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New Straits Times
13-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
'My mental health has always been my biggest demon' [WATCH]
KUALA LUMPUR: Do top Malaysian athletes suffer mental health issues. Yes, they do. Away from the spotlight, their inner demons lurk, taking a psychological toll on them. Swimmer Phee Jinq En, who competed in two Olympics, shed light on the issue in an exclusive interview with Timesport. She was on course for her third Olympics (Paris, last year) after competing in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro and 2020 in Tokyo — until a rule change ended her dream. As Malaysia's No. 1 female swimmer, Jinq En was widely expected to qualify via a universality slot. However, the International Olympic Committee revised its criteria, ruling that athletes who had competed at two previous Olympics were no longer eligible for a wild card. "I felt like the rule was directly targeted at me. I'm sure a lot of athletes were affected," said Jinq En. "It felt unfair when you've worked for three years to stay on top, only to have it taken away." The 28-year-old admitted that the blow left her reeling. "To maintain your No. 1 spot for three years, and then watch someone else go. I think people can understand my anger and disappointment. But to be honest, it's no one's fault." Unable to face the Olympic disappointment, she shut herself out during the Paris Games. "I went to Thailand. I just needed to get away. I didn't watch TV for two weeks. I didn't want to see what was going on," she said. But the Paris heartbreak was only one chapter in Jinq En's long battle with depression — one that has played out quietly behind the medals and podium finishes. A four-time SEA Games gold medallist and holder of three national records, the former student of Purdue University, United States, has been open about her struggles with mental health. It was during her time in the US that Jinq En first came to terms with her condition — after friends and coaches urged her to seek professional help. In an earlier Timesport report, former National Sports Institute sports psychologist Muhammad Deen said mental health challenges were becoming more serious among athletes in Malaysia and beyond due to the constant demands on their bodies and minds. "My mental health has always been my biggest demon," said Jinq En. "One of my friends said, 'You need to see a therapist. We can only help so much'. At that time, I was in denial. But my coach forced me to see a therapist." Therapy helped her gain clarity and focus to compete at the highest level. National Sports Institute chief executive officer Dr. P. Vellapandian told Timesport earlier that national athletes should not hesitate to seek help for mental health issues and there is no stigma in seeking professional support. Dr. Vellapandian said mental health issues — including performance-related pressure, anxiety, depression or burnout — are becoming common in elite athletes. Dr. Vellapandian also said he was ready to personally help Lee Zii Jia if the shuttler needs psychological support. There were concerns about the Olympic bronze medallist's mental health after Zii Jia shared a cryptic social media post recently, and which led to the National Sports Council contacting his management team. However, Zii Jia's team responded by saying he was fine. Jinq En said: "As athletes, our emotions run extremely high or really low. Therapy gave me ways to understand myself better." She now turns to drawing and journaling to manage her mental health. "Drawing became an outlet to cope with challenges, and journaling helped me express frustrations instead of keeping them inside," she added. Jinq En, who hails from Subang Jaya, is also using her experience to raise mental health awareness, especially among young athletes. "Conversations about mental health in Malaysia are still just surface-level, but I think my generation and the younger ones are more open to talking about it," she said. "The older generation still sees mental health as taboo — like you just need to tough it out." Jinq En credits social media for helping to shift the conversation. "These days, we can choose the content we consume. I use my platform to promote mental health, and I see a lot of others doing the same. It shows athletes it's okay to talk about this. "But it's a double-edged sword. I've received hate comments. Every athlete in Malaysia has. But I've learnt to ignore them. I'm trying to live my best life, and if that bothers someone, it's their problem." Despite the Olympic setback, Jinq En is focused on what matters most — healing, growing, and using her voice to make a difference.
New Straits Times
08-07-2025
- Health
- New Straits Times
Get the pros to exorcise your inner demons
This is part 2 of a three-part series on mental health of Malaysian athletes by Timesport KUALA LUMPUR: National athletes should not hesitate to seek help for mental health issues and there is no stigma in seeking professional support, said National Sports Institute (NSI) chief executive officer P. Vellapandian. Vellapandian, who is a trained sports psychologist, said mental health issues — including performance-related pressure, anxiety, depression or burnout — are becoming common in elite athletes. "If an athlete is struggling, I strongly encourage them to come forward and speak to us," he said. "The doors at NSI are always open. They can come directly to me or consult our sports psychologists. All sessions are confidential, and we will ensure they get the help they need." NSI offers a range of services related to both performance psychology and mental health. Vellapandian said NSI's psychologists usually work on areas such as goal setting, arousal control, injury recovery, confidence building and emotional regulation. These services are regularly used by athletes under the Podium Programme, Pelapis and Road to Gold (RTG) initiatives. However, in cases where an athlete's condition appears clinical — such as signs of depression or extreme anxiety — NSI will refer them to certified mental health specialists for a formal diagnosis and further treatment. "We have the tools and partnerships in place. If the issue is clinical, we will carry out an evaluation and refer them to a licensed mental health expert for proper treatment, including diagnosis and follow-up care." Vellapandian said global figures indicate that approximately 34 per cent of current elite athletes show symptoms of anxiety and depression, while the figures for retired athletes stand at around 26 per cent. Malaysian athletes, he added, are no exception. "Anxiety, depression, burnout, eating disorders — these are real issues. And they are common in high-performance sports, even if they are not often discussed." He said while most athletes are comfortable seeking help for performance-related matters, there is still some reluctance when it comes to addressing mental health from a clinical perspective. "There's still a stigma, especially when it comes to depression or anxiety. Athletes may feel like it's a weakness or worry about people think of them. "But mental health is just as important as physical health. In other countries, athletes walk into the mental health support rooms without hesitation. We want that same openness here." To help create a supportive environment, NSI psychologists also conduct field observations during training, in addition to one-on-one and group consultations. This allows them to detect behavioural changes that may not surface in formal sessions. "Mental health isn't only about performance. It involves an athlete's lifestyle, environment, personal experiences, even their spiritual grounding. We take all of that into account. "We have medical officers, recovery programmes, sports nutritionists, performance analysts, biomechanists — all working together. Vellapandian.
New Straits Times
07-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
The psychological toll on Malaysia's top athletes
KUALA LUMPUR: National athletes may be admired for their prowess and skills, but not many are aware of the psychological toll of elite competition on them. Recently, badminton ace Lee Zii Jia uploaded cryptic photos on his Instagram page, which featured a series of black-and-white illustrations without captions, leaving fans concerned and speculating about his mental state. This even led to the National Sports Council contacting Zii Jia's management team to check on his health. The council subsequently said Zii Jia is not in distress. But this has not stopped badminton fans from continuing to speculate on Zii Jia's condition and whether the Olympic bronze medallist is fighting his inner demons. And yesterday Zii Jia unexpected announced he was withdrawing from the Japan Open. Timesport spoke to sports psychologist Muhammad Deen yesterday on the mental health issues facing Malaysian athletes. Muhammad believes mental health challenges are becoming more serious among athletes in Malaysia and beyond due to the constant demands on their bodies and minds. "Athletes deal with far more stress than the general public," Muhammad said. "Imagine pushing your body to the limit every day, travelling often, being away from home, and dealing with the humiliation of public defeat — it's mentally exhausting." Muhammad, who was previously with the National Sports Institute (NSI), said issues such as depression, anxiety and chronic stress are becoming more common in high-performance sports. "They go through repeated cycles of pressure and emotional highs and lows. It's not easy to live like that." He added that while social media can be a source of encouragement and opportunities, it also exposes athletes to criticism and online abuse. "Sometimes it's great — all the support, likes, comments, even sponsorships. But when the negative comments start coming in, it can be overwhelming," he said. "When you lose and your phone floods with notifications, it becomes a heavy burden." To protect their mental health, Muhammad said athletes should focus on three key areas: inner strength, a strong support system, and professional guidance. "The first is internal resilience. No one is forced into being an athlete — it's a choice. So they need to build the strength to face those demands. "Second, they need a tight and loyal support group. That could be friends, family or members of the sports science team — people who understand and support them. "Lastly, they must seek professional help when needed. A trained sports psychologist who understands mental health can help athletes manage specific challenges they face." Muhammad said Malaysia does have mental health professionals in sport, but the challenge lies in accessibility. "There is support available — but is it accessible? That's the real issue. "Psychologists need to be embedded in the team structure, not brought in only during a crisis." He believes that if athletes have regular access to mental health professionals across all levels — from grassroots to national squads — the future looks promising. "If we get this right, we'll have a healthier, stronger, more resilient generation of athletes," said Muhammad.
New Straits Times
06-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Selangor outcast Safuwan lands loan move to Sailors
KUALA LUMPUR: Unwanted by Selangor despite having a year left on his contract, defender Safuwan Baharudin has officially joined Singapore Premier League champions Lion City Sailors on loan for the 2025-2026 season. Selangor confirmed the move with a brief social media post on Sunday. "Centre-back Safuwan Baharudin has officially joined Lion City Sailors (Singapore) on loan for the 2025/26 season. Wishing you all the best in your next chapter, Saf," read the statement. No further details were provided. The announcement ends weeks of confusion and speculation, following Timesport's report last month on what was dubbed the "curious case of Safuwan." The 34-year-old Singapore international had publicly claimed that he had been told he was no longer part of Selangor's first-team plans, and was later spotted training with the club's Under-23 squad in Shah Alam. Safuwan made history in 2015 as the first Singaporean to play in Australia's A-League, with Melbourne City. He has since become a familiar presence in the Malaysia Super League, having turned out for several clubs over the past decade. Now, he is eager to begin a new chapter with the Sailors, a move that reunites him with national teammates Hariss Harun, Hami Syahin, Lionel Tan and Shawal Anuar. "I'm very excited to be part of a team that's doing everything it can to raise the bar for Singapore football," said Safuwan in a statement. "I followed the club's run in last season's Asian Champions League 2 closely — it was truly inspiring for the country. The club's lofty ambitions are very much aligned with my own goals, and I'm ready to help us reach even greater heights this season."
New Straits Times
04-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Nickhileswar and three others vie for Asian Junior squash titles
KUALA LUMPUR: M. Nickhileswar and three other Malaysians will be bidding for glory in their respective categories at the Asian Junior Squash Championships in South Korea on Saturday. Top seed Nickhileswar marched into the boys' Under-17 final with a commanding 11-7, 11-5, 11-6 win over Japan's third seed Shu Takahashi at the Gimcheon Squash Centre on Friday. He will face India's Aryaveer Dewan in the title match. Aryaveer stunned Malaysia's second seed Aqil Mirza Naim Khairil Fariz 11-7, 11-3, 11-7 in the other semi-final. Nickhileswar's run is all the more impressive given he has been managing a right ankle injury throughout the tournament. "There was discomfort in the first two rounds, but I'm feeling much better now thanks to the physio," Nickhileswar told Timesport on Friday. "It'll be my first meeting against Aryaveer. I know people expect me to win, but I won't put pressure on myself. My goal is to retain my Under-17 crown after winning it in Islamabad last year." Nickhileswar also lifted the Under-15 title in Pattaya in 2022. Meanwhile, second seed Low Wa Sern produced a dominant display to beat Japan's Renshi Makino 11-2, 11-6, 11-3 in the boys' Under-19 semi-finals. He will face home favourite and top seed Na Jooyoung in the final. Jooyoung, the World Junior Championship runner-up in Houston last year, fought back to beat Pakistan's Abdullah Nawaz 7-11, 12-10, 11-2, 11-4 in the other semi-final. In the girls' Under-17, second seed Harleein Tan overcame India's Anika Dubey 11-8, 11-5, 8-11, 11-7 to reach the final. Harleein, last year's Under-15 champion, will face top seed Helen Tang of Hong Kong. In the girls' Under-15 event, Jinoreeka Ning defeated compatriot Siti Syaurah Sufian 11-6, 11-6, 11-4 in the semi-finals and will take on India's Saanvi Kalanki for the title. In the girls' Under-19, third seed Whitney Isabelle Wilson settled for bronze after falling 14-12, 11-7, 11-6 to India's top seed Anahat Singh in the semi-finals. There was disappointment in the girls' Under-13 as top seed Maisarah Khairul Nizam was knocked out 11-7, 11-5, 11-7 by Pakistan's third seed Mahnoor Ali in the semi-finals.
