Kathirvale among eight inducted into OCM Hall of Fame

Former greats: Kathirvale (fourth from left) with the others inducted into the OCM- Hall of Fame and OCM president Tunku Tan Sri Imran Tuanku Ja’afar (left) and Danyal.

EIGHTY-TWO-year-old S. Kathirvale had reasons to be elated when he was inducted into the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) - Hall of Fame at the Coca-Cola Olympian of the Year ceremony in Kuala Lumpur recently.

Kathirvale, a former FIFA referee and FIH umpire, said he was pleased to be on stage with some of the top officials and athletes in Malaysia.

“I started being involved as a match official, in both hockey and football, when I was 28. It was very challenging then and there were days when abuses were hurled at me. But today, the OCM had made me proud with this honour,’’ said Kathirvale.

Besides Kathirvale, the OCM also honoured Datuk Khalid Yunus, Datuk W.Y. Chin, Datuk Seri Kee Yong Wee, S. Jahendran, Datuk Thomas Lee, Marina Chin and Karu Selvaratnam.

Khalid, Chin, Yong Wee and Jahendran had served in the OCM. Khalid and Chin were vice- presidents while Yong Wee and Jahendran were treasurer and assistant treasurer respectively. Former athletes — Marina Chin and Karu Selvaratnam — also made it to the Hall of Fame.

Marina, now the principal of the Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS), won three gold medals in the 1977 and 1979 SEAP Games. She was also named as the Sportswoman of the Year in 1976 and 1977. Karu has the honour of having represented Malaysia in athletics and cricket.

Organising chairman Datuk Danyal Balagopal said the awards were a recognition for the recipients’ contribution to sports.

“All the winners have an impressive track record as administrators and athletes. They deserve to be given the honour to be inducted into the OCM Hall of Fame,’’ said Danyal, who is also the OCM vice-president.
BJSS netball coach Choo Kon Lee was presented with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Women and Sports Diploma.

The Olympian of the Year awards went to shooter Nur Suryani Mohd Taibi and archer Cheng Chu Sian. Both were impressive in the recent SEA Games in Indonesia. Nur Suryani won the 10m air rifle and 50m three position gold medals while Chu Sian won the individual and team events.


Both Nur Suryani and Chu Sian were rewarded with RM10,000 and a medallion each.
 
Roll of Honour
Olympian of the Year (women): Nur Suryani Mohd Taibi (shooting).
Olympian of the Year (men): Cheng Chu Sian (archery)

IOC Women and Sport Diploma: Choo Kon Lee (netball)

IOC Trophy (Sport and Social Responsibility); Saujana Golf and Country Club

Hall of Fame: Datuk Khalid Yunus, Datuk W.Y. Chin, Datuk Seri Kee Yong Wee. S. Jahendran, Datuk Thomas Lee, S. Kathirvale, Marina Chin, Karu Selvaratnam.

Tahniah! Datuk Santokh Singh

Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah conferring the ‘Darjah Datuk Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah’ award, which carries the title ‘Datuk’, on former national footballer Datuk Santokh Singh at Istana Alam Shah in Klang yesterday

PM Hails Nicol David As Malaysia's Most Successful Sports Icon

Nicol David showing Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak her World Open trophy at his office in Putrajaya yesterday. Bernama pic

PUTRAJAYA, Dec 5 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak hailed national squash queen Datuk Nicol Ann David on Monday as the country's most successful sports icon, saying her ability to defend the world title for six consecutive years is unmatched.

Speaking to reporters after receiving a courtesy call by the World No. 1 squash player at his office here, Najib expressed the hope that her success would spur other athletes to similarly excel in their respective sports.

"On behalf of the government and the people Malaysia, I would like to extend heartiest congratulations to Nicol," he said.

Present were Nicol's parents, Desmond David and Anne Marie David, as well as CIMP Group chief executive officer Datuk Seri Nazir Razak.

"Nicol should be made a role model because she is the most successful sports icon in our country's history," he said.

He wished Nicol all the best and more success in the future, and said that it would set a high benchmark for the country's sports, especially in squash.

Nicol described the meeting with the prime minister as a truly meaningful event for her and her parents.

"It was a great honour for me and family to get the recognition from the government and Malaysians. Thank you for the all support," she said.

Nicol wajar dijulang tokoh sukan

Nicol David bersama dengan ibu bapanya, Ann Marie dan Desmond David memegang trofi Kejohanan Skuasy Piala Dunia yang mana tercatat nama beliau sebanyak enam kali sebagai pemenang selepas pertemuan dengan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Abdul Razak di Pejabat Perdana Menteri, Putrajaya, semalam. - BERNAMA

PUTRAJAYA - Ratu skuasy negara Datuk Nicol Ann David wajar dijulang sebagai tokoh sukan paling berjaya dalam sejarah negara apabila mampu mempertahankan gelaran Pemain Terbaik Dunia sebanyak enam kali berturut-turut, kata Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Perdana Menteri berkata, kejayaan yang dicapai Nicol itu adalah satu pencapaian yang belum pernah dicapai oleh sesiapa dalam sejarah negara.

"Saya bagi pihak kerajaan dan rakyat Malaysia ingin mengucapkan setinggi-tinggi tahniah kepada Nicol," katanya kepada pemberita selepas menerima kunjungan pemain No. 1 dunia itu di pejabat beliau di sini, semalam.

Turut hadir ayah dan ibu Nicol, Desmond David dan Anne Marie David serta Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Kumpulan CIMB Datuk Seri Nazir Razak.
Najib berkata, diharapkan kejayaan Nicol itu, akan menjadi pendorong serta penguat semangat kepada atlet sukan bukan sahaja dalam arena skuasy tetapi juga sukan lain.

"Nicol juga patut dijadikan contoh ikutan, beliau merupakan seorang ikon sukan yang paling berjaya dalam sejarah negara kita," katanya.

"Diharapkan Nicol akan terus mencipta kejayaan yang lebih cemerlang pada masa akan datang, seterusnya meletakkan satu penanda aras yang tinggi untuk sukan negara terutamanya skuasy, kata beliau.
Sementara Nicol berkata, pertemuan dengan Perdana Menteri hari ini, merupakan satu peluang yang amat bermakna buat diri dan kedua-dua ibu bapanya.

"Ia adalah satu penghormatan untuk saya dan keluarga untuk mendapatkan pengiktirafan daripada kerajaan dan rakyat Malaysia, terima kasih atas segala sokongan," katanya. - Bernama