Athletics
M. Jegathesan (second from left) showing his three Asian Games gold medals to some young fans upon his return from the competition in Bangkok, 1966.
Athletics Athletics remains the simplest and purest form of sport, testing and pushing the limits of human physical capacities. Track and field events are multi-faceted spectacles that demand peak performances on the part of their participants. These events were an important component of Malaya’s pre-Independence social fabric, and were perceived by the British as a means of instilling national pride and unity. Ipoh, Perak is where the seeds of track and field in Malaya were first planted with the staging of a formal meet in 1906. Competitions were conducted primarily at the school level in subsequent decades, producing a large crop of local athletes. In the first half of the 20th century, L.D.E. Cullen, Poh Kim Seng, Alam Sher, Alladad Khan, Lee Fun, N. Manickavasagam, Tai Swee Kee, Kee Yong Chin and Sidique Ali Merican grabbed the limelight and set the standard for athletics in the country.
Rahim Ahmad’s bronze medal in the 400-metre event at the 1958 Asian Games in Tokyo was a breakthrough performance, heralding Malaya’s entry into the international athletics arena. In 1966, M. Jegathesan, M. Rajamani and Nashatar Singh established Malaysia as an Asian athletics powerhouse, winning five Asian Games gold medals between them. By virtue of his victory in the 100-metre race, Jegathesan claimed the title of ‘the fastest man in Asia’ in 1966 and went on to compete with distinction in three consecutive Olympic Games. In subsequent decades, athletes such as Ishtiaq Mobarak, Saik Oik Cum, Rabuan Pit, Marina Chin and Watson Nyambek have carried on this tradition of success.
Hare and Hounds style chases have been around for centuries in one form or another. The original concept was to mimic the sport of hunting sport when sporting game was sparse and substitute the hounds with runners. In 1938, a Malayan version of the Hare and Hounds, called hashing, was created by a group of British expatriates. This home-grown game persevered through World War II and the Emergency and has grown to encompass 2500 chapters globally.
In terms of equipment, running requires little more than a pair of shoes, which may explain the enthusiasm with which Malaysians sign up for marathons and walks. The Malay Mail Big Walk, dating back to 1960, is the oldest active event in Malaysia, while the annual Kuala Lumpur International Marathon attracts runners from all over the world.
Triathlons have also garnered a significant following since their debut in Penang in 1989, making the three-discipline events, as well as marathons, the foremost sports tourism attractions in Malaysia. The Ironman Malaysia Triathlon, held annually in Langkawi since 2000, is rated internationally as one of the toughest Ironman challenges and attracts the sport’s top competitors.