’ Under-18 final as Choong Javen beat his doubles partner Amos Ling Yi Heng 3-1.

The 18-year-old Javen, who is ranked top four in the Malaysia, started playing at the age of seven.

Javen, who is studying at Taylor’s College, said: “My six hours daily training has paid off.

“I love table tennis as it is a game of strategies.”

In July, Javen collected a team bronze in the Commonwealth Championships in Cuttak, India.

PARTIALLY-BLIND Jonathan Wong has two important assignments ahead — the World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai, from Nov 7-15 and Para Asean Games in Manila next month.

And the 28-year-old Sabahan, who competes in the T12 (visual impairment) long jump event, has left no stone unturned in his preparation.

He recently travelled all the way from his hometown of Kota Kinabalu to Seremban to compete in the T12 men’s long jump event at the final leg circuit of the National Para Athletics Championships at the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium.

“I am targeting 7.20m in Dubai and qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics,” said Jonathan, who achieved a personal best of 7.22m en route to winning gold at the China Open in Beijing in May last year.

Asked who was the inspiration behind his success, the affable Jonathan replied: “My mother, Susan Wong. She inspires me as she watches and cheers me on whenever she can find time away from her career as a real estate developer in Kota Kinabalu.”

Jonathan, who began his career as a triple jumper before switching to long jump, also aims to defend his title in the Para Asean Games in Manila.

In the 2017 edition in Kuala Lumpur, he won the long jump gold with an impressive leap of 6.98m.

His best achievement this year came on Aug 31, winning the long jump event with a 7.03m effort at the Handisport Open World Grand Prix Para Athletics Tournament in Paris.

So, why the switch from triple jump to long jump?

“Since local para athletic meets seldom have triple jumps, we decided that he should concentrate solely on long jump,” explained his coach of 10 years, Yee Kwok Wai.

“He is a very disciplined athlete. He undergoes weight training once a week in the gymnasium as well as work on his speed, strength and endurance at the Likas Stadium. He also does plyometric exercises there.” S. Solomon Samuel

ANIS Alisya Zairil and Firas Nur Iman Mohd Nazri were among 52 primary school pupils, aged between eight and 12, who took part in a Talent Identification Athletics Programme at SK Rahang in Seremban recently.

And they enjoyed being trained by the experienced instructors — namely, state walk coach R. Mogan and former Negri Sembilan Schools Sports Council (MSSNS) chief coach M.A.A. Anthonysamy.

Anis, a Year Four pupil, said:
“I took up athletics to follow in the footsteps of my elder brother Amirul Aiman, who is now at SMK Datuk Haji Mohd Redza.

“My favourite event is high jump, for which I won a gold after clearing 1.05m in the girls’ Under-10 category in this year’s sports day.

Anis is not only into athletics.

“I also competed in the Seremban 2 District Schools Sports Council (MSSDS2) handball tournament, where my school reached the quarter-finals this year,” she said.

Firas, a Year Five student, was just as enthusiastic talking about his experience.

“I enjoyed the programme because the coaches taught me new exercises, involving jumping and stretching,” he said.

“This year, I won the Under-12 shot put event with a throw of 9.26m on our sports day and won a silver at the MSSDS2 meet with a 9.18m effort.

“I was also in the MSSDS2 team that won silver in the boys’ Under-12 MSSNS football final this year in SMK Raja Jumaat in Lukut, Port Dickson.”

The programme aims to equip students with the proper techniques to compete in walk, sprint and relay events in the MSSDS2, MSSNS and MSSM slated to be held at the Paroi Stadium next year.

Anthonysamy, 78, who retired as a teacher at SK St Paul in 1996, said: “Every school must conduct their own talent identification programme at least a year before their students compete at the MSSD level.

“This is so that he or she will be trained in the proper techniques and taught thecorrect way of doing exercises anddrills.

“It is heartwarming to see children who are excited to learn from us. Since the response was so good, we plan to conduct another one in January,” added Anthonysamy, who has been involved in athletics in Negri Sembilan since 1966.

NURUL Syzwani Mohd Syahrizal won her second shot put gold medal in three Malaysia Schools Sports Council (MSSM) athletics championships outings at the Johor edition on Monday.

Syzwani, who won her first gold in the 2016 edition in the girls’ Under-12 category in Terengganu, captured the Under-15 title with a distance of 9.03m.

“I did not expect to win today as my rivals had recorded better distances coming into this meet.

“ I train everyday from 3pm to 5pm at my school, SM Sains Hulu Terengganu (SMSHT).

“ I lift heavy objects such as lorry tyres, fire extinguishers and medicine balls as part of my training regime,” said Syzwani on Monday.

The Terengganu-born tasted her first success in the event at the 2015 Hulu Terengganu inter-school event when she was a Primary Five student of SK Felda Bukit Bading, under then coach Mohd Saripuddin Abdul Ghani.

She now trains under coach Mohd Faris Farhan Mohd Sidek of SK Kuala Berang.

Syzwani’s father, Mohd Syahrizal Abdullah is a palm oil Felda settler while mother, T. Nor Haida Tengku A. Kadir runs a provision shop in Hulu Terengganu.

Besides shot put, she is also an active netball player and represents her school.

Coach Faris said: “Syzwani is a dedicated athlete and has good potential to go far.

“She has good technique and possesses strength and power,” said Faris.

Terengganu Education Department head of sports unit Roslan Mamat Yusoff said: “Syzwani needs to polish her skills if she hopes of make a grade in the event.

NINE-year-old N. Kirtana was thrilled to bits when she was picked by her school to participate in the Negri Sembilan First Serve Tennis Carnival at Centre Court in Paroi recently.

She was among 650 primary school children, aged between seven and nine, who participated in the state-wide talent search programme, which was organised by Lawn Tennis Association of Negri Sembilan (LTANS).

Kirtana, who lists dancing as one of her hobbies, is a Year Three pupil of SK Taman Rasah Jaya and stands at 1.40m and weighs 26kg.

The cheerful girl, whose ambition is to become a doctor, said: “I had a fun time getting to know pupils from so many other schools.

‘The instructors were patient in teaching us. We also did drills on the hard court as well as played a few games.

‘In February, I won gold in the girls’ Under-9 100m and 200m during my school’s sports day, so I’m more than able to keep pace with the speed of the game.

‘Since I love reading, I plan to read up about tennis to keep myself updated about the various mini-tennis skills in case I’m chosen to play for my school in the future.’

The mass talent search programme, organised with the cooperation of the Education Ministry, Lawn Tennis Association of Malaysia (LTAM), Negri Sembilan Sports Council (NSSC) and Negri Sembilan Education Department (JPNS), was aimed at exposing the youngsters to the basics of tennis - serving, bouncing and receiving.

Among the former Negri Sembilan-born national players who acted as talent scouts were O. Vasuthevan, V. Selvam and R. Ramachandran.

Ramachandran, who won a team bronze at the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games, said: ‘The response was overwhelming. The next programme should trim the group down to the talented 50 players.

‘The various schools and district training centres’ coaches as well as teachers must guide these players from the grassroots level until they master their basic skills.’