SPORTCHECK: Shamala Honoured By OCM

LONG-SERVING hockey administrator and former international associate professor Dr S. Shamala won the Women and Sports award in Bukit Jalil yesterday.

Shamala holds aloft the Women and Sports award which was presented to her by the Olympic Council of Malaysia in Bukit Jalil yesterday. Picture by FARIZUL HAFIZ AWANG

Shamala, 38, was picked ahead of multiple Sea Games gold medallist Marina Chin -- the principal of Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS), and rhythmic gymnastics coach and official Dr Teh Lah Hoong in the ninth edition of the awards organised by the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM).

Marina didn't go home empty-handed though as she received the leadership award while Lah Hoong earned the award for development.

Besides serving as the secretary of Malaysia Women's Hockey Association (MWHA), Shamala was elected as a council member of the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) this year.

Shamala, a computer science lecturer at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) since 2003, was surprised but delighted to be recognised.

"It is a pleasant surprise and I would like to express my gratitude to my mother C. Krishnamah. If not for her, I wouldn't have come this far and this award should actually go to her," said Shamala.

"It was through my mother's support and that of every member of my family that I was able to represent the country in hockey, do well in my studies and go on to become an associate professor yet remain actively involved in hockey.

"Women's hockey still has a long way to go and my ambition is to see Malaysia qualifying for the Olympics some day and winning a medal."

Diver Leong Mun Yee's parents Leong Chai and Chan Ying Fong as well as Daniel Bego and Kimbeley Yap's parents Henry Bego and Amy Wong were also recognised for their support and encouragement given to their children.
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