Chan (far right) with her fellow masters athletes at Sabah Masters Athletics Open Championship 2024. - Photos: CHAN NYET FUII
When master thrower Chan Nyet Fui heard the news about the inaugural KBS Masters Games from her fellow athletic friends, she was so ecstatic that she signed up without hesitation, despite her packed schedule.
“I work from Mondays to Fridays, and I only had the weekends to train for the Games – and even that, without a specific training programme,” says the 53-year-old general clerk from Melaka.
Despite the challenges, Chan, who has been active in athletics and softball since her school days, clinched gold medals in shot put and discus at the KBS Masters Games.
These were not her first Masters Games achievements. The cheerful and determined thrower has collected medals at numerous masters athletic championships, both locally and internationally.
Her debut was at the Asia Pacific Masters Games held in Penang in 2018, where she earned a gold in javelin and silvers in discus and shot put.
Chan taking the podium at the 22nd Asia Masters Athletics Championship 2023 held in Clerk City, The Philippines.
Another track and field athlete, Siew Hann Wen, made his participation in the inaugural Games even more memorable by competing alongside his wife, Tiffany Soh Beng Chu, 49.
“Having my wife compete in the Games was incredibly fulfilling and gratifying,” says the businessman from Kuala Lumpur.
The couple returned home with an impressive haul of medals. Siew won gold in long jump and discus, along with a silver in shot put, while Soh secured gold in the 200m race walk, silver in discus, and bronze in shot put.
Like Chan, Siew is no stranger to masters competitions. The father of three has been collecting accolades since 2012, with medals from the Asia Masters Championships, Malaysia Masters Open, and Singapore Masters Open.
But unlike Chan, Siew trains seven days a week and has a specific training programme that focuses on quality training.
“Most of the time, I train with the athletes I am coaching,” says the 50-year-old qualified world athletics Level 2 coach specialising in throwing events.
Siew Hann Wen (centre) in a playful mood after a coaching session. - SIEW HANN WEN
Beyond medals
Both Chan and Siew believe they gained more than just medals from their masters’ competitions.
“It’s an opportunity to meet new friends within my age group,” says Chan. “Most importantly, I find my mind most relaxed when I play sport, as it helps to reduce stress and improve my health.”
Siew concurs: “Participating in competitive sport has had a tremendously positive impact on my health and overall well-being, especially at this stage of my life.”
In addition to the benefits for physical and mental health and a richer social life, Siew highlights two further significant impacts: An improved sense of purpose and a model of positive ageing.
“Every training session and competition provides me with a clear goal,” he adds. “Being able to train and compete at this age makes me feel like I am breaking through the limitations of age.”
Siew (far left) with his fellow training buddies.
Overall, Siew believes that competitive sport not only makes one stronger and more optimistic but also motivates them to continue to grow and overcome challenges.
“Competing with high-level athletes is an exciting experience, but the camaraderie makes this competition more human. We are not in this competition to defeat each other, but to improve together. This feeling is incredibly rewarding,” says Siew, who has been active in sport since the age of 12 and considers winning an Asean Youth Gold Medal in javelin his greatest achievement.
This, he says, helps to mitigate the challenges faced by senior athletes, to which Chan agrees: “Personally, the main challenge for us is the financial burden, as we cover all fees and expenses ourselves.”
Siew acknowledges the difficulty of balancing life and training, as most senior athletes juggle careers, family responsibilities, and other commitments, leaving limited time for proper, rigorous training.
“Furthermore, finding age-appropriate training programmes, suitable coaches, and peers at a similar level can be challenging,” he adds.
However, both Chan and Siew agree that it is never too late for anyone to start engaging in competitive sport.
“Self-doubt can sometimes be overwhelming, but the key is to focus on your current abilities rather than comparing yourself to others,” says Siew.
He concludes, “Becoming a senior athlete is not about chasing youth; it is about embracing resilience and adaptability.”
