Let’s book ’em! It’s time to tell the stories of our stars

WHEN are you going to write a book about me?

Bowling queen Shalin Zulkifli has asked me that a few times. She really deserves a book.

After all, so much has been written about her exploits, starting out at 12 to become a world beater in bowling and facing so many successes and tribulations in her 30-year career before retiring last year at 42.

To tell the truth, it will be a joy to write about the legendary bowler, whose life is a great inspiration for many.

What stands out most about her is her fighting spirit – not only in the bowling alley but also in life.

The mother of one child (Aleya) has been juggling with many things now – as an officer with National Sports Council, still chasing that elusive professional title, and caring for her sick husband, former bowler Azidi Ameran who is in the hospital after undergoing a bone marrow transplant.

Multiple world title winner Shalin knows the joy of being on top of the world, and the pain of hitting the bottom – with injuries, dejection and betrayals. She was even scorned for being vocal.

Her roller-coaster journey has already been depicted in a television series but it will be wonderful to pen down chapters of her colourful life in a book.

After all, there aren’t many books about our athletes in Malaysia. Probably the recent one that has been written was about three-time Olympics silver medallist Datuk Lee Chong Wei.

But there are many others who deserve to be immortalised in books. Datuk Azizulhasni Awang and eight-time squash world champion Datuk Nicol David come to mind. Their stories are equally absorbing, captivating and inspiring.

These are the contemporaries. They are also many from the past – people like Tan Sri Dr M. Jegathesan, Datuk Zaiton Othman and Datuk Marina Chin, just to mention a few.

Readers are welcome to tell me about your favourites that you will enjoy reading about.

I would encourage more writers to come forward to chronicle the rich history of Malaysian sport. Even former athletes or coaches themselves can give it a go.

Other countries are far ahead in this department.

In this year’s 34th William Hill Sports Book of the Year award list, 15 books about athletes were shortlisted out of 150. Obviously, none of the authors or athletes are Malaysians.

Those books shortlisted feature an array of topics including hard-hitting autobiographies, and heart-breaking memories, along with harrowing accounts of racism and sexism in sport and never-before-heard stories of some of the most compelling figures within the sporting industry.

Eight of the 15 books revolve around football but that’s no surprise as England just won the UEFA women’s Euro 2022 and there is the excitement about the FIFA World Cup in Qatar in November.

Three female writers made the cut with retired British track and field athlete Anyika Onuora writing about “My Hidden Race”.

There is also the story of UK’s female athlete Beryl Button, who dominated the world of cycling.

Former sports stars – Frenchman Patrice Evra (I Love This Game) and American martial art’s star Steven Thompson (Unforgettable: Rugby, Dementia and the Fight of My Life) – also made the list for the award, which offers €30,000 (RM136,435).

Manchester United fans, whose club are not having a great time this season, may want to read the glory days of their club written by Matt Dickinson – “1999: Manchester United, the Treble and All That” while some tennis fans may want to get their hands on “The Master: The Brilliant Career of Roger Federer” by Christopher Clarey.All these books may make compelling reading but for me, I would love to read about Shalin, Chong Wei, Azizul, Nicol and other local stars.

Someone needs to tell the world about their stories. It will surely be page-turners.

l The writer also may, one day, want to write about the Sidek brothers as each one of them – Misbun, Jalani, Razif, Rashid and Rahman – has contributed much. And what colourful characters they are too!