By INS Contributors

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia-The Young Talent Track and Field Selangor Launch and Run event was organized by Young Talent Track and Field (YTTF) Sdn Bhd in collaboration with Kelab PJ. This event was also supported by Malaysian Hash Council and PJ Club Hash House Harriers. Sponsors for the event included redOne and Decathlon.

Initial plans to launch YTTF Selangor on Padang Timur, situated adjacent to Kelab PJ was shelved in consideration of the advice on outdoor activities due to the current heat wave from Kementerian Pendidikan dan Kementerian Kesihatan.

Kelab PJ’s gracious offer to host the event and to have the Hash Run relocated on its premises was indeed a blessing.

This is YTTFs second chapter, having launched its Perak Chapter in September 2022. Danny Sritharan the CEO of YTTF aims to promote grassroot athletics development in the country and to make physical activities fun for young children and differently abled children between the ages of 6 to 12.

The event which coincides on World Kids Athletics Day was officially launched by the Chairman of YTTF, Lt Commander (R) Karu Selvaratnam.

Karu, as he is fondly called, is a champion athlete in multiple sports namely track, cricket, hockey, boxing, and golf. He represented Malaysia at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics in the 4x400m event and holds the distinction of being, at one time, the Malaysian captain in athletics and in cricket.

He was also the past president of Malaysian Olympians Association.

In his speech, Karu emphasized the importance of athletics and grassroot development through sports which builds character besides strong bodies and minds.

Karu hoped similar efforts to produce future Olympians and world class athletes would bear fruit. In his speech he also emphasised the tenets of good sportsmanship - humility in winning and gracious in defeat.

He went on to thank the coaches, who will be heading the YTTF Selangor chapter and pointed out the role of parents and volunteers in making sports a fun and enriching experience for children from the ages of 6 to 12.

This event was also supported by numerous generous well-wishers and individuals keen on seeing sports actively pursued from the grassroots level.

YB Rajiv Rishyakaran, ADUN Bukit Gasing, was also in attendance together with Anuar Hamid, a representative from Kementerian Belia dan Sukan and Mr Derek Fernandez the counsellor for PJ.

It also saw the attendance of distinguished icons from track and field and a few other sports.

The event was attended by sports personalities and icons from the track fraternity. Notable among them is Tan Sri Dr M. Jegathesan, the “Flying Doctor” who was a 3- time Olympian and held the 100m and 200m national records for 30 years and 49 years respectively.

Tan Sri Jegathesan received the National Sportsman Award in 1966 for his achievements in bringing honour to the country.

Other athletics personalities and icons include Dato’ M. Rajamani, Olympian and National Sportswoman of Year (1966), Dato K Thamboo, two-time Olympian in athletics, Dato’ Nashatar Singh, two-time Olympian in athletics, Dato’ Seri Noorul Ariffin, national athlete and currently the President of Yayasan Kebajikan Atlet Negara (YAKEB), Dato’ R. Yogeswaran, national hockey icon and Olympian was also in attendance together with Nurhayati Dato’ Abdul Karim, General Manager of Malaysian Athletics Federation.