SportCheck: Love for cycling still strong despite freak accident

Vinashal Pillai

THE bicycle, more often than not, is a popular means of transport or recreation but for Ng Joo Pong it was his life.

The former national cyclist picked up the sport as a 12-year-old and his first bicycle "was nothing compared to the ones you see these days."

"My first bike was an iron scrap but six months after that I got a racing bike which cost RM270," said the Kuala Lumpur-born Joo Pong.

"And I just wanted to be on the bike. Even during school hours, I would be thinking about my bike, it's all I wanted to do."

Joo Pong was soon riding in local competitions and soon started competing in the Malaya Open Championships, Asian Cycling Championships, Bangkok Asian Games and Tokyo and Mexico Olympics.

An impressive resume for someone who started out challenging neighbours to race and then getting younger brother, Joo Ngan, roped in as well.

Ng Joo Pong riding in the Cheras Velodrome. Pic: KHALID REDZA

"I got my first taste of victory in the 1963 Malaya Open Championships. I won the 1km time trial and was second in the 5km time trial," Joo Pong said with a touch of pride.

Incidentally, in the 5-km time trial, he came in second to close friend Rosli Abdul Kader.

"Rosli and I are still the best of friends. We used to train together along Jalan Duta before competitions and he used to show me a thing or two about road racing."

Joo Pong's passion for cycling was so strong that even a freak accident with a lorry during training couldn't stop him from winning a Gold Leaf-sponsored race in 1968.

"I used to break records those days but I also broke my jaw and lost a couple of teeth after the accident in Batu Tiga with the lorry," added Joo Pong showing the gaps where his teeth once were.

"But I won that race which I remember very well."

Today, the 63-year-old Joo Pong, who lives with his wife and his son in Shah Alam, sells lorries for a living and is a part-time taxi driver.

"My love for cycling is still strong. I still train with the bike or swim at least an hour a day," added Joo Pong, who also had operations to both his knees and suffered a stroke in 1990.

The National Athletes' Charity Foundation's (Yakeb) 1Ringgit 1Malaysia campaign was launched to assist former athletes like Joo Pong with their medical needs.

Yakeb is offering 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.

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

Joo Pong latih guna basikal buruk

Oleh Harris Rajahdin
harajah@bharian.com.my

JOO Pong masih ingat basikal Carlton pencetus kerjaya gemilang lumba basikal selama 12 tahun.

Ditimpa nahas jalan raya ketika sesi latihan ke Sukan Olimpik Tokyo 1964

SUKAR untuk dipercayai jaguh lumba basikal suatu ketika dulu, Ng Joo Pong sejak dulu hingga sekarang, tidak pernah memiliki basikal yang boleh dibanggakan sehingga kini.

“Sehingga sekarang saya tidak pernah memiliki basikal yang bagus. Harga sebuah basikal yang baik adalah dalam lingkungan RM3,000 ke RM5,000.

“Basikal pertama yang saya gunakan adalah dibuat daripada besi buruk ketika saya bermula pada usia 12 tahun. Kemudian saya guna basikal Carlton berharga RM270,” katanya pada satu sesi temujanji khas di Velodrom Cheras, baru-baru ini.

Joo Pong, 53, abang kepada jurulatih kebangsaan, Joo Ngan masih ingat basikal Carlton itu yang menjadi pencetus kepada kerjaya gemilang dalam lumba basikal selama 12 tahun, bermula dengan kejayaan menjadi pemenang pingat pertama buat negara dalam Kejohanan Asia di Kuala Lumpur pada 1963.

“Pada 1963, saya menyertai perlumbaan terbuka dan sekitar Februari, saya menyertai kejohanan terbuka Malaya dan menang emas ujian masa 1 kilometer dan perak 5 km.

“Saya mengalahkan N A Rusli dalam 1 km dan dia kemudian mengatasi saya dalam 2 km. Dia kemudian mengajak saya untuk berlatih bersama-sama. Ketika itu saya tidak mengetahui apa-apa mengenai lumba basikal.

“Selepas enam bulan, saya berjaya mendapat gangsa dalam ujian masa 1 km, pingat pertama buat Malaya dan emas dalam acara berpasukan,” katanya yang kemudian layak ke Sukan Olimpik 1964 di Tokyo.

Mereka yang berminat membantu Joo Pong yang mengalami kemalangan jalan raya dan patah tulang rahang ketika berlatih dalam usaha layak ke Olimpik 1968, boleh menaip YAKEB1 untuk RM1, YAKEB2 untuk RM2, YAKEB5 untuk RM5 dan YAKEB10 untuk RM10 dan hantar kepada 33898. Setiap derma dikenakan caj 50 sen kepada pengirim.

Sumbangan juga boleh disalurkan menerusi akaun Tabung Yayasan KebajikanAtlit Kebangsaan bernombor, 5648 4700 5696 (Maybank Berhad) atau menghubungi Yakeb di talian 03-89964841/ 4844 atau melayari laman web www.yakeb.org.my.

Penonton boleh menyaksikan episod khas mengenai kehidupan Joo Pong yang akan disiarkan dalam rancangan BersamaMu-Wira Sukan, Anda Tetap Di Hati di TV3 pada jam 9.30 malam.

Diabetes tak sekat aktiviti Samah

SAMAH kini berkhidmat di pusat sumber Kementerian Pertahanan.

Bekas badang negara tetap cintakan angkat berat selepas bersara pada 1989

KETIKA Malaysia menghantar kontinjen atlit ke Kejohanan Angkat Berat Asia 1979 di China, penganjur menjangkakan satu bas penuh yang dipenuhi atlit tetapi terkejut melihat hanya seorang atlit keluar daripada bas itu.

Lelaki itu adalah Samah Ali. Sungguh pun Samah meraih tempat keempat, ia adalah kenangan manis yang tidak akan dilupakannya bertanding di luar Malaysia.

Bekas pemenang emas Sukan Sea dan emas Kejohanan Asean kini berkhidmat di pusat sumber Kementerian Pertahanan.

Sungguh pun disahkan menghidap diabetes pada 2000, kegilaan Samah yang berhenti secara aktif dalam sukan itu pada 1989, masih kekal. Malah dia kini melatih atlit angkat berat muda.

Bekas juara kebangsaan berusia 55 tahun itu menghidapi penyakit itu sejak sembilan tahun lalu dan baru-baru ini, kehilangan dua jari pada kaki kirinya sehingga terpaksa mengambil cuti sakit selama dua bulan dan perlu menjalani rawatan di Hospital Kuala Lumpur setiap dua hari.

Yayasan Atlit Kebangsaan (Yakeb) tampil untuk membantu Samah membiayai keperluan perubatannya. Yakeb melancarkan kempen 1Ringgit 1Malaysia bulan lalu dalam usaha untuk membantu bekas atlit yang sakit atau memerlukan bantuan kewangan.

Baru-baru ini, pegawai Yakeb berkunjung ke gimnasium Raja Muda, gelanggang Samah menjalankan latihannya.

Mengimbas saat-saat kompetitifnya, Samah berkata: "Pada tahun-tahun awal, kami mempunyai jurulatih dari Russia yang juga bekas juara Olimpik, yang arif menemui bakat-bakat baru.

"Dia berkata saya mempunyai bakat untuk menjadi juara dunia dan bertanyakan kepada saya sama ada berminat atau tidak untuk berlatih di Russia, tetapi saya menolak dengan baik kerana ketika itu kami tidak dibenarkan ke Russia kerana ia adalah kerajaan komunis."

Kepada mereka yang ingin menghulurkan derma, bolehlah menderma menerusi akaun Maybank Yakeb untuk kempen 1Ringgit 1Malaysia, 564847005696. Sumbangan juga boleh disalurkan menerusi sms. Hantar YAKEB1, YAKEB2, YAKEB5 atau YAKEB10 (RM1, RM2, RM5, RM10) ke 33898.

Tabung kutipan diletakkan di ibu pejabat NST di Jalan Riong, Kuala Lumpur dan cawangan di seluruh negara. Sumbangan juga boleh disalurkan di kesemua cawangan Bank Simpanan Nasional di seluruh negara.

Kisah Samah boleh diikuti menerusi program BersamaMu-Wira, Anda Tetap di Hati di TV3 jam 9.30 malam ini.BERITA HARIAN

Mewakili Malaysia dalam Sukan Angkat Berat pada sukan Sea Games 1977 - 1989.

Samah doesn't let diabetes stop him

Vinashal Pillai

WHEN Malaysia sent a contingent to the 1979 Asian Weightlifting Championships in China, officials hosting the event were expecting a busload of athletes. They were shocked to see just one man hopping off the bus. That man was Samah Ali.

Samah Ali (right) training weightlifter Zaidi Zainal at the Raja Muda Stadium. Pic: AIZUDDIN SAAD.

Although Samah finished fourth, it was his most profound experience competing outside Malaysia.

The former Sea Games and Asean Championship gold medallist now works at the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) library. He has also been coaching weightlifters after retiring from the sport in 1989.

Even after being diagnosed with diabetes in 2000, Samah's passion for weightlifting remains strong.

The 55-year-old former national champion has been suffering from the disease for the past nine years and recently lost two toes in his left leg. Samah had to take sick leave for two months and has to go for treatment at Kuala Lumpur Hospital every two days.

The National Athletes Charity Foundation (YAKEB) has come forward to help Samah to meet his medical needs. Yakeb launched the 1Ringgit 1Malaysia campaign last month with the aim of helping former athletes who are sick or poor.

Recently, Yakeb officials paid a visit to the Raja Muda gymnasium where Samah conducts coaching.

Relating his competitive days, Samah said: "During the early years we had a Russian coach who was a former Olympic champion, and he had a keen eye for talent.

"He said I had what it took to be a world champion and asked if I would be interested to train in Russia, but I politely declined as we were not allowed then to go to Russia because of the communist-run government."

Having competed in tournaments in Germany, Hungary and Indonesia, Samah said his experience in China was the most vivid.

"I was in China alone for two weeks in 1979 for a competition. I actually got lost and had to find my way around and made new friends because everything was in Mandarin and I didn't speak a word of it.

"I even had to sell my camera to get some cash," he said with a laugh.

Samah, who resides in Bandar Alam Damai, has been with Mindef since 1969. Despite his health problem, his commitment to coaching is still strong.

"I still have enough energy left in me to share my knowledge and give back to the nation."

Yakeb is offering two coverage plans -- for former athletes aged 69 and below and for those 70 and above.

Donations and sponsorship should be channeled to Yayasan Kebajikan Atlet Kebangsaan -- Tabung Yakeb, Account No: 564847005696 (Maybank).

Donations can also be made via text messages. Send YAKEB1 (RM1, YAKEB2, YAKEB5 or YAKEB10 to 33898.

Donation boxes are also placed at the NST headquarters in Jalan Riong, Kuala Lumpur and branch offices. Contributions can also be made at all Bank Simpanan Nasional branches nationwide.

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

l Don't forget to catch BersamaMu-Wira Sukan, Anda Tetap Di Hati on TV3 at 9.30pm today.

Mariappan: Pension scheme will help

PARALYMPIAN P. Mariappan's sacrifices for the country have already cost him two jobs.

P. Mariappan has represented the country in six Paralympics since 1987. — Pic: AIZUDDIN SAAD

Mariappan, who has a passion for powerlifting and an eagerness to pursue glory for Malaysia, relies on a monthly centralised training allowance of RM500 and a RM230 contribution from the Social Welfare Department to make ends meet.

That is an unimaginable sum for Mariappan to support his jobless wife and three children.

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

Mariappan said he hopes for a pension scheme for paralympians which will allow him to offer continued focus on his sport.

"I think we paralympians deserve this pension scheme too, same as other national athletes," said Mariappan, who has represented Malaysia in six Paralympics since 1987.

His bronze medal in the 1988 Seoul Paralympics launched his name into orbit as among the top powerlifters in the world.

He followed that with another bronze medal in the 1992 Barcelona Paralympics. In in the Beijing Paralympics last year, he set a Southeast Asian record in the 67.5kg category. He was also the country's flag bearer at the Asean Para Games in Korat, Thailand two years ago.

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. 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.

- NST

Mariappan rela dibuang kerja demi negara

MARIAPPAN teruskan latihan sekalipun berdepan dengan kehidupan harian tidak menentu.

Kini bergantung hidup kepada elaun latihan RM500

PENGORBANAN atlit paralimpik negara, P Mariappan tiada sempadannya dan segala-galanya dilakukan demi mengharumkan nama negara di pelbagai temasya Sukan Paralimpik.

Namun, akibat kerelaannya berkorban untuk negara dia sudah dua kali dibuang kerja dan kini hanya bergantung harapan kepada elaun latihan pusat sebanyak RM500 dan RM230 daripada Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat.

Jumlah itu ternyata tidak mencukupi baginya menyara kehidupan harian isteri yang tidak bekerja dan tiga anak kesayangannya.

Dalam usaha membantu Mariappan, Yayasan Kebajikan Atlit Kebangsaan (Yakeb) kini sedang mengumpul dana bagi membantunya menerusi Kempen 1Ringgit 1Malaysia.

Bagi Mariappan, dia berharap pada satu hari nanti akan ada pencen bagi atlit paralimpik kerana baginya, mereka juga berjuang mengharumkan nama negara di peringkat antarabangsa.

"Saya berasa perlu ada skim pencen untuk kami atlit paralimpik, kerana saya percaya kami juga berhak mendapatkannya seperti atlit negara yang lain," kata Mariappan.

Mariappan mewakili negara di enam Sukan Paralimpik sejak 1987. Antara pencapaian adalah pingat gangsa di Sukan Paralimpik Seoul pada 1988, Paralimpik Barcelona 1992 (gangsa) dan juga mengatasi rekod Sukan Para Asean yang diciptanya dalam kategori bawah 67.5 kilogram lelaki pada temasya Sukan Paralimpik di Beijing 2008.

Kepada mereka yang ingin menghulurkan derma, bolehlah menderma menerusi akaun Maybank Yakeb untuk kempen 1Ringgit 1Malaysia, 5648 4 7005696. Jangan lupa menonton BersamaMu-Wira, Anda Tetap di Hati di TV3 jam 9.30 malam ini.- BERITA HARIAN

'Chong Wei, Nicol model kejayaan'

Oleh Ahmad Khawari Isa
ahmadkhawari@bharian.com.my

NICOL dan Chong Wei (gambar kecil) punya reputasi jagoan yang digeruni di kancah antarabangsa.

MSN atur langkah dokumentasi 'formula' kejayaan atlit gegar dunia

TIGA nama besar sukan negara - Lee Chong Wei, Nicol David dan Shalin Zulkifli - terbukti punya reputasi gemilang selaku jagoan yang digeruni di kancah pertentangan antarabangsa.

Lantas, Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) kini mengatur langkah untuk mendokumentasikan ‘formula’ yang jadi landasan untuk ketiga-tiganya menggegar di pentas dunia.

“Ketiga-tiga atlit ini memang nama besar di peringkat dunia. Kerana itu, MSN mahu pastikan segala kaedah dan formula yang membantu mereka sampai ke tahap itu diperoleh untuk kegunaan masa depan.

“Ia termasuk menghimpunkan maklumat berkaitan semua aspek persiapan dan prestasi supaya kita nanti ada landasan dan asas buat melahirkan atlit muda yang mampu mencapai tahap sebegitu,” kata Pengarah Cawangan Elit MSN, Ariffin Ghani.

Untuk melaksanakan usaha itu, MSN akan bekerjasama dengan Institut Sukan Negara (ISN) serta persatuan sukan terbabit.

“Memang diakui, maklumat diperolehi nanti tidak akan 100 peratus menjamin penghasilan juara seperti mereka. Tetapi maklumat diperolehi nanti akan mampu memudahkan tugas kita,” kata Ariffin.

Pendekatan itu jelas positif kerana di sebalik hakikat negara pernah menghasilkan jaguh sukan di pentas tertinggi, tiada formula tersedia untuk cuba mengisi kekosongan sebaik mereka mengundurkan diri.

“Ia sudah bermula dengan badminton dengan kami minta BAM (Persatuan Badminton Malaysia) membantu mengumpulkan maklumat berguna daripada jurulatih seperti Misbun (Sidek) yang membimbing Chong Wei.

“Saya percaya maklumat diperolehi akan dapat membantu pemain-pemain pelapis negara yang ketika ini jelas berdepan kesukaran untuk cuba mencapai tahap lebih membanggakan.

“Idea ini juga sudah diketengahkan untuk perhatian SRAM (Persatuan Skuasy Malaysia). Malah ianya akan diperluaskan kepada persatuan sukan kebangsaan lain yang memiliki atlit berkualiti,” katanya.