Chai (right) handing over Olympic Council of Malaysia’s official Malaysian contingent attire to Thambu during Olympic Day 2022 celebrations in Penang.
Friends and rivals among those paying respects to former Olympian, 1966 Asian Games gold medallist
FRIENDS, relatives and sports enthusiasts bade farewell to former Olympian Datuk Thambu Krishnan, who succumbed to a brief illness at the age of 81.
Among those who paid their respects at his residence at Lorong Indah, Taman Bukit Indah in Bukit Mertajam were Penang Sports Council (PSC) director Harry Chai Heng Hua, former national athlete V. Angamah and her husband Dr N. Arujunan, former national runner Preemadesa Peyadesa (son of former Olympian Datuk PLBS Peyadesa) and PSC development sports officers Chew Kok Rui and Ravichandran Ramasamy.
Chai said Thambu would be deeply missed, particularly for his invaluable coaching knowledge and sprinting expertise.
“He was a gem in our Penang athletics scene, one of the coaches with whom we constantly stayed in touch to look at how we could restore Penang olahraga (athletics) to its glory days,” Chai told Buletin Mutiara.
Melaka-born Angamah, who formed a powerful quartet with Saik Oik Cum, Zaiton Othman and Harbans Kaur in the 1980s, said although she had heard much about sporting legends like Thambu, she only came to know him better after her competitive days.
“In 2011, I got the chance to learn more about him during a pilgrimage to India for Malaysian Indian ex-national athletes.
Dr Jegathesan says Thambu was a great friend despite their years of rivalry on the track.
“I just admired these legends from a distance and I never thought he would be such a humble, jovial and caring person.
“I also realised that my husband was an ardent fan of Thambu. He took up athletics because of him.
“Off and on when we visited Penang, we would be in touch. I visited Thambu’s house once before and his family was very hospitable.
“We will surely miss him,” said Angamah, who came with Dr Arujunan from Kajang, Selangor.
Thambu, who retired as headmaster of SJK (T) in Perai, Penang, represented Malaysia in the 4x100m relay at the 1968 Mexico Olympics and in the 400m and 4x400m relay at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
One of his most outstanding achievements was winning the 4x100m relay gold medal in the 1966 Bangkok Asian Games, together with Tan Sri Dr M. Jegathesan, G. Rajalingam and Mohd Ariffin Ahmad.
Even after hanging up his running spikes, Thambu remained actively involved in athletics, especially in collaborating with PSC to train athletes for Sukma (Malaysia Games) and other competitions.
Thambu’s duels with Dr Jegathesan over the sprints were often the highlight of many championships, but the latter often proved to be the faster finisher.
“We were on the same team in the 60s, and we had many close races. I usually had a bit of an edge.
Lee praises the former Olympian for being one of the nicest coaches to work with on the Penang team.
“We were great rivals as well as great teammates. He took our rivalry very sportingly and genuinely congratulated me,” Dr Jegathesan said in a phone interview from Melbourne, Australia where he was visiting his children and grandchildren.
“But most importantly, we were great friends. We just did our best and we were so proud to wear the Malaysian colours.
“In the last 10 years I had the opportunity to visit Penang once or twice as the pro-chancellor of Universiti Sains Malaysia.
“During these visits, I would meet up with him for tea or a meal. Our last meeting was early this year.”
Lee Swee Seng, former director of Westlands Centre for Sports Excellence (PKWS), had the honour of coaching Penang athletes alongside Thambu in the 1980s and early 1990s.
It was during this period that Penang schools’ athletes and coaches put in a lot of effort to win Malaysian Schools Sports Council (MSSM) Athletics Championships eight years in a row.
“We both focused on coaching sprinters. Thambu was highly knowledgeable and a very nice man to work with.
“Together, we groomed several athletes including Beh Ching Keat, Chew Gim Peng and Ooi Juat Khoon.
“Thambu was not only a good athletics coach but excelled as a golfer,” said Lee.
Penang Amateur Athletics Association secretary V. Govindasamy said Thambu was widely recognised for his ability to inspire young athletes.
“He was always willing to share his knowledge with young coaches. His passing is a huge loss to the athletic fraternity, especially in Penang.
“He had a profound impact on every athlete fortunate enough to have worked with him.
“I extend my deepest condolences to his family,” Govindasamy said.
Tambu leaves behind wife Datin V. Saroja, daughter Geetha Krisnasamy, son Ganesh Krishnasamy and daughter-in-law Khalveena Sivabalakrishnan.
