Pesanan kapten skuad 1989

AHMAD (berdiri tiga dari kanan) bersama barisan pemain yang meraih pingat emas pada Sukan SEA 1989 di Kuala Lumpur selepas menewaskan Singapura 3-1 pada perlawanan akhir di Stadium Merdeka.

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"MAIN dengan penuh kesungguhan dan jangan mudah putus asa. Bila dapat peluang, gunakannya dengan sebaik mungkin."

Demikian pesanan Ahmad Yusoff, kapten skuad bola sepak kebangsaan yang merangkul pingat emas Sukan SEA 1989 di Kuala Lumpur kepada pemain-pemain skuad bawah 23 tahun (B-23) yang akan menentang Vietnam pada final Sukan SEA 2009 di Vientiane, Laos petang esok.

Menurut Ahmad, 49, bertemu Vietnam bukanlah sesuatu yang mudah tetapi pada masa yang sama tidak mustahil juga pemain skuad B-23 negara mencatat kemenangan, sekali gus menamatkan kemarau 20 tahun pingat emas.

"Berdasarkan aksi separuh akhir bertemu Laos semalam (kelmarin), saya nampak permainan mereka bagus dan pemain kita nampak bersemangat.

"Saya yakin skuad 2009 ini mampu mengulangi kejayaan skuad 1989 dan berjaya menamatkan kemarau berpanjangan itu," katanya ketika ditemui selepas Majlis Undian Piala FA 2010 di Wisma FAM, Kelana Jaya semalam.

Mengimbas kembali final Sukan SEA 1989 di Stadium Merdeka itu, Ahmad berkata, semangat mereka ketika itu begitu tinggi memandangkan ia turut disaksikan mantan Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamed.

"Semangat kami ketika itu cukup tinggi kerana mahu menebus keke- cewaan tewas 0-1 kepada Indonesia pada final Sukan SEA 1987 di Jakarta.

"Turun dengan hampir semua pemain yang sama pada 1987, kami akhirnya berjaya meraih pingat emas selepas menewaskan Singapura 3-1 pada final 1989 itu," kata Ahmad yang kini merupakan jurula- tih skuad Liga Super Kedah.

Ahmad memberitahu, kesebelasan utama skuad 1989 itu ditunjangi Rashid Hassan (penjaga gol), Razip Ismail, Serbegeth Singh, Kamarulzaman Yusof, Salim Mahmud (pertahanan), Mat Zan Mat Aris, Lim Teong Kim (tengah) manakala serangan diterajui Dollah Salleh, Zainal Abidin Hassan dan A. Anbala- gan.

Dua gol skuad bimbingan jurulatih Trevor Hartley itu dijaringkan oleh Teong Kim manakala satu lagi mene- rusi Dollah.

Sementara itu, seorang lagi pemain skuad 1989, Razip yang ditemui semalam menambah, pemain skuad B-23 negara tidak sepatutnya berada dalam tekanan apabila turun menghadapi Vietnam petang esok.

"Vietnam sepatutnya yang lebih tertekan kerana mereka mahu mengulangi kemenangan 3-1 ke atas Malaysia pada peringkat kumpulan. Lagipun kita tidak mendapat tekanan penonton.

"Tidak seperti pada final 1989, kami beraksi di hadapan penonton sendiri ditambah pula suasana perlawanan dalam keadaan hujan.

"Apa pun, saya yakin inilah skuad terbaik untuk menamatkan kemarau 20 tahun pingat emas," kata Razip yang kini menjadi jurulatih skuad Liga Super Kuala Lumpur.

Lelaki emas Asia Tenggara

Sempena penganjuran Sukan SEA ke-25 di Vientiane Laos, Kosmo! 2 menyorot kegemilangan tiga orang atlet dari tiga dekad berbeza.

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PELUH mereka sudah banyak mengalir demi nama Malaysia. Di trek basikal, di kolam renang dan di trek olahraga. Tiga lagenda sukan tanah air, Rosman Alwi, Alex Lim Keng Liat dan Nazmizan Muhammad telah berjuang tanpa mengenal erti putus asa.

Dalam diri mereka hanya ada semangat untuk mengharumkan nama Malaysia, selain mencari kemasyhuran karier di pentas antarabangsa.

Sifu trek lumba basikal, Rosman sudah hampir sepuluh tahun bersara. Sementara raja kolam renang, Alex sudah tiga tahun bergelar jurulatih renang.

Bekas raja pecut Asia Tenggara, Nazmizan pula lebih banyak menghabiskan masanya sebagai pegawai tadbir di Pusat Sukan Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP).

Menariknya, Rosman, Alex dan Nazmizan ialah tiga generasi atlet negara dari tiga era berbeza. Mereka pernah mencipta nama di temasya sukan terbesar rantau Asia Tenggara, Sukan SEA pada tahun 1980-an, 1990-an dan 2000.

Di pentas itulah mereka membuktikan keupayaan sebagai jaguh. Di pentas yang sama jugalah Rosman, Alex dan Nazmizan melalui detik-detik kegemilangan.

Apa yang pasti, ketiga-tiga legenda itu menganggap Sukan SEA sebagai tapak terbaik untuk mencipta nama di arena antarabangsa.

WAJAH garang Rosman sering menghadirkan debaran di hati pelumba lain.

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Secara tradisinya, Sukan SEA ialah platform sulung buat mana-mana atlet di Asia Tenggara untuk mencipta nama, sebelum melebarkan sayap ke temasya Sukan Asia, Sukan Komanwel dan seterusnya Sukan Olimpik.

Selain Rosman, Alex dan Nazmizan, Sukan SEA juga menjadi saksi kepada lahirnya ramai legenda sukan terbilang tanah air.

Siapa tidak kenal dengan ratu kolam renang, Nurul Huda Abdullah? Dia pernah menyumbang 22 pingat emas buat Malaysia dari kolam renang sekitar tahun 1985 hingga 1989.

Begitu juga dengan ketepatan Sam Chong di meja snuker pada Sukan SEA 1993 hingga 1999, apabila dia berjaya merangkul lapan pingat emas dalam kategori individu.

M. Ramachandran turut diingati sebagai legenda Sukan SEA. Bekas jaguh olahraga dalam acara 5,000 dan 10,000 meter itu pernah meraih lapan pingat emas dari tahun 1993 hingga 1999.

Rosman digelar 'Mbak Sepeda'

Dalam kalangan pencabarnya, Rosman ialah satu nama yang cukup digeruni. Malah, pasukan lumba basikal Indonesia pernah memberi gelaran 'Mbak Sepeda' atau sifu basikal kepada anak kelahiran Kuala Lumpur itu.

Satu jolokan yang amat sesuai untuk dirinya setelah terlibat 30 tahun sukan berbasikal. Ia merupakan satu tempoh yang cukup lama dan masih belum ada mana-mana pelumba yang dapat memecahkan rekod tersebut.

GANDINGAN Rosman (tengah) bersama Josiah Ng (kiri) dan Ghaffuan Ghazli hadiahkan pingat perak buat negara pada Sukan SEA 2001 di Kuala Lumpur.

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Di Malaysia, rata-rata penulis sukan menggelar Rosman sebagai 'kuda tua' hanya kerana penampilannya di trek lumba basikal pada usia mencecah 40 tahun.

Sepanjang bergelar atlet, Rosman yang kini berusia 48 tahun telah merasai suasana beraksi di pentas Sukan SEA dalam empat era iaitu 1970-an, 1980-an, 1990-an dan 2000.

Namun, di sebalik kegemilangan itu, Rosman terpaksa melalui detik-detik sukar sebelum sampai ke puncak kejayaan hasil dorongan ayahnya, Alwi Ahmad atau lebih dikenali dengan panggilan Pak Alwi.

"Ramai orang kata bakat dan latihan adalah tunjang kepada kejayaan. Namun bagi saya, akal dan hati adalah segalanya. Di sinilah (hati) tersimpan kemahuan sama ada memilih kejayaan atau kegagalan," ujar Rosman ketika ditemui Kosmo! baru-baru ini.

Lantas, Rosman mengakui dua elemen itu (akal dan hati) jarang ada dalam diri atlet zaman sekarang.

"Kami (atlet terdahulu) bertanding atas nama Malaysia. Peluh serta air mata kami mengalir demi maruah Malaysia. Kalah kami sebagai atlet Malaysia dan menang kami juga sebagai atlet Malaysia.

"Tetapi sekarang, atlet seakan-akan lena dibuai kemewahan. Hanya berbekalkan kejayaan kecil, habuan lumayan sudah menanti. Akibatnya, semangat yang ada dalam diri atlet seolah-olah semakin cair," jelasnya.

ALEX permata kolam renang yang sukar dicari ganti.

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Di sebalik kejayaan besar yang dikecapinya, perasaan sedih tetap bersarang di hati tatkala memikirkan tentang 'budaya tikam belakang' yang ada dalam sukan tanah air.

"Saya pernah gagal untuk bertanding di Sukan SEA hanya kerana disahkan mengalami penyakit misteri. Puncanya, kerana sikap dengki yang ada dalam diri manusia yang tidak mahu saya berjaya," ceritanya.

Alex tidak takut lemas

Sementara itu, di kolam renang nama Alex begitu disegani. Setiap renangannya pasti menjanjikan kilauan pingat buat negara terutama dalam Sukan SEA.

Sejak mengabadikan diri di kolam renang seawal usia tujuh tahun, dia tidak pernah takut lemas. Sebaliknya terus menjadikan kolam renang sebagai lubuk rezekinya.

"Setiap kali turun ke kolam renang, perasaan luar biasa akan timbul dalam diri saya. Walaupun terpaksa berlatih sepanjang hari, saya tidak pernah takut untuk berdepan apa jua risiko.

"Hampir 20 tahun saya abadikan diri di kolam renang. Sepanjang itu juga saya berbangga kerana hasilnya telah meletakkan nama saya di puncak dunia," jelas anak kelahiran Sabah berusia 27 tahun itu.

Persoalannya, bagaimana dengan masa depan sukan renang Malaysia pada masa akan datang? Alex secara terbuka menyuarakan kebimbangannya ketika negara Asia lain terus menggoncang dunia.

"Malaysia memang memiliki ramai perenang berbakat dan mereka ialah jaguh di peringkat Sukan SEA. Tetapi, perlukah kita berbangga hanya dengan kejayaan ini? Masih adakah lagi perenang kita yang mampu meraih pingat emas di pentas Sukan SEA?" soalnya.

Bagi Alex, bukan bakat dan saiz badan yang membezakan perenang dahulu dengan sekarang, tetapi pengalaman dan pendedahan yang menjadi batasan.

"Perlu latihan di luar negara dan pendedahan bersaing dengan perenang antarabangsa. Masalahnya, atlet kita terlalu manja dan lebih gembira berlatih di Malaysia. Sedangkan pengorbanan perlu dilakukan untuk mencapai sesuatu.

"Saya sendiri pernah berlatih di Amerika Syarikat selama sepuluh tahun. Dalam tempoh itu, saya telah belajar untuk menjadi atlet yang tahu mencari kelebihan diri sendiri," katanya lagi.

Anak Dungun gegar Vietnam

Lagu Negaraku berkumandang dengan cukup megah di Stadium Nasional My Dinh, Hanoi pada Sukan SEA 2003. Alunan itu menjadi saksi kejayaan Nazmizan dalam acara 100 meter.

Pencapaian itu sekali gus menobatkan anak kelahiran Kampung Durian Mentangau, Dungun Terengganu, Nazmizan sebagai Raja Pecut Asia Tenggara.

Malah, Nazmizan melengkapkan tahun penuh gemilangnya di Hanoi dengan kemenangan berganda dalam acara 200 meter, sekali gus menjadikannya atlet Malaysia pertama meraih emas acara 100 dan 200 meter di Sukan SEA selepas 36 tahun.

Bagaimanapun, Nazmizan menganggap kejayaan itu sebagai 'keajaiban' yang mungkin tidak mampu diulanginya.

PECUTAN emas Nazmizan (kanan) yang membolehkannya dinobatkan Raja Pecut Asia Tenggara pada Sukan SEA 2003 di Vietnam.

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"Saya sebenarnya tidak layak untuk beraksi pada Sukan SEA 2003 kerana gagal melepasi had kelayakan. Namun, selepas perbincangan dan rayuan dibuat, saya telah diberi peluang, itu pun atas tiket sebagai atlet Kategori B.

"Tiada siapa mengenali saya ketika itu. Walaupun dalam hati kecil saya tetap terdetik untuk mencipta sejarah di bumi Vietnam. Ketika acara 100 meter berlangsung, saya tidak memikirkan apa-apa selain ingin menamatkan perlumbaan," jelasnya.

Nazmizan hanya mengambil masa 10.47 saat untuk meletakkan namanya dalam lipatan sejarah. Sekali gus mengulangi pencapaian yang pernah dilakukan G. Rajalingam di Bangkok pada tahun 1967.

Paling penting, kejayaan pada Sukan SEA itu telah mengubah kehidupan Nazmizan daripada anak kampung kepada bintang sukan tersohor tanah air.

Malah, pencapaian itu membolehkan Nazmizan berlatih di bawah kendalian bekas juara pecut Olimpik, Michael Johnson di Amerika Syarikat. Selain layak beraksi pada Sukan Olimpik di Athens pada tahun 2004.

Hati sayu dengar lagu Negaraku

Baik Rosman, Alex mahupun Nazmizan, tiga legenda itu telah merasai jatuh bangun sebagai atlet sukan. Sekalipun dijulang ketika menang dan dicaci ketika tumbang, naluri lelaki mereka tetap sayu ketika mendengarkan lagu Negaraku berkumandang.

"Telah terbukti bahawa atlet Malaysia mampu berdiri sama tinggi dan duduk sama rendah dengan atlet lain," ujar Nazmizan.

Kini, Rosman, Alex dan Nazmizan hanya mampu memerhatikan dari jauh perjuangan atlet-atlet muda Malaysia yang kini berjuang di bumi Laos sempena temasya Sukan SEA 2009.

"Sukan SEA masih relevan dan di sinilah segala-galanya bermula," kata Rosman.

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Salam Aidil Adha!!!

Yakeb akan turut bantu Ishtiaq

KUALA LUMPUR - Yayasan Atlet Kebangsaan (Yakeb) berkesempatan mengunjungi bekas pemain bola sepak kebangsaan, Santokh Singh dan bekas atlet olahraga kebangsaan, Ishtiaq Mubarak, semalam.

Menurut Pengurus Keahlian Yakeb, Aminuddin Mohd Nasir, kunjungan yang dilakukan terhadap kedua-dua atlet yang telah banyak berkorban untuk negara itu ialah untuk memberi motivasi dan melihat keadaan semasa mereka.

"Selain bertanya khabar, kami juga ingin mengetahui keadaan sebenar mereka dan melihat sumbangan yang boleh dihulurkan untuk meringankan beban mereka,' katanya di sini, semalam.

Jelasnya, selepas melawat kedua-dua atlet tersebut, Yakeb akan cuba sedaya upaya menyampaikan maklumat kepada rakan seperjuangan yang lain mengenai keadaan kesihatan kedua-dua bekas atlet kebangsaan itu.

"Apabila kita sudah mendapat maklumat terkini dan keadaan mereka sekarang, kami akan cuba hebahkan kepada rakan lain supaya mereka boleh meluangkan masa untuk melawat dan menghulurkan sumbangan.

"Kami juga berharap kunjungan terhadap kedua-dua bekas atlet kebangsaan itu akan memberikan motivasi buat mereka serta seluruh ahli keluarga," ujarnya.

Katanya, mereka akan berusaha memberi bantuan dari pelbagai aspek bagi membolehkan bekas atlet diberi layanan sepatutnya sebagai membalas jasa mereka sebelum ini.

"Sebagai contoh kami cuba untuk memindahkan Santokh dari wad kelas tiga ke wad kelas pertama sebelum dia tidak sedarkan diri, bagaimanapun atas nasihat doktor dia dikekalkan di wad tersebut dan kini berada di Unit Rawatan Rapi (ICU).

"Kami membuat lawatan bukan di atas dasar kewangan semata-mata tetapi melihat keadaan terkini mereka sebelum membincangkan jenis bantuan yang boleh dihulurkan dalam masa terdekat," katanya.

Pada lawatan itu, Yakeb turut mengunjungi seorang lagi bekas atlet kebangsaan, Hashim Abdul Rahman (lumba basikal) yang dirawat dekat hospital yang sama.

Selain Aminuddin antara bekas atlet yang turut serta dalam lawatan tersebut ialah bekas atlet bina badan, Datuk Malek Noor, Jalani Sidek (badminton), Shaharudin Jaffar (lumba basikal), Ramjit Nairulal (olahraga) dan Roswadi Abdul Rashid (angkat berat).

Rombongan Yakeb terlebih dahulu berkunjung ke kediaman bekas atlet lari berpagar, Ishtiaq di Hulu Klang yang dikhabarkan mengalami sakit belakang dan sengal badan.

Atlet yang pernah beraksi sebanyak tiga kali di Sukan Olimpik itu pada era 70an telah menjalani imbasan di Pusat Pakar Damansara untuk mengetahui lebih lanjut keadaan kesihatannya.

Kesihatan Santokh semakin baik

Razali Ibrahim (tengah) sambil diiringi Zolkples Embong ketika meluangkan masa melawat Santokh Singh di Hospital Besar Kuala Lumpur, semalam.

KUALA LUMPUR - Timbalan Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Razali Ibrahim akan meminta Yayasan Kebajikan Atlet Kebangsaan (Yakeb) melihat bentuk sumbangan untuk bekas pemain bola sepak negara, Santokh Singh yang kini terlantar di Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL).

Katanya, kementerian berharap yayasan yang dipimpin Datuk Paduka Dr. Mumtaz Jaffar ini mampu menjalankan daya usaha tertentu dalam meringankan beban keluarga bek tengah Selangor dan Malaysia pada era 1970-an hingga 80-an itu.

"Kementerian tiada skim khas dalam membantu atlet yang mengalami masalah sebegitu tetapi kami berharap Yakeb mengambil daya usaha tertentu dan melihat keperluan yang boleh diberikan kepada Santokh," katanya selepas mengunjungi bekas pemain itu di sini, semalam.

Mengenai Santokh yang dimasukkan ke Unit Rawatan Rapi Am (GICU) HKL sejak Khamis lalu, kata Razali, bekas pemain berusia 57 tahun dan memiliki 150 penampilan antarabangsa itu, semakin pulih dan mampu mengenali sesiapa yang hadir melawatnya.

"Dia teruja dengan kedatangan kami (bersama Ketua Pengarah Majlis Sukan Negara, Datuk Zolkples Embong dan Ketua Pengarah Institut Sukan Negara, Datuk Dr. Ramlan Aziz) dan cuba berkomunikasi tetapi ada tiub yang dipasang pada mukanya.

"Saya cukup menghormati beliau bukan sekadar pemain bola sepak kebanggaan negara bahkan dia menjadi contoh pada zaman kemuncaknya. Saya pun terkejut dia dimasukkan ke HKL kerana dalam beberapa majlis yang dihadirinya sebelum ini, dia cukup sihat," katanya.

Walaupun tidak serius dan hanya mungkin didapati mengalami jangkitan virus, Santokh menurutnya, masih perlu ditahan dan dipantau di wad GICU HKL manakala alat bantuan pernafasan yang dipasang padanya, cuma sebagai memudahkannya bernafas dengan selesa.

Sementara itu, Razali menggesa mana-mana atlet yang masih aktif membuat caruman Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja (KWSP) mahupun membeli polisi perlindungan insurans sebagai langkah berjaga-jaga sekiranya ditimpa penyakit, kemalangan atau kecederaan serius.

"Kebanyakan mereka hanya bermain dan bekerja secara kontrak dan kemungkinan tidak memiliki skim insurans atau mencarum dengan KWSP.

''Justeru perlu ada langkah berjaga-jaga apatah lagi kita tidak tahu dan tidak mampu menduga bilakah sesuatu yang buruk bakal berlaku," katanya. UTUSAN

Santokh Singh hospitalised

Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah (third from right) shaking hands with Selangor veterans’ Santokh Singh.

SOCCER legend Santokh Singh has been hospitalised since early this week due to a medical condition.

It remains unknown to what has befallen Santokh, 57, as streams of family members and friends have been visiting him at the Intensive Care Unit in KL Hospital.

Among those who visited Santokh yesterday included former internationals Datuk Soh Chin Aun, Datuk M. Chandran, national coach K. Rajagobal and childhood friend Reduan Abdullah.

"Santokh is my 'kampung' (Setapak) boy. We all grew up together and he refers to my mother as his mother, as our mothers are good friends," said Rajagobal.

"It's a shame to see him in such a condition. For all that he has done for the country and for the man he is, I pray he gets well soon."

An instrumental defender, Santokh first represented Selangor in the Burnley Cup in 1971 and played for the senior squad a year later.

In 1973, then national coach M. Kuppan roped Santokh into the national stable for the Jakarta Independence Cup (Piala Merdeka Jakarta) and aided Malaysia to create history by netting the 1974 Asian Games bronze medal in Tehran, Iran.

He was also part of the team that qualified for the 1980 Moscow Olympics but failed to see action in Russia after the government decided to boycott the Games.

Santokh quit Selangor in 1985 but has been playing in several veteran matches in and outside the country since.

Our prayers are with Santokh and we wish him a speedy recovery.

Ishtiaq Mubarak - Our legends in 110 m hurdles!

Ishtiaq Mubarak first represented the country at the 1966 Asian Games in Bangkok where he won a bronze medal in the 110 m hurdles. Eight years later at the 1974 Asian Games, he won a silver medal. He proved his distinction in Asia by winning the silver medal at the Asian Track and Field Championship 1973 and 1975.

The hurdler represented the country at three consecutive Olympic Games - Mexico 1968, Munich 1972, and Montreal 1976. At the 1976 Games, Isthiaq was the only Malaysian to qualify for the semi finals making him only the second Malaysian to do so at the Olympic, after M. Jegathesan in Tokyo 1964. Ishtiaq also the flag bearer for 1976 Olympic Games.

Ishtiaq won the 110m hurdles title at the SEA Games in 1969, 1971, (with new SEA Games record of 14.4), 1973 and 1977.
His national record for the 110 m hurdles (14.08) stood for 15 years until it broken by Nur Haerman Majid.

Istiaq was inducted into the OCM Hall of Fame in 2002.

Sukan Olimpik - cabaran atlet Malaysia

STADIUM Kebangsaan China atau dikenali sebagai ‘Sarang Burung’ (Bird’s nest) yang akan menjadi lokasi utama acara-acara Sukan Olimpik sudah bersiap sedia menyambut atlet-atlet dari seluruh dunia.

MENGIKUT legenda, Sukan Olimpik purba mula diperkenalkan oleh Hercules, anak kepada Zeus dari zaman Yunani.

Sejarah menyebut Sukan Olimpik pertama kali diadakan pada tahun 776 sebelum Masihi, walaupun ramai yang mempercayai tarikh sebenar bila temasya itu dilangsungkan berlaku lebih awal daripada umum mengetahuinya.

Mengikut catatan, Coroebus, seorang pelari yang mengambil bahagian dalam temasya itu telah memenangi acara lari 192 meter, sekali gus menjadikannya sebagai juara pertama dalam sejarah Olimpik.

Tahun silih berganti, Sukan Olimpik purba terus berkembang dan mula diperkenalkan dalam empat tahun sekali untuk selama 1,200 tahun. Bagaimanapun, pada tahun 393 selepas Masihi, kerajaan empayar Yunani yang diperintah oleh Maharaja Theodosius 1, seorang yang berfahaman kristian mengharamkan sukan itu yang dikatakan menjadi festival bagi orang tidak beragama (pagan).

Titik-tolak daripada tindakan Maharaja Theodosius, Sukan Olimpik terhenti selama ribuan tahun sehinggalah ia diadakan semula pada abad ke-19 oleh seorang bangsawan Perancis bernama Pierre de Coubertin.

Coubertin dilahirkan pada tahun 1863. Dia hanya berusia tujuh tahun ketika Perancis di bawah penaklukan Jerman dalam perang Franco-Prusia pada 1870.

Ada pandangan yang mengatakan, Coubertin menyumbang kepada kemenangan Perancis dalam peperangan itu selepas mendapati faktor kekalahan Perancis pada awalnya adalah disebabkan askarnya yang lesu.

Selepas beberapa tahun dengan melakukan kajian dan pemerhatian, Coubertin membuat kesimpulan bahawa faktor keletihan askar Perancis dalam peperangan itu adalah disebabkan kurangnya masa bersukan.

Minat Coubertin bukan sekadar memulihkan semangat askar Perancis tetapi lebih daripada itu. Dia kemudiannya menubuhkan sebuah organisasi sukan USFSA untuk tujuan itu. Dua tahun kemudian Coubertin mencadangkan agar Sukan Olimpik diadakan semula dan pada tahun 1892, USFSA mengadakan konvensyen pertamanya di Paris.

Pada perjumpaan itu, suaranya tidak diendahkan sehinggalah dua tahun kemudiannya apabila Coubertin menganjurkan pertemuan 79 delegasi daripada sembilan negara yang akhirnya membentuk Jawatankuasa Olimpik Antarabangsa (IOC).

Wakil Greece, Demetrious Vikelas telah dipilih sebagai presiden yang pertama manakala Athens sebagai tempat untuk mengembalikan semula Sukan Olimpik dan pusat pentadbirannya.

Sukan Olimpik pertama dibuka pada April 1896 dengan memilih Stadium Panathenaic yang asalnya dibina pada tahun 330 selepas Masihi sebagai venue pertama.

Kontinjen negara menyertai Sukan Olimpik sejak penyertaan pertama temasya Melbourne 1956 melainkan pada tahun 1980 apabila Malaysia telah menyertai gagasan negara-negara barat untuk memulaukan Sukan Olimpik Moscow 1980.

Sejak penglibatan Malaysia dalam Olimpik, sukan seperti akuatik dan olahraga merupakan yang kerap menyertainya sehingga tahun 2004. Malah, hoki juga antara wakil Malaysia yang konsisten bertanding di Sukan Olimpik kecuali di Rom 1960, Seoul 1988, Athens 2004 dan Beijing 2007.

Bertanding

Bola sepak Malaysia juga tidak sunyi daripada bertanding di Sukan Olimpik apabila dua kali layak ke temasya berprestij itu iaitu pada 1972 di Munich dan 1980 di Moscow tetapi sayangnya kita tidak mengambil bahagian gara-gara pendirian politik negara pada ketika itu.

Acara badminton mula diperkenalkan dalam Olimpik pada tahun 1992 di Barcelona dan sehingga kini sukan itu telah menyumbang satu pingat perak dan dua gangsa dalam sejarah Olimpik Malaysia.

Perak diperoleh menerusi gandingan beregu lelaki negara, Cheah Soon Kit-Yap Kim Hock pada temasya Atlanta 1996 manakala gangsa daripada pasangan adik-beradik Razif dan Jalani Sidek di Barcelona 1992 serta Rashid Sidek dalam acara perseorangan di Olimpik Atlanta 1996.

Selain badminton, beberapa sukan lain juga mencatat pencapaian terbaik seperti menerusi bekas jaguh pecut negara, Datuk Dr. M. Jegathesan dalam acara 200 meter di Tokyo 1968 dan Mexico 1972, Ishtiaq Mubarak dalam 110m lari berpagar (Mexico 1972).

Malaysia juga hampir memecah kebuntuan mencari pingat menerusi Alex Lim yang berjaya mara ke saingan separuh akhir 100m kuak lentang dan Josiah Ng dalam acara berbasikal melangkah ke peringkat akhir keirin.

Antara 1896 dan 2004, Malaysia telah menyertai sebanyak 18 daripada 28 sukan yang dipertandingkan.

Pada 8 Ogos ini, Sukan Olimpik muncul kembali dengan Beijing menjadi tuan rumah bertemakan One World One Dream dengan jangkaan seramai 10,000 hingga 12,000 atlet dan pegawai sukan terlibat di samping 4,000 hingga 5,000 petugas teknikal dan pengadil mengendalikan sukan terhebat era millenium ini.

Temasya yang akan berlangsung dari 8 hingga 24 Ogos itu akan turut melibatkan 6,000 hingga 8,000 wartawan media cetak dan elektronik dari seluruh dunia membuat liputan lebih tiga minggu itu.

Beijing memilih logo Sukan Olimpik 2008 yang dinamakan Beijing Menari yang mempunyai falsafah China yang dikaitkan dengan tubuh naga dan lambang jemputan China kepada seluruh dunia untuk menghayati budayanya.

Sebanyak 28 jenis sukan akan dipertandingkan di Beijing melibatkan 302 acara (165 lelaki, 127 wanita dan 10 terbuka/campuran). Jika sukan Wushu sebelum ini hanya sebagai acara pertunjukan tetapi kali ini ia menawarkan enam acara lelaki dan wanita tetapi pungutan pingatnya tidak akan dikira dalam jumlah keseluruhan pungutan pingat negara yang bertanding dan menghantar wakilnya untuk acara ini.

Pada temasya di Beijing, kontinjen negara seramai 33 atlet telah mengambil bahagian dalam 29 acara, meningkat berbanding Athens yang menyaksikan 26 atlet negara untuk 26 acara. Sekalung tahniah buat Dato Lee Chong Wei yang telah mengharumkan nama negara di arena sukan olimpik dengan memenangi pingat perak acara perseorangan badminton lelaki.

Nasib Thillainathan dibela

Zainol Fadzi Paharuddin (kiri) bertanyakan sesuatu kepada A.I. Thillainathan di Sweet Garden, semalam.

IPOH - Apabila menyebut nama A.I. Thillainathan, pasti ramai yang terpinga-pinga dan tertanya-tanya siapakah gerangan individu berkenaan.

Bagaimanapun, bagi mengenang dan menghargai jasanya sebagai ahli sukan, adalah perlu untuk disenaraikan beberapa pencapaian hebatnya dalam mengharumkan nama Perak dan Malaysia.

Pertama sekali, lelaki yang kini berumur 83 tahun itu pernah mewakili Malaya dalam pertandingan hoki peringkat antarabangsa antara 1952 hingga 1956.

Selain hebat bermain hoki, beliau juga merupakan pemain ragbi bagi pasukan Perak mulai 1953 hingga 1958.

Tidak cukup dengan itu, Thillainathan juga menguasai sukan kriket apabila mewakili Utara Malaya dan Perak antara tahun 1947 hingga 1972.

Kehandalannya juga terserlah dalam sukan bola sepak sebagai pemain utama Perak selama lapan tahun iaitu mulai 1951 hingga 1959 malah pernah bermain badminton di peringkat negeri.

Senarai itu dilengkapi dengan kebolehannya dalam acara olahraga dengan mewakili negeri ini dalam acara lari berganti-ganti selama dua tahun iaitu pada 1947 hingga 1948.

Kehebatan lelaki ini menarik perhatian banyak pihak hingga terpilih sebagai penerima Anugerah Malayan School Colours.

Lebih membanggakan, beliau antara tujuh rakyat negara ini yang bertuah menyaksikan istiadat kemahkotaan Ratu Elizabeth di United Kingdom pada 1949.

Itu cerita zaman kegemilangan lampau Thillainathan. Kini beliau tidak segagah dulu apabila menderita penyakit kencing manis sejak empat tahun lalu.

Menyedari kesukaran yang dihadapi anak Perak serba boleh itu, Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Belia dan Sukan, Zainol Fadzi Paharudin mengadakan lawatan mengejut bagi melihat sendiri keadaan Thillainathan di Sweet Garden di sini semalam.

''Saya fikir kita sangat bertuah kerana masih dapat bertemu dengan jaguh sukan serba boleh seperti Thillainathan. Bayangkan beliau amat cemerlang. Bukan setakat Perak malah mewakili Malaya. Kejayaannya itu memang sukar dibandingkan dengan mana-mana atlet," katanya. - UM

Sejarah tahun 1948 cetus semangat N. Sembilan

JADI KEBANGGAAN... Skuad Negeri Sembilan yang berjaya menjuarai Piala HMS Malaya pada tahun 1948.

---

PADA 1948, Negeri Sembilan telah mengukir sejarah dalam sukan bola sepak tanah air apabila berjaya menjuarai Piala HMS Malaya (kini dikenali Piala Malaysia).

Bagaimanapun, generasi muda di Negeri Sembilan tidak berkesempatan mengenali wira-wira mereka yang berjaya menjulang piala berprestij itu.

Mujur, Persatuan India Negeri Sembilan menyimpan khazanah gambar bersejarah skuad Negeri Sembilan ketika itu untuk menyingkap kembali sejarah kegemilangan bola sepak negeri ini.

Naib Presidennya, Satwant Singh berkata, beliau berbangga kerana gambar kenangan pasukan Negeri Sembilan tahun 1948 masih tersimpan baik untuk dijadikan tatapan gene- rasi muda.

"Setiausaha Kehormat Persatuan Bola Sepak Negeri Sembilan (PBNS) pada waktu itu, M. Muthucumaru adalah individu yang bertanggungjawab menyimpan gambar tersebut sebagai simpanan persatuan ini.

"Memang sukar untuk mencari semula gambar ini dan detik bersejarah yang dirakam pada tahun 1948 perlu dikongsi bersama khususnya generasi muda kerana mereka tidak mengenali legenda bola sepak terdahulu," kata Satwant.

Beliau berharap gambar tersebut bukan sahaja dapat mengimbau nostalgia lalu tetapi meniup semangat skuad dan penyokong Negeri Sembilan menjelang pertemuan akhir menen- tang Kelantan esok.

"Saya yakin penantian selama 61 tahun untuk menjulang semula piala berprestij itu dapat direalisasikan sekiranya pemain dapat menunjukkan semangat juang yang tinggi," jelasnya. KOSMO

FIBA Hall of Fame

MHF President - Tengku Abdullah visits OCM Sports Museum & Hall of Fame.

Gymnast - Nadia Comaneci - First perfect ten

Early promise

Nadia Comaneci took up the sport of gymnastics aged six, becoming one of the first students at a school founded by coach Béla Károlyi. In 1975, 13-year-old Comaneci won gold in every event at the European Championships except the floor exercise.

Perfection

A year later in Montreal, she became the first gymnast in Olympic history to be awarded the perfect score of 10.0 for her performance on the uneven bars. She went on to record the perfect 10.0 six more times and became the youngest all-around Olympic gold medallist ever.

More Olympic success

Comaneci’s career over the next four years was slightly less spectacular, judged against her own high standards. At the 1980 Olympic Games, she won her fourth and fifth golds but finished second in the all-around competition behind Yelena Davydova. Comaneci retired a year later, leaving her with a career haul of nine Olympic medals.

Retirement

After her retirement, Comaneci was rarely allowed to travel outside her country. She defected to the United States in 1989. She has since married 1984 Olympic gold medallist Bart Conner, a gymnast she first met in the 1970s.

Olympic & Politics

Zaiton Othman

Biography for Zaiton Othman

First Name: Zaiton

Last Name: Othman

Title: Psychologist

Organization: National Sports Council

Country: Malaysia

Date of Birth: 03/05/1959

Place of Birth: Kepala Batas, Pulau Pinang

Spouses:Rosli Miskam (current)

Education:

Primary

• Paya Keladi National Primary School, Pulau Pinang. 1967-1972

Secondary

• St. George Girls School, (2nd Grade) Pulau Pinang. 1973-1977 M.C.E.
• Tertiary
• Specialist Teachers Training Institute, Cheras, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur. 1978-1980
• Universiti Pertanian Malaysia (UPM), Serdang, Selangor. 1983-1987 B.Physical
• San Diego State University, United States. (offered a scholarship by the National Sports Council) 1990-1992 M.Physical

CV:

• 1975 Attended the then Seap Games (now SEA GAMES). The beginning of her sports career.
• Made her debut at the Asean Youth Athletic Tournament.
• Won six gold medal at the St. Georges Sport Events.
• Long Jump Gold medallist, new records for 200m (26.7sec) and 400m (59.3 sec) in the Penang School Sport Council. (MSSPP)
• Gold medal for 4 x 400 at the Malaysian School Sports event. (MSSM)
• Finished 4th placing at the 400m SEA Games.
• 1977 Attached to the National Electric Board (NEB).
• 1978 Won gold medal in the Asian Games 4 x 400 event.
• 1979 Won 4 x 400m gold medal at the SEA Games.
• 1980 Teacher, Union High School, Pulau Pinang.
• Coach, Penang School Sport Council (MSSPP).
• 1981 Participated the Sea Games in Manila. Won three gold and a silver. (Won the Heptathlon gold medal (5338pts), 4 x 400m, 4 x 100m gold, high jump silver and long jump bronze).
• 1981 Crowned the "Heptathlon Queen" in the Sea Games.
• 1982 4th placing in the Asian Games Heptathlon.
• 1983 Gold medal in the SEA Games Heptathlon events (5326 pts).
• 1983 Crowned the "Heptathlon Queen", in the Sea Games.
• 1983-1987 Studying at the Universiti Pertanian Malaysia, Zaiton represented the University on many occasions both nationally and internationally.
• 1984 Won gold medal in Asean Cup in Manila, Philippines.
• 1985 Withdraw from the 1985 Bangkok Sea Games to concentrate on her studies.
• Aug 1985 Participated in the World University Games in Kobe, Japan. (The only woman in the Malaysian Contingent)
• 1987 Continued teaching at the Union High School, Pulau Pinang.
• 1988 Won the gold medal in the Malaysian Championship.
• Sep 1988 Coach, 2nd Asian Junior Championship, Singapore.
• Dec 1988 Three-month trainning in Perth, Australia for the 1989 Sea Games.
• 1989 Won the heptathlon gold medal for the third time in the Sea Games in Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur. (Zaiton then announced her retirement from sports)
• Sep 1989 Sports Development Officer, National Sports Council.
• Mar 1990 Left for the United States to further studies in sports psychology.
• 1992 Psychologist, National Sports Institute (NSI).
• 1996 Represented the country at the Asian Veterans Championship in Seoul, where she won gold medals in the 4x100m, javelin and silver medal in long jump.
• 2001 At the World Veteran meet in Sydney Australia, missed out on a podium finish when she emerged fourth in the javelin.
• Sep 22-29, 2005 Appointed as the Chef de Mission for the Malaysian contingent to the 4th Women's Islamic Games.

• Member, Malaysian Amateur Athletics Union (AAU) junior squad committee.
• 2006 Deputy chairman, Sports Goodwill Ambassadors (SGA)

Awards: 1981 Penang Sportwoman of the Year.
1981 P.J.M. Pingat Jasa Masyarakat, Pulau Pinang.
1982 Penang Sportwoman of the Year.
1982 National Sportswoman of the Year.
1983 Penang Sportswoman of the Year.
Jun 1983 A.M.N. Ahli Mangku Negara, Agong.
1984 Female Sport Personality by Malay Mail Sports Poll '93.
1987 Chancellor's Gold Medal Universiti Pertanian Malaysia.
Nov 2001 Anugerah Alumni Jasamu Dikenang by Universiti Putra Malaysia

Women athletes have come a long way since the trail-blazing days of M. Rajamani, Rosalind Singha Ang and Zaiton Othman. So meteoric has been their that these stalwarts believe that it is only a matter of time before a woman wins Malaysia’s first Olympic gold medal.

WHEN Malaysia first made their appearance in the Olympic Games in Melbourne in 1956 – a year before the Independence Day, there was only one rose among the thorns in the 33-member squad – Annie Choong in athletics.

But over the last 50 years, Malaysian women have blossomed into a respected force in local and international sports.

Women’s participation in major Games has also increased. More than that, the women athletes are now major medal winners in tournaments.

High-flying days: Zaiton Othman used to win medal after medal in the heptathlon event.

Former national stars – Zaiton Othman and Rosalind Singha Ang – who were among the trailblazers, said they hoped to see better things ahead for the Malaysian women athletes.

Former heptathlon great Zaiton says she would not be surprised if the first Malaysian Olympic gold medallist is a woman.

“Malaysian women athletes are making waves in international stage. We already have several stars in our ranks,” said Zaiton.

“The good news is that there is so much room for women to improve as far as sports is concerned. Their true potential has not been tapped yet,” said Zaiton.

Zaiton Othman

“If we can continue to progress, I will not be surprised to see women not only taking part in the Olympics but even winning medals.”

Currently, only men have won medals at the Olympic Games – and all have been badminton players.

Women, however, produced the country’s first two world champions.

Nicol David showed she is a dominant force in squash when she won the world title twice (2005-2006) while Esther Cheah won it in 2005. Unfortunately, both squash and bowling are not Olympic sports.

But there are others who have made Malaysia proud either at the world or Asian level. They are the likes of bowler Shalin Zulkifli, pole vaulter Roslinda Samsu and shuttler Wong Mew Choo.

There have been other past greats too besides Zaiton and Rosalind. They are athletes M. Rajamani, who became the first woman Asian Games gold medallist in 1966, G. Shanti, Josephine Mary, Marina Chin, Mumtaz Jaafar; shuttlers Sylvia Ng, Cecilia Tan, shooter Nurul Hudda Baharin; and swimmer Nurul Huda Abdullah.

Zaiton however, hoped that women would continue to scale greater heights.

“Those days, we had our challenges too. I remember we had to stay at this police barrack as part of our centralised training for the 1981 SEA Games. The roof was made of asbestos and we were drenched in our own sweat. It was not comfortable but, through the hardships, we went on to win glory for the country,” she said.

“If we had had Sports Science input those days, our performances would probably have been better.

Shuttle queen: Rosalind Singha Ang looking at newspaper cuttings of her exploits years ago.

“Times have changed. Now the focus on men and women is equal. But like the men, the women athletes are pressured into focusing only on academics. The facilities and the monetary rewards are better and some athletes are getting plain lazy.”

Another significant change that Zaiton noted was the participation of women in sports administration. There are many women leaders in sports and that is a major boost for women, says Zaiton, who will be the deputy chef-de-mission for the Korat SEA Games in December.

Unlike Zaiton, the 1965 Malaysian Open women’s singles badminton champion Rosalind, who is in her 60s, has been out of touch with sports since venturing into her own business in 1979.

Strangely though, Rosalind's first medal – a silver – did not come from badminton, She won it in a cycling event held during the Merdeka Celebration in Penang in 1957.

Despite being out of sports, Rosalind hopes to see Malaysian women making it big.

“I hear a lot about Nicol. I think she has done a lot and she deserves to be commended. But I do hear about other women champions. But one day they win and they lose another day. This is something to look into,” said the Kedahan.

“During my career, we had top athletes like Rajamani and Marina. Although the focus was more on men at that time, these athletes did not let it get to them.”

She also urged women athletes to be mentally strong.

Track blazer: Rajamani believes that support from parents is vital if we are to see the emergence of world class athletes from Malaysia.

“Women can be easily intimidated. I remember the 1966 Asian Games in Bangkok. I was a greenhorn and I partnered Teh Kew San in the mixed doubles. But we did well to reach the final. We were up against the Malaysian giants Eddy Choong-Tan Gaik Bee,” recalled Rosalind.

“I took the first serve but it was tapped with such ferocity by Eddy that the shuttle hit my head. I was shaken. But my partner Kew San told me to not fall for the intimidation.

“He told me I was good and to believe in myself. We won the gold – it was my first gold in Asiad.”

Rajamani too felt that the women had come a long way as far as sports is concerned, thanks to the support from the government.

But she feels that more work needs to be done.

Rajamani, who used to treasure her one-hour training session in her busy schedule as a teacher, said that athletes must take pride in representing the country.

“The athletes now are lucky indeed. They enjoy better facilities and good incentives but, unfortunately, talents are scarce. They are a pampered lot too. This is really sad,” said Rajamani, who represented the country at the 1964 Olympic Games.

Rajamani, who took up coaching after retirement and saw the emergence of Marina Chin under her guidance, however, was quick to add that parental support was crucial.

Zaiton Othman merupakan bekas olahragawati jaguh Heptathlon Malaysia. Beliau merupakan pemegang rekod kebangsaan di dalam acara heptathlon.

Zaiton for IOC Women and Sport Trophy 2010

As a recognition for her contributions towards sports, Zaiton Othman (picture) has been nominated for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Women and Sport Trophy 2010 award.

The Women and Sport Committee of Olympic Council of Malaysia selected Zaiton as Malaysia's candidate for the prestigious award. The selection was endorsed by OCM President, Tunku Imran ibni Almarhum Tuanku Jaafar recently.

The IOC Women and Sport Trophies are awarded annually to promote the advancement of women in sport. The world body wants to recognize outstanding achievements and contributions made to develop, encourage and strengthen the participation of women and girls at all levels in the sports world.

Six trophies are awarded - one winner at world level and one each to Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe and Ocenia. Some would be given Diplomas. In 2008, Malaysia's nominee Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said was the international winner.

Zaiton, 50, who is the Director of Athletes Welfare at National Sports Council, has been an athlete and official for more than two decades.

She was know as the "Iron Lady" of Malaysian sports because of her domination ini the gruelling heptathlon event. Zaiton won a total of 10 gold medals at SEA Games and Asian Veterans Meets and a few silver and bronzes at Asian Games and Asian Track and Field meets from 1979- 1989.

Upon retirement from competitive sport, Zaiton, a graduate in Physical Education, did her post graduate studies in Sports Psychology and became a Sports Officer with the NSC so that she could devote full time to guiding, counselling and motivating women to pursue excellence as athletes, coaches and leaders.

Marriage and motherhood has not diminished Zaiton's passion and commitment to sports and she remain an inspiring role model for not only elit athletes, but for all youths, men and women.

Her contributiosn towards women and sports include talent identification of girls all over the country (5-11 years of age), conducting camps, seminars and workshops for girls in schools and adult athletes.

Zaiton also is actively involved in various organizations, including OCM's Women and Sport Committe headed by its Vice President, Low Beng Choo.

Bekas penjaga gol hoki negara meninggal dunia

Oleh Hasnira Hassan
niera@nstp.com.my

BEKAS penjaga gol hoki negara era 70-an, Hanapiah Ghani meninggal dunia, pagi semalam selepas menghidap kanser hati.

Allahyarham, 58, dari Kampung Baru menghembuskan nafas terakhir kira-kira jam 8 pagi selepas dikejarkan ke Hospital Kuala Lumpur oleh rakan baiknya. Jenazah dikebumikan di Tanah Perkuburan Jalan Ampang, selepas Asar, semalam.

Allahyarham yang pernah beraksi pada Sukan Seap 1973 - meninggalkan seorang balu, Jasiah Sanwan, 55, serta dua anak, Hezmen Sezly, 36, dan Norizan Jaslyna, 35.

"Kami memang nampak arwah uzur, tapi arwah merahsiakan penyakitnya selama ini," kata Hezmen.

Selepas menamatkan kerjaya dalam hoki pada 1975, Allahyarham bekerja sebagai pengawal keselamatan dengan khidmat terakhir di Istana Budaya dan berhenti kira-kira tiga hari sebelum Aidilfitri.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri!

Khairul derita cedera lutut

Oleh Hassan Omar
hassanomar@bharian.com.my

KHAIRUL menunjukkan lututnya yang perlu dibedah di kediamannya di Penampang, Sabah semalam.

Bekas penjaga gol itu perlu RM16,000 untuk menjalani pembedahan

JIKA ikut perasaan hati, dia masih mahu menabur bakti kepada negara. Jauh di lubuk hatinya masih menyimpan rasa sayang akan pasukan kebangsaan.

Namun, kini pada usia 41 tahun Khairul Azman Mohamad sudah tidak mampu memerah keringat membantu pasukan negara, apatah lagi kecederaan lutut yang tidak pernah susut memaksa dia melupakan terus niat berkenaan.

Namanya tidak perlu diperkenalkan kerana menjadi penjaga gawang antara digeruni satu ketika dulu.

Dia mula berjinak dengan bola sepak pada usia 17 tahun dan bangga dipilih menyertai skuad remaja Pahang pada 1985. Ketangkasannya melayangkan badan menepis bola membantunya dipilih pemain terbaik remaja dan menyarung jersi negara pada Kejohanan Sekolah Asean di Jakarta, tahun yang sama sebelum menyertai skuad kebangsaan pada 1991.

Sejak itu, dia menunjukkan peningkatan mendadak dan menjadi sebutan peminat tanah air, termasuk selepas membantu Pahang menjuarai Piala Malaysia 1992 serta dipilih pemain terbaik Piala Malaysia pada 1996 mewakili Sabah.

Kini, kecederaan lutut semakin menghantui bekas penjaga gawang negara itu dan difahamkan memerlukan pembedahan memasukkan besi pada bahagian itu.

“Saya diberitahu, untuk sebelah lutut, kosnya RM8,000. Kalau dua lutut, sudah jadi RM16,000. Besi itu boleh bertahan antara tujuh hingga lapan tahun.

“Saya tidak mampu, apatah lagi dalam keadaan saya sekarang tidak mempunyai sebarang pekerjaan,” katanya ketika ditemui di kediamannya di Penampang, dekat Kota Kinabalu, baru-baru ini.

Syarikat dan individu yang prihatin boleh menderma menerusi akaun Yayasan Kebajikan Atlet Kebangsaan (Yakeb) untuk kempen 1Ringgit 1Malaysia, 564847005696 (Maybank) atau disalurkan menerusi SMS dengan menaip YAKEB1, YAKEB2, YAKEB5 atau YAKEB10 (RM1, RM2, RM5, RM10) ke 33898.

Jasa dan pengorbanan pemain ini boleh ditontoni melalui program Bersamamu-Wira Sukan, Anda Tetap Di Hati di TV3, jam 9.30 malam ini.

SportCheck: These are painful days for Khairul

Roy Goh

"ONE does the dangdut and the other does the breakdance," quipped Khairul Azman Mohammed as he referred to his two legs.

The former national goalkeeper put his hands behind his right knee and pushed the lower part of his leg forward by an inch or so from his thigh. With his left knee, he moved it from side to side.

But dance is furthest from Khairul's mind as the 41-year-old father of four endures pain everyday.

His right knee does not have any ligaments, tendon or meniscus, key components that links limbs. His left knee is without ligaments and tendon.

Khairul Azman showing his injured knee which has forced him to retire from playing and even from coaching. — PIC: DATU RUSLAN SULAI.

Just to ease the pain that comes with the condition, Khairul has to go for treatment every two weeks at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu.

"I guess this is what you get for giving it all you got when it comes to playing the sport you love and not bothering about the consequences," he said.

"Even when I was sitting for my SPM exam, I would hurriedly finish my papers and rush to the field nearby for training.

"That was me in those days, if there was pain on the legs, I would get them bandaged or treated with some massage or even painkillers just to make sure I can play.'

Renowned for his long locks of hair. commanding appearance and booming voice that intimidated many on the field, Khairul's talent and determination had brought him much success internationally.

Khairul started playing for the national juniors in 1985 and by 1991 he was drafted into the senior squad. He also led Pahang to Malaysia Cup success in 1992 and Sabah to the FA Cup title in 1995 and the Premier League crown in 1996. Khairul was named the best goalkeeper in Southeast Asia in 1995.

A towering figure who started his career as a 17-year-old with the Pahang team in 1985, Khairul is now unemployed and depends solely on a monthly pension of RM540 from the Social Security Organisation. He retired prematurely in 2005 after turning out for Sabah whom he first joined in 1995.

"I was already injured before that but I gave it a try and lasted only three games. After that I turned to coaching until last year," said Khairul who now considers Sabah his home.

"I would have continued but I was advised to rest because my knees are becoming more and more painful by the day and I am supposed to go for surgery," he said.

But Khairul, who does not have a regular income and a family to feed, could not afford the RM16,000 needed for the operation to do tendon or ligament replacements.

"The pain is still bearable but if it worsens, I have no choice but to go for surgery," he said.

Khairul now leads a simple and quiet life with his wife Khairiah alias Caren John Bion in Penampang and their child. He has three other children from a previous marriage but they live in Pahang.

"If I can have this surgery, I wish to return to coaching or even contribute to sports development in whatever manner. I will advise young athletes to take care of their health and not end up like me."

Khairul's plight is among those highlighted in the National Athletes Charity Foundation (YAKEB) 1Ringgit 1Malaysia donation drive.

Contributions can be made directly to the Yayasan Kebajikan Atlet Kebangsaan -- Tabung Yakeb (Maybank account No: 564847005696.

Donations can also be made via SMS: Type YAKEB1, YAKEB2, YAKEB5 or YAKEB10 and send to 33898.

Donation boxes are also available at NSTP headquarters in Jalan Riong, Bangsar and branch offices, BSN branches nationwide and Pos Malaysia branches.

For enquiries, contact 03-89964841/4844 or log on to www.yakeb.org.my.

• Watch Bersamamu-Wira Sukan, Anda tetap Di Hati on TV3 at 9.30pm tonight.

Ayah pernah tumbuk Ramli

Oleh Harris Rajahdin
harajah@bharian.com.my

Ramli Hashim

Bekas pelumba basikal itu kini terlantar kerana diserang diabetes

TIADA apa yang dapat menghalang Ramli Hashim daripada meneruskan kegiatan mengayuh basikal yang menjadi kegilaannya itu, bahkan bangkangan ayahnya sendiri gagal melunturkan semangatnya daripada bergiat dalam sukan yang dicintai itu.

Sehinggakan penumbuk ayahnya yang hinggap di mukanya sebagai hukuman kedegilan Ramli, seakan mencabarnya untuk terus menggiatkan diri dalam lumba basikal, biarpun menyedari tidak mendapat restu daripada orang tuanya.

“Saya pernah kena tumbuk oleh ayah kerana memintanya membeli basikal lumba. Saya ingat lagi masa itu waktu makan, apa lagi selepas mendengar permintaan saya, dia mengangkat mangkuk dengan kuah panas dan menjirus ke atas kepala saya,” kata bekas pelumba berusia 63 yang ditemui di kediamannya di Selayang.

Kebimbangan ayah Ramli sebenarnya berasas kerana abang Ramli menemui ajalnya di padang bola sepak.

Namun semua itu gagal membunuh keazaman Ramli kerana akhirnya berjaya memiliki basikal yang diidamkan, sungguhpun ayahnya tidak pernah sekali pun membeli basikal sukan yang dimintanya sejak sekian lama.

“Ketika itu, saya sering singgah di Clementi (Singapura), kawasan yang terkenal dengan kegiatan berlumba. Seorang kawan saya nak jual basikalnya dengan harga RM230 tetapi masa tu saya hanya mempunyai RM80 saja.

“Ayah memberi saya RM60, duit saya masih tidak mencukupi lalu saya beralih minat kepada bermain gitar. Baru dua hari selepas itu, kawan saya memanggil saya, bertanyakan jumlah wang yang ada dan menyuruh saya membayar bakinya secara ansuran,” katanya.

Dengan basikal itu bermulalah kerjayanya dalam lumba basikal dengan penyertaannya dalam Sukan Seap 1973, tiga bulan selepas menceburi sukan itu yang menyaksikannya merangkul tiga pingat perak, dalam 1,600 meter ujian masa, 800m dan 400m lepas beramai-ramai.

Kini, kerjaya gemilang Ramli tinggal kenangan buatnya dengan dia kini menghabiskan usianya di rumah berikutan penyakit diabetes yang dihidapinya lapan tahun lalu yang menyaksikan dirinya terpaksa melupakan kegilaannya, mengayuh basikal.

“Saya mula menghidapi penyakit ini lapan tahun lalu, setahun selepas menjalankan ibadah haji. Saya kini menyara diri dengan mengharapkan wang pencen saja,” katanya merujuk pekerjaannya sebelum ini sebagai pegawai Majlis Sukan Negara.

Syarikat dan individu yang prihatin boleh menderma menerusi akaun Yakeb untuk kempen 1Ringgit 1Malaysia, 564847005696 (Maybank) atau disalurkan menerusi SMS dengan menaip YAKEB1, YAKEB2, YAKEB5 atau YAKEB10 (RM1, RM2, RM5, RM10) ke 33898.

Kisah Rosli boleh dilihat menerusi program Bersamamu-Wira Sukan, Anda Tetap Di Hati di TV3 malam ini.

Reliving the past with Merdeka Stadium

Its doors will open for events in December or January

THERE is a fervent attempt to bring the glory back to Merdeka Stadium. And PNB chairman Tun Ahmad Sarji wants to start with staging the Merdeka Tournament annually.

"The stadium will be ready by November. We're looking at opening its doors either by December or perhaps early January," said Ahmad Sarji, also chairman of IIUM and Lawns Bowls Association of Malaysia.

"We want national sports associations to talk to us. We want them to bring their events back. It would be fabulous if the FA of Malaysia organises the Merdeka Tournament where it all started - at Merdeka Stadium."

Merdeka Stadium holds special meaning to the country. It was built for the declaration of Independence on Aug 31, 1957. It was later turned into a sporting hub, hosting a series of events including the Muhammad Ali vs Joe Bugner clash on July 1, 1975, the 1977 SEA Games and the annual Merdeka Tournament.

It also saw concerts by, among others, the late King of Pop Michael Jackson, Kool and the Gang, Celine Dion and Linkin Park.

Modernisation took its toll on Merdeka Stadium and Stadium Negara, a stone's thrown away. It was almost torn down but due to a public outcry, plans to redevelop the land were shelved. Then came along PNB, promising
to upkeep all 14 acres of the land housing the stadiums and developing the surrounding 19 acres - ranging from posh residential areas to business plazas at a gross development value of RM3 billion.

"PNB is the owner but the stadiums are entrusted with the PNB's Merdeka Heritage Trust Foundation.

"The first phase of restoration works was to commemorate the 50th Merdeka celebrations in 2007. Now we're into our second phase and have spent around RM8.5 million to give Merdeka Stadium its original look," added Ahmad Sarji.

The restoration works will include the construction of the saluting platform at the grandstand, retaining walls, minor repairs and a scoreboard complete with State emblems - almost like what the stadium looked like when it was built.

The upper terraces have been torn down and as such, the seating capacity is now reduced from 45,000 to 20,000 - just as it was in 1957. Also gone is the running track.

Stadium Negara, meanwhile, will house a sports library, a gymnasium and a gallery celebrating historical
feats achieved at both Merdeka Stadium and Stadium Negara.

"We're got plans for Stadium Negara. Let's keep that for another day," Ahmad Sarji said. Merdeka Stadium was awarded the 2008 Unesco Asia-Pacifi c Heritage Award of Excellence and was declared a National Heritage by the Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry earlier this year.

"National stadiums are objects of pride with history. Sadly, many are under-utilised. It is now up to the NSAs to approach us and make use of the facilities.

"They should know the number of spectators expected in the preliminary rounds and the critical stages. Merdeka Stadium is in the heart of town, has ample parking space and excellent public transportation.

"If organisers want to relive past memories, if they want reasonable prices to host a reasonable crowd, then Merdeka Stadium is the place for it," Ahmad Sarji said.

Sportcheck — FAM says why not

PRIDE: Ahmad Sarji with the awards given to Stadium Merdeka

WHY not? That was the immediate reaction from FA of Malaysia (FAM) deputy-president Datuk Seri Redzuan Sheikh Ahmad on utilising Merdeka Stadium as the main venue for football events, including the Merdeka Tournament.

“Obviously, the field must be of international standard as we host international teams. That aside, I feel it would be wonderful to have the matches at Merdeka Stadium,” said Redzuan.

Perbadanan Nasional Berhad (PNB) chairman Tun Ahmad Sarji has urged national sports associations, including FAM, to use Merdeka Stadium when it opens its doors again by the end of this year.

Redzuan said the reduced seating capacity would not be a problem.

“We know when there will be fans and when there isn’t going to be a large crowd. We can also use two or more stadiums and shift the venues once the numbers get larger, which would normally be during the more critical stages of a tournament,” added Redzuan.

Merdeka Stadium staged a string of football activities. It saw the likes of the late Mokhtar Dahari, Santokh Singh, Dollah Salleh and national coach K. Rajagobal play on the field.

“We couldn’t organise the Merdeka Tournament and Intercontinental Cup this year due to the swine flu.

“There’s still plenty of time for next year’s edition. Who knows, if all goes well it may be a good idea to use Merdeka Stadium as the venue,” Redzuan added.

Stadium history

MERDEKA STADIUM was constructed in 1956 for Malaysia’s declaration of Independence on Aug 31, 1957.

From its original capacity of 20,000, the stadium was later able to fit 40,000 people and running tracks were included, turning it into a multi-sports facility.

Merdeka Stadium hosted a series of sports, cultural and arts activities, including the 1965 and 1971 SEAP Games, 1977 and 1989 SEA Games, national athletics meets, the annual Merdeka Tournament, the memorable Muhammad Ali vs Joe Bugner heavyweight title clash, a number of concerts including German rock band Scorpions, the late King of Pop Michael Jackson and Hong Kong stars such as Leslie Cheung and Aaron Kwok.

STADIUM NEGARA was declared open on April 10, 1962 by our third King Tuanku Syed Putra. It was the scene of several world badminton triumphs, including the Thomas Cup victory of 1992. It too held several concerts, including Santana in mid-70s, and Disneyland shows.

CHIN WOO STADIUM is anotherfamous landmark in the area. Built in the 1950s by YT Lee, the stadium was a favourite badminton and aquatics hub. It remains so today as it is located in the heart of town. National swimming championships were mostly held there.

MERDEKA STADIUM HIGHLIGHTS

Sept 25, 1956 – Construction began

Aug 21, 1957 – Stadium fully completed with a capacity of 20,000 at a cost of RM2.3 million

Aug 30, 1957 – Officially launched by Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman

Aug 31, 1957 – Saw Malaysia’s declaration of Independence

1957 – 1995 – Hosted the Pestabola Merdeka tournament

1965, 1971 – Hosted the SEAP Games

1977, 1989 – Hosted the SEA Games

July 1, 1975 – Muhammed Ali fought Joe Bugner for the heavyweight title

1994 – Talk of demolishing Stadium Merdeka and Stadium Negara heightened after UEM was granted the rights to develop the land. Proposed was a RM1 billion complex of office blocks, shopping complex, high-end residential areas, park, amphitheatre and entertainment centre.

Oct 27, 1996 – Michael Jackson performed in front of a packed stadium

2001 – PNB acquired the land from UEM as the latter had no financial capability to proceed with the billion-ringgit project due to the economic downturn. PNB would redevelop the surrounding land but restore the two stadiums for sporting activities

Aug 31, 2007 – 50th Merdeka Celebrations held at Stadium Merdeka

Dec 2009 – Expected completion of Stadium Merdeka restoration works

Malay Mail

Romli's leg wound a bane

By Nadia Badarudin

IN his glory days, Romli Desa made Malaysia proud of his skills and talent in cycling.

Known as "'Raja Bukit" (King of the Hills), Romli started making a name for himself in cycling after representing the country at the Southeast Asian Peninsular (Seap) Games when he was 20.

The Sungai Petani-born cyclist also actively coached youths in Kedah, and fervently hoped for them to represent Malaysia.

Now, at 58, he cannot even cycle.

In a freak accident in 1980, Romli’s right leg was nearly severed at the ankle. — Pic: SYAHARIM ABIDIN

In a freak accident in 1980, Romli's right leg was nearly severed at the ankle. He was hospitalised for a year, and because of the accident, was unable to walk properly or cycle again.

He became disabled.

He had no choice but to give up the career he loved so much.

Although the accident happened more than 25 years ago, Romli's leg has yet to be fully healed.

"I have to go to a private clinic to get the wound cleaned and the dressing changed everyday. The medical bills and medicines alone cost me more than RM400 a month," said Romli.

The former Sungai Petani Municipal Council driver lives with his wife, Muhaizah Ali, 55, a homemaker, and two children -- aged 15 and 19 -- and survives on a pension of RM700 a month.

He has four other children who are married and living with their own families.

"Several years ago, I could still try to make ends meet with a small catering business with the help of my wife and children.

"Unfortunately, I now find going to wet markets to buy the necessities for the business an uphill task. My foot cannot take it," he said, before adding that he and his wife survive by doing odd jobs.

He applied to the welfare department for aid but had not received any response.

Romli, whose talent was discovered by the Kedah Cycling Association in the early 70s, first represented Malaysia in the track and highway categories at the seventh Seap Games in Kuala Lumpur in 1971.

He came to prominence when his team took gold in the team category at the 1973 Seap Games in Singapore.

Romli, who finished second in the pre-qualification test for the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, won gold at the Track Cycling Malaysia Open Tournament organised by the Penang Cycling Association and was declared the country's best cyclist in 1973.

The year also saw Romli win the "King of the Hills" title in the Four-Levels Kuala Lumpur-Alor Star Cycling Tournament.

Romli started coaching and sharing his knowledge and expertise with several cycling associations in the state before the accident.

His plight is among those highlighted in the National Athletes' Charity Foundation's (YAKEB) 1Ringgit 1Malaysia donation drive.

"I wish that my injury heals, I wish I could continue to train youngsters who share the same passion for cycling. I want them to make Malaysia proud," he said.

Those who wish to contribute to the 1Ringgit 1Malaysia campaign can send their donations to YAKEB's Maybank account number 564847005696 or SMS YAKEB1 to donate RM1, YAKEB2 for RM2, YAKEB5 for RM5 and YAKEB10 for RM10 and send to 33898.

Donation boxes are also located at NSTP headquarters and branch offices as well as at Bank Simpanan Nasional and post office branches nationwide.

For enquiries, contact 03-89964841/4844 or log on to www.yakeb.org.my

l Watch BersamaMu -- Wira Sukan, Anda Tetap Di Hati on TV3 at 9.30pm tonight.

Kecewa tak dapat ke Munich ‘72 terasa hingga kini

Oleh Omar Osman
bhsukan@bharian.com.my

BUKTI kesungguhan untuk memikul cabaran negara pernah menyaksikan Ramli Desa sanggup mengayuh basikal daripada Alor Star ke Kuala Lumpur untuk menjalani latihan skuad Sukan Seap 1971.

Namun kerjayanya dalam sukan berbasikal berakhir pada 1980 apabila mengalami kecederaan kaki kanannya akibat dirempuh kereta di persimpangan Batu Dua, Jalan Kampung Raja yang mengakibatkannya terlantar hampir setahun di hospital.

Kini, selepas bersara daripada jawatan selaku pemandu di Majlis Perbandaran Sungai Petani, Ramli, 58, sekadar tinggal di rumah bersama isterinya, Muhaiza Ali.

“Jika dibanding ketika ini, pelumba dulu memang susah. Tiada kemudahan dan bantuan, malah saya terpaksa berjimat daripada gaji RM130 sebulan untuk membeli basikal berharga RM500.

“Kini, pelumba beruntung kerana bukan saja disediakan basikal, malah tempat latihan moden dan berlatih pula di luar negara,” katanya yang pernah membantu skuad berbasikal lebuh raya memenangi pingat emas Sukan Seap 1973 di Singapura.

Dua kekecewaan masih tersimpan dalam ingatannya - apabila basikalnya rosak 15km sebelum tamat kejohanan Asia di Singapura selain tidak dapat beraksi di Sukan Olimpik Munich 1972 biarpun namanya tersenarai.

Selepas kemalangan itu, dia pernah menjadi jurulatih berbasikal Kedah dan antara pelumba pernah mendapat asuhannya termasuklah Samsudin Abdullah dan Aziman Ahmad.

“Ketika ini, memang sukar untuk menyara keluarga dengan wang pencen RM700. Saya berterima kasih kepada isteri Perdana Menteri, Datin Seri Rosman Mansor yang melancarkan Tabung 1Ringgit 1Malaysia untuk membantu bekas atlit seperti saya,” katanya.

Pihak dan individu prihatin boleh menderma menerusi akaun Yakeb untuk kempen 1Ringgit 1Malaysia, 564847005696 (Maybank) atau disalurkan menerusi SMS dengan menaip YAKEB1, YAKEB2, YAKEB5 atau YAKEB10 (RM1, RM2, RM5, RM10) ke 33898.

Selamat Menyambut Ramadhan!

The Office Bearers and members of OCM wish to extend their greetings
to all members of OCM, NSAs, Sponsors, Media, and etc. Selamat Menyambut Ramadhan.

Spare a thought for Nadarajan

K. Kandiah

WHEN he was fit and strong, Nadarajan Devarajo sacrificed for the country as a national athlete. Today, at 35 years old, he is an invalid.

Nadarajan's passion for sports in general and athletics in particular was immense and he also had dreams of seeing his children run for Malaysia.

Tragically, a freak accident made the sprinter an invalid for life. He now needs 24-hour care and he cannot speak properly.

He cannot recognise faces but could recall if narrated. His memory remains intact except for the accident. The badly damaged part of his brain was removed.

The former bank officer was in a coma for six months and doctors have given up hope on his recovery.

Nadarajan suffered more misery when he fell and broke his leg during a physiotherapy session.

He lives with his wife Shamala Dorasamy, 30, a homemaker, and four children, Jivithra, 8, Lineysa, 7, and four-year-old twins Peravinash and Peravishah on a Socso aid of RM1,126 a month.

The Socso help is not enough. His medical bills, special diet milk, and pampers alone cost more than RM700 per month.

He applied to the welfare department for aid but has not received any response.

The wheelchair-bound Nadarajan and his family are now living with his sister D. Piramila, 34, who is a nurse at a private hospital, on the 21st floor of a rented apartment.

Nadarajan's plight is among those highlighted in the National Athletes' Charity Foundation's (Yakeb) 1Ringgit 1Malaysia donation drive.

He hopes the government would include ex-athletes of earlier years, especially the permanently disabled in its pension scheme.

"We should not be forgotten. We also need help. We, too, sacrificed to bring glory to Malaysia," he said.

"It is very difficult for me to maintain my family with the Socso money alone. My wife cannot go to work as she has to take care of me.

Nadarajan, with his wife and children, has to manage life on a monthly Socso pension of RM1,126. — Pic: RAMDZAN MASIAM

"My family and I now have to 'tumpang' with my sister," he said.

Nadarajan won bronze in the 400m and silver in the 4x400m at the 1995 Chiangmai Sea Games and silver in the 400m and gold in the 4x400m gold at the 1997 Jakarta Sea Games.

He also represented Malaysia in the 1993 Asean Schools Athletics Championships in Jakarta, the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games and the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games.

The former Kepala Batas Datuk Haji Abdul Kadir schoolboy first came to prominence by winning the 400m in the 1993 National Junior Athletics Championships in Penang.

Two years later, he grabbed the gold in the same event at the National Open Athletics Championships and set a Penang state record of 47 seconds which has remained unbroken till today.

Teacher-cum-athletics coach S. Ramachandran, who discovered Nadarajan's talent, said the latter was a dedicated athlete who worked hard to achieve success.

Those who wish to contribute to the 1Ringgit 1Malaysia campaign can send their donations to Yakeb's Maybank account number 564847005696 or SMS YAKEB1 to donate RM1, YAKEB2 for RM2, TAKEB5 for RM5 and YAKEB10 for RM10 and send to 33898. Each SMS costs RM0.50.

For enquiries, contact 03-89964841/4844 or log on to www.yakeb.org.my.

* Watch BersamaMu-Wira Sukan, Anda Tetap Di Hati on TV3 at 9.30pm tonight.

Nadarajan harap jasa tidak dilupa

NADARAJAN (berkerusi roda) menerima kunjungan mesra pelajar USM dan wakil penaja, Faiza ketika mengadakan lawatan ke rumahnya di Tanjung Bungah, semalam.

Pernah menang emas 4x400m Sukan Sea

SUKAR untuk dipercayai, D Nadarajan yang dulu gagah berlari di atas trek, kini terlantar sakit pada usia 35 tahun.

Kerjaya gemilangnya sebagai atlit kebangsaan terpaksa dipendekkan berikutan kemalangan tragik yang mengakibatkan dirinya terlantar sakit untuk seumur hidupnya. Dia kini memerlukan penjagaan 24 jam dan kehilangan keupayaan untuk bertutur.

Dia tidak lagi boleh mengenali wajah tetapi boleh mengingati mereka jika dibantu. Ingatannya masih kekal kecuali jika ditanya mengenai kemalangan itu. Bahagian otaknya yang cedera teruk itu dikeluarkan.

Bekas pegawai bank itu berada dalam koma selama enam bulan. Nadarajan terus dirundung derita apabila jatuh dan patah kakinya sewaktu sesi fisioterapi.

Dia kini tinggal bersama isterinya, Shamala Dorasamy, 30, seorang suri rumah dan empat anak, Jivithra, 8, Lineysa, 7 dan kembar berusia empat tahun, Peravinash dan Peravishah yang ditanggungnya atas bantuan RM1,126 sebulan oleh Perkeso.

Bantuan Perkeso itu tidak mencukupi. Yuran perubatannya, susu diet istimewa, (Alpha Lipid) dan lampin memerlukan perbelanjaan lebih RM700 sebulan. Nadarajan pernah memohon kepada Jabatan Kebajikan tetapi tidak menerima sebarang maklum balas.

Nasib Nadarajan antara mereka yang mahu diketengahkan dalam kempen 1Ringgit 1Malaysia anjuran Yayasan Kebajikan Atlit Kebangsaaan.

"Kami seharusnya tidak dilupakan. Kami juga memerlukan bantuan. Kami juga berkorban untuk membawa kejayaan buat Malaysia.

"Ia adalah sukar untuk menyara keluarga dengan wang Perkeso semata-mata. Isteri saya tidak boleh bekerja kerana menjaga saya yang sakit," katanya yang memenangi emas acara 4x400m di Sukan Sea Jakarta 1997.

Mereka yang prihatin boleh menderma menerusi akaun Maybank Yakeb untuk kempen 1Ringgit 1Malaysia, 564847005696. Sumbangan juga boleh disalurkan menerusi sms YAKEB1, YAKEB2, YAKEB5 atau YAKEB10 (RM1, RM2, RM5, RM10) ke 33898.

Tabung kutipan juga turut disediakan di pejabat NSTP di Jalan Riong, Kuala Lumpur selain pejabat cawangannya di seluruh negara begitu juga Bank Simpanan Nasional.

Anda boleh menonton kisah Nadarajan menerusi program BersamaMu-Wira, Anda Tetap di Hati di TV3 jam 9.30 malam ini.- BERITA HARIAN

SportCheck: Thanks to his tough father

Vinashal Pillai

HIS father threw him into the river when he was eight years old. He was born with disabilities in his right hand and in both his legs,

It was not to end his life but to prepare him for adversities when he grew up.

Zul Amirul Sidi Abdullah vividly recalled that day. "When I was young, I used to accompany my father to the paddy fields in Miri. And one day, on the way home he said to me, 'You will thank me for this' and literally flung me into the river."

"My father was teaching me how to swim," he said.

Today, the 37-year-old father of four is a "professional" athlete though he is unable to secure a permanent job due to his disability.

The Sarawakian had competed in several meets, including the 2002 Asean Para Games in South Korea, the 2004 Paralympics in Athens, and 2008 in Beijing.

Zul Amirul Sidi Abdullah takes a breather during training at the National Sports Council in Bukit Jalil. — Pic: MOHD YUSNI ARIFFIN

A certified swimming instructor, he used to teach children during a short working stint in a factory in Nilai, Negri Sembilan.

Ranked World No 5 in the 50 metres backstroke, Zul trains daily at the National Sports Council (NSC) in Bukit Jalil and goes back to his rented flat in Paroi, Seremban, to see his wife and children every weekend.

The Asean Para Games silver medallist is the sole bread winner in the family as his wife is unable to work due to back pain. He takes home RM700 a month which includes allowances from NSC and RM200 from the welfare department.

"I make do with what I have, It's not much but I'm thankful to NSC and the Malaysian Paralympic Council for supporting me all these years," he said.

Zul, who will compete in the Asean Para Games in Kuala Lumpur from Saturday, said: "I will eventually retire one day. It's a scary thought but my main focus right now is the Asean Para Games.

"My main event is the 50m backstroke. In Korea, I managed only a silver out of three events (50m, 100m backstroke and 50m freestyle).

" My target is three gold medals and I'm not intimidated by the competition," said Zul with a smile.

Zul is one of the many Malaysian disabled athletes who defy the odds to shine in their sports because of their determination.

The National Athletes Charity Foundation's (Yakeb) 1Ringgit 1Malaysia campaign was launched in June to help former athletes and current athletes. It offers two coverage plans -- for former athletes below the age of 69 and for those above 70.

Donations and sponsorship should be channeled to Yayasan Kebajikan Atlet Kebangsaan -- Tabung Yakeb, Maybank account No: 564847005696, or SMS YAKEB1 to donate RM1, YAKEB2 for RM2, YAKEB5 for RM5 and YAKEB10 for RM10 and send to 33898. Each SMS costs 50 sen.

For enquiries, contact, 03-89964841/4844 or visit www.yakeb.org.my.

n Watch BersamaMu-Wira Sukan, Anda Tetap Di Hati on TV3 at 9.30pm tonight.