Sports legends and rivals reunite at gala
The Sultan of Pahang, Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, with members of Malaysia's 1975 hockey World Cup team and India's Ashok Kumar (second from left) at the Sports Flame gala in Kuala Lumpur.
KUALA LUMPUR : More than 70 former national athletes gathered at the Sports Flame gala today to recount their thrilling contests, including Malaysia's fourth placing at the 1975 hockey World Cup.
The Sultan of Pahang, Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, was the guest-of-honour at the event, which also marked the 50th anniversary of the hockey team's achievement.
Among those at the gala were members of the 1975 hockey squad, the women's hockey team at the 1982 Asian Games, badminton legends Tan Aik Huang and Yew Cheng Hoe, and football icon Santokh Singh.
A member of the Indian hockey team who won the tournament Ashok Kumar was also present, and he recounted how the Malaysians gave them a run for their money.
'Malaysia gave us a good fight and almost got us kicked out of the game,' said Ashok.
The Sports Flame gala, a biennial event held since 2011, is the brainchild of former sports journalists George Das, the late R Velu, Lazarus Rokk and Fauzi Omar.
Rokk took the chance today to reminisce about the 1975 tournament and lauded the players who took Malaysian hockey to unprecedented and unsurpassed heights.
He also paid tribute to Velu, the late RD Silva, and James Ritchie, who died on May 3. Al-Sultan Abdullah also presented a commemorative plaque to Velu's son, Aaron Christopher.
Keeping ties alive
N Sri Shanmuganathan, captain of the 1975 hockey team, hailed Sports Flame's dedication to honouring the nation's retired athletes.
'We have our teammates coming down from London and Perth. We do meet with (those living in Malaysia) as often as we can, but meeting those from overseas is another thing altogether,' he said.
K Maheswari, vice-captain of the women's hockey team that won the bronze medal at the 1982 Asian Games, said the event served as a platform for former athletes of various sports to meet and network with one another.
'This time we got to meet other athletes as well, like the great Santokh Singh. We only had the chance to admire them in front of the TV because they were seniors, but now we get to meet them in person. It's such an honour,' she added.
Badminton great Yew, who was in Malaysia's winning 1967 Thomas Cup team, hoped that Sport Flame's founders would keep the flame alive in honouring former athletes and organise more such events.
'They are the only ones who remember all the ex-players. Nobody has done this for us and we truly appreciate what they are doing. This is the only chance we get to meet all the former sportsmen,' he said, thanking Sports Flame for bringing them together.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
6 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Pearly Tan-Thinaah's focus intact despite BAM contract limbo, says coach
KUALA LUMPUR, July 1 — National women's doubles head coach Rosman Razak has reiterated that he has no issues with the commitment shown by the pair Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah, despite the duo still being in contract negotiations with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM). According to Rosman, his focus remains on training and tournament preparations, including monitoring the duo's performance, which has been increasingly impressive on the international stage. 'If there was a problem, I would speak up. But so far, I've had no issues. 'In terms of training, focus, and following instructions, everything is in order. It hasn't disrupted my process,' he told reporters at the Malaysian Badminton Academy here today. Yesterday, BAM president Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said a decision on whether Pearly-Thinaah would remain with the national body will only be known before the Japan Open begins on July 15. He said there are several matters that still need to be finalised between BAM and the players before a conclusive decision can be made. Pearly and Thinaah have yet to sign a new contract with BAM after their previous contract expired in December last year. Despite the uncertainty surrounding their future with the national body, Pearly and Thinaah continued to excel, notably clinching the Thailand Open title in May. — Bernama
Malay Mail
6 hours ago
- Malay Mail
National men's singles shuttler Ng Tze Yong to undergo ACL surgery in Qatar after Malaysia Masters injury
KUALA LUMPUR, July 1 — National men's singles shuttler Ng Tze Yong will undergo knee surgery in Doha, Qatar to treat an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury he is currently suffering from. The update was shared by Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) secretary-general Datuk Kenny Goh when speaking to the media yesterday. 'The National Sports Institute (NSI) is currently arranging the dates for his surgery. We should know when he will be going in two to three days,' he said. BAM had confirmed previously that Tze Yong sustained an ACL injury following an MRI scan that revealed a tear in his right knee. The Johor-born shuttler suffered the injury during the first round of the Malaysia Masters 2025 last month in a match against Hong Kong's Ng Ka Long, which forced him to retire mid-game. — Bernama
New Straits Times
a day ago
- New Straits Times
Iskandar joins BAM as singles coach
KUALA LUMPUR: The BA of Malaysia's search for a national singles coach is over. Former national shuttler Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin will take up the post from Oct 1. BAM president Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz confirmed today the appointment of Iskandar, who is currently Ireland's head coach. "We have a new coach, Iskandar, to support the singles team. He will be returning from Ireland and will join us on Oct 1," said Tengku Zafrul. Iskandar, 34, who was the 2009 World Junior Championships runner-up and a 2016 Thomas Cup team member, first joined Ireland as a sparring partner in September, 2021 while still active on the World Tour. However, the Kuala Lumpur-born Iskandar decided to retire and became Ireland's national coach in the same year. Ireland was also impressed with his services and signed a contract with him until the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Iskandar, whose work had been commended by national singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen, will fill the spot left vacant by Indonesian Jeffer Rosobin in February. BAM secretary Datuk Kenny Goh said Iskandar will guide the Ireland squad for the World Championships in August before moving back to Malaysia. Earlier, BAM also had Chong Wei Feng on their radar but the former Sea Games champion had decided to continue focusing on his private academies in the Klang Valley.
