Former MHF secretary Aryaduray dies at 86

PETALING JAYA: Malaysian sports lost another great administrator when K. Aryaduray (pic), one of Malaysian Hockey Federation’s (MHF) founder members, died after a short illness at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre here yesterday.

He was 86.

Aryaduray was the first secretary of the Malayan Hockey Federation (as it was known back in 1953), which took over from the then Malayan Hockey Council (formed in 1948 and which had control of the game in Singapore and Malaya).
Aryaduray was the first secretary of the MHF, serving from 1953 to 1959.

He also had a hand in the forming of the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM), serving as a secretary as well.
The late N.M. Vasagam was the first secretary of the OCM and Aryaduray was his assistant. Aryaduray took over as secretary from 1957 to 1961.

Among the other posts that he had held were honorary secretary of the Selangor HA (1952-56); honorary secretary of the MHF (1953-59); honorary assistant secretary of the Federation of Malaya Olympic Council (1953-56); honorary secretary of Federation of Malaya Olympic Council (1957-61); Member of the Board of Control, Merdeka Stadium (1957-59); Member of the Council of the Asian Games Federation (1957-61).
The national hockey team took part in the Olympic Games for the first time in Melbourne in 1956 and Aryaduray was the team manager. Malaysia finished ninth out of 12 teams.

Aryaduray also had the distinction of umpiring one of the classification matches at the Games held in Melbourne.

When Aryaduray relinquished his post as MHF secretary, his place was taken over by his protege Datuk G. Vijiyanathan.

“He was a quiet and reserved man. He roped me into hockey. He served in many capacities and had the honour of leading the OCM as well. I do not think that people of this generation will remember him. He was one of those officials who had served at a time when sports was just starting out in this country and who set the framework for what the game is today,” recalled Vijiyanathan.

In 2002, Aryaduray was inducted into the OCM’s Hall of Fame and he was quoted as saying that the “love and passion for the game was the main thing for sportsman and officials of that era”.

Aryaduray leaves behind five children and nine grandchildren to mourn his loss. His son A. Asohan is a former editor in The Star.

The funeral will be held later this week, after the return of his daughters from overseas. Those who wish to pay their respects can do so at No. 4, Lorong 8/3H, Petaling Jaya. For more information, contact 03-79559993.

Late Daud’s family gets compensation from Malaysian National Cycling Federation

PETALING JAYA: The family of the late Daud Ibrahim received RM15,000 in insurance compensation from the Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) yesterday.

Daud, an official of the Johor Cycling Association, died in a car accident on Nov 11 last year. He was 63.
Firdaus Ibrahim, Daud’s son, received the cheque on behalf of the family.

Daud won two medals at the 1970 Asian Games, claiming gold in the keirin and a bronze in the 1km time trial.
The next year, he delighted the Kuala Lumpur crowd with five titles at the South- East Asian (SEAP) Games.
He also represented the nation at the 1972 Olympics and 1974 Commonwealth Games.

20-Year-old Back Up Squad Bowler Dies Of Heart Failure

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 13 (Bernama) -- National back up squad bowler Khoo Beng Khai, 20, died of heart failure after collapsing at the National Sports Council (NSC) car park in Bukit Jalil, lWednesday night.

NSC director-general Datuk Zolkples Embong said Khoo had collapsed while trying to park his car at 11.45pm after returning from supper with fellow bowlers.

"I was told that Khoo had just returned from supper at a nearby restaurant with four fellow bowlers. During the incident the friends panicked when Khoo suddenly collapsed.

"They managed to stop the car by applying the emergency brake (hand brake) before calling an ambulance," Zolkples told reporters after paying his last respects at the Serdang Hospital.

Khoo was pronounced dead at 1.15am after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) attempts failed to revive him.

Zolkples said Khoo had not shown any signs of health problems because a medical check up done two months ago was good.

"Khoo demise is a big loss to bowling because he is a very determined and committed bowler who has vast potential and can go far," he said.

Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress honorary secretary Sidney Tung said the body of Khoo would be taken to his home town in Penang for burial on Saturday.

The late Khoo won the Youth Open at the 34th Canon Malaysia International Open Championships this year as well as the 11th Milo International Junior All Stars Bowling Championships in 2010.

Hammering the elusive GOLD

The name Ghenda Singh may not featureprominently in the pages of history books but the sheer grit and determination of this man will surely rank amongst the country's most famous sportsmen.

Genda was a hammer thrower who ruled supreme at national level and donned national colours with pride despite the fact that honours did not come his way from the international front.

What made Ghenda stand ahead and shoulders above the other, apart from his frame, was the fact that he was an active participant right until the age of 51 - or until he retired from the police force.

This is all the more remarkable as many of his compatriots in athletics had call it quits while being only in their 20s. As they went on to focus on thier families and jobs, Ghenda sacrificed his time and effort to bring honours to the nation.

R.I.P Ghenda Singh

Former national hammer thrower, Ghenda Singh Amar Singh passed away at the University Malaya Medical Centre on Sunday (9/10/11). He was 89.

I do not know Ghenda that well but I have been a close friend with his son Semret Singh, another national hammer thrower, since the 1980s. I know how much Semret looked up to his father and at this time, I would like to extend my deepest condolence to Semret and his brothers and sister.

Semret continued the tradition and won two Sea Games gold medals (1985 Bangkok and 1989 KL) and even broke his father's record of 44.14m after managing 51.644m at the Police Games in 1986.

The earlier record was set by Ghenda in 1966 in Ipoh.

Ghenda started competing in 1960 and retired after the 1977 KL Seap Games at the age of 55. A pectoral muscle tear did not stop him as he defied doctors' orders to compete in the 1977 Games. He won the bronze medal.

Ghenda leaves behind wife Mohinder Kaur, sons — Semret, Kulwant, Kaldip, Manohor, Mahinderjit — and daughter Persin Kaur to mourn his loss.

Those wishing to pay their last respects can do so at No 2, Jalan BRP 4/10, Bukit Rahman Putra, Sungai Buloh, 47000, Selangor. The cottage will leave the house at 10.00am on Wednesday to Jalan Loke Yew Cemetery in Kuala Lumpur. - FAIR PLAY

Former Pahang star Azam is dead

FORMER Pahang footballer Azam Bakar, who guided the state to their first Malaysia Cup title in 1983, lost his battle against cancer yesterday.

The 54-year-old defender died at the Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital in Kuantan about 12.30pm after fighting liver cancer for more than two months, which eventually left him bedridden.

Azam, from Kampung Seberang Guai, Temerloh, was a member of the victorious Pahang team that also featured Rosmaini Mohd Shah, Datuk Jamal Nasir and Tajuddin Nor, who edged Selangor 3-2 after extra-time at Merdeka Stadium.

After donning state colours between 1978 and 1984, the father of four chose to hang up his boots and turned to coaching.

He became assistant to former chief coach Mike Brown who led Pahang to their second Malaysia Cup title in 1992.

He also served as assistant to former Pahang coach Jorgen E. Larsen and Fuzzeimi Ibrahim before signing up as coach for the Pahang Agriculture Development Authority side that featured in the 1995 Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) League.

Azam leaves behind wife, Zainab Arifin, 52 and four children, Azrul Syaffiq, 26, Alia Syafiqa, 23, Amirul Syafiqq, 21 and Aidil Syafiq, 16.

Present at the Bukit Ubi Muslim burial ground yesterday were former teammates, including Tajuddin, Abdullah Din and Terengganu T-Team coach Yunus Aliff. -- T.N. ALAGESH