Handle unpolished gems with care so that they’ll be our future diamonds

KARL Gunter Lange, a track and field specialist from Germany, issued a warning to the Malaysian powers-that-be almost 30 years ago on the dangers of early burnout for budding athletes in athletics.

In urging Malaysia to discard the instant coffee mentality of cutting corners to produce the goods, Lange said a multi-lateral approach, whereby the athletes are exposed to other events to boost their general aptitude for sports before they start specialising, was crucial in developing talent in the long run.