Marina Chin Honoured By OCM

BY RAJES PAUL

Datuk Marina Chin receiving the Women and Sport award from OCM president Tunku Tan Sri Imran Tuanku Ja'afar at OCM's Annual Dinner and Awards Night on Nov 21, 2013.

KUALA LUMPUR: Former track queen Datuk Marina Chin continues to hog the limelight even after leaving the athletics scene nearly three decades ago.

On Thursday, the 58-year-old Marina was recognised for her tireless contributions to Malaysian sport when she was accorded the main honour as recipient of the Women and Sport award at the Olympic Council of Malaysia’s (OCM) 21st Annual Dinner and Awards Night at the Tan Sri Hamzah Hall.

Marina, who is now the principal of the Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS), was picked as the winner by OCM’s Women and Sport committee for her significant and outstanding contributions in the promotion, development and advancement of women in sports.

During the 70s, she was known for her prowess in the 100m hurdles, which saw her winning a total seven gold medals in the SEA Games and also nailing the 1975 and 1976 National Sportswoman of the Year awards.

OCM’s Women and Sport committee chairman Datuk Low Beng Choo said that Marina had grown into an iconic role model for many and deserved the recognition.

“Marina is distinct because she keeps giving back to the country. She was a star in athletics and then she went into coaching and, now, she is empowering so many young athletes as the BJSS principal,” said Beng Choo, who is also the OCM vice-president.

“She has not stopped contributing to the country and has played a key role in sports development. She is indeed a role model for many women.

“I am proud that we have continued to give recognition to women in sports. This is our 11th year hosting this awards ceremony and I am truly grateful to OCM for their continuous support.

“We have seen huge contributions by women athletes in winning medals at major events and we will continue to recognise their tireless work at all levels in the promotion of women in sports.”

Besides Marina, a few other women were also honoured for their contributions.

Penang Squash Association vice-chairman Linda Geh Guat Yeow took home the Women and Sport Leadership award while Ee Hong, the director of the sports division in the Education Ministry, won the Women and Sport Grassroots Development award.

For her achievements as a female technical official (cycling commissioner) at the international level, Beatrice Alfred Lajawa was handed the Technical Achievement award.

The role of parents was also given prominence when Abdul Hadi Ahmad and his wife Kimberley Ann Gagnon were honoured with the OCM Partnership award for their guidance and support towards the success of their daughters – synchronised swimmer Katrina Ann and gymnast Farah Ann.

Meanwhile, OCM also inducted 15 former athletes from various sports into their Hall of Fame, including 84-year-old Aminullah @ Amin Karim, who played hockey in the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games and the 83-year-old Lawrence van Huizen, who represented the country in hockey at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games and twice in the Asian Games in 1958 and 1962.

Award recipients OCM Women and Sport: Datuk Marina Chin OCM Women and Sport Leadership: Linda Geh Guat Yeow OCM Women and Sport Grassroots Development: Ee Hong OCM Technical Achievement: Beatrice Alfred Lajawa OCM Partnership: Abdul Hadi Ahmad and Kimberley Ann Gagnon OCM Hall of Fame: Aminullah @ Amin Karim (hockey), Lawrence van Huizen (hockey), Datuk Ow Soon Kooi (hockey), M. Arulraj (hockey), Daphene Boudville (hockey), N. Thanabalan (football), Lim Heng Chek (swimming), Fong Seow Hor (swimming), Hector Durairatnam (cricket), Ahmad Mahmud (athletics and rugby), Datuk Kamaruddin Ghani (equestrian), Rosli Abdul Kadir (cycling), M. Vasugi (taekwondo), Dhanraj Rassiah (taekwondo) and Chai Fong Ying (wushu).

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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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Recognition For Shamala Prof Honoured For Contribution To Hockey

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Women Hockey Association (MWHA) secretary Prof Dr S. Shamala is among the rare breed of people who completed the transition from an athlete to a successful sports administrator.

Shamala played for the Negri Sembilan senior hockey team when she was 15 before breaking into the national team at 18. She then continued her contribution to women’s hockey when she became secretary of MWHA at 26.

The 38 year-old lecturer’s achievement and contribution to women’s hockey was duly rewarded when she received the 2011 Women and Sports Award from Olympic Council Malaysia’s (OCM) President Tan Sri Tunku Imran Tuanku Jaafar at the Commonwealth Hall yesterday.

“I’m honoured to get the award and I owe all this to the women’s hockey team. I believe the women hockey team’s re-emergence and performance was the key for winning the award,” said Shamala, who hails from Port Dickson.

“The team qualified to the last year’s Guangzhou Asian Games after 24 years and now we will work harder to qualify to the Olympics. It won’t be easy but we will work towards it.”

In conjunction with the award, a Women and Sport Forum was held with the theme “Nurturing Young Talent”.

National karate exponent G. Yamini, former international athlete Marina Chin, synchronised swimming coach Georgie Goh and Abdul Hadi, father of the recent SEA Games medallists Katrina Ann and Farah Ann, were on the panel for the forum.

OCM vice-president Low Beng Choo said that they wanted to do something different this year.

“We wanted to share the insight on nurturing a talent and engaged panellist from a broad prospective of sports,” said Beng Choo, who is also the chairman of OCM’s women and sports committee.

“We, at OCM, not only strive to have world class athletes but also to nurture new talents for the future.”

National cyclist Kimberly Yap and diver Leong Mun Yee’s parents – Henry Beg oak Tebi and Amy Wong Swee Eng and Leong Chai and Chan Ying Fong respectively were also honoured for their support and sacrifices which have been instrumental in their children’s success.