Can we run back on track to revive athletics glory days in Cambodia?

DATUK M. Ramachandran turned 57 on April 9. Wishes poured in for the legendary long distance runner as he celebrated his big day.

He is leading a happy, contented life since his retirement from athletics in 2000, but he has one ardent wish – to see his national records in the 5,000m and 10,000m tumble.

Rama, as he is fondly called, was just 28 when he ran a steady race to set the national mark of 14:06.84 in the 5,000m in a meet in Germany. Two weeks later, he powered his way to another national mark of 29:30.19 in the 10,000m at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada.

It has been 29 years but both records still stand! He has added many accolades, including many SEA Games gold medals, over the years.

For Rama, though, records are made to be broken.

“I’m not proud to hold this record, I hope to see it broken,” he once told this writer.

Rama’s national records are not the only ones still collecting cobwebs in the book of Malaysian athletics records.

Remember B. Rajkumar? He was only 20 when he blazed the track with a new mark of 1:47.37 in 800m in the 1985 Asian championships. His record still stands as does S. Muthiah’s 3000m time of 8:27.00. Both did it 38 years ago.

Then there are all the men’s walk events – both track and road event records have lasted two decades.

It’s worse in women’s athletics. Who is going to break the 30-year-old records of Rabia Abdul Salam (400m) and P. Jayanthi (1,500m and 3,000m)?

What about G. Shanti’s record in the 200m (25 years); Josephine Mary’s 800m (27 years); and Yuan Yufang’s 5000m (26 years)?

Only our men sprinters are getting faster in the 100m and 200m events. Several have repeatedly broken the 100m marks, long held by Flying Doctor Tan Sri Mani Jegathesan, in the last few years.

Kudos to Watson Nyambek, Khairul Hafiz Jantan and Mohd Azeem Fahmi. US-based Azeem currently holds the 100m national record of 10.09s.

Generally though, our athletics scene needs a revival.

What’s worse about the lack of progress in tracks events is that the athletes have it all – the best facilities, coaches, technology, sports science and nutrition.

It was not like that for people like Rama. Life was hard, facilities were scarce but that did not stop him from challenging himself.

So, what is the problem?

Is it a leadership issue? Are we facing a shortage of quality coaches? Or has our pool of athletes really dwindled so drastically?

Will we succeed only if we send our athletes overseas? Yes, the facilities, culture, competitive edge and sports science research in countries like the United States, Australia and Germany are even better than what we have now.

But what we really need is new blood, new faces to take the sport to a different level.

We can’t keep passing the baton to the same old people with the same old methods at administration level.

Of course, not all old-timers are bad and some are really passionate. But young blood always helps.

The long wait can end soon if the current batch of runners break it at the Cambodia SEA Games next month, but can they?

Can anybody surpass those records at the Cambodia SEA Games? Not likely. We are struggling even at regional level – forget about Asian or the Olympics level where we can hardly get past the heats.

The heat is now on the Malaysian Athletics Federation (MAF) who have 10-gold medal target to meet in Cambodia.

Malaysia’s best haul over the past two decades was third overall placings, both in home editions – 2001 (8-5-9) and 2017 (8-8-9).

I have faith in the athletes, most of them are driven for success. But are they getting enough support to narrow the gap with their impressive rivals from Thailand and Vietnam?

There are coaches and state officials too who really want our athletes to run faster, jump higher and constantly outdo themselves. Are they getting enough backing and incentives?

Those are questions for former triple and long jumper Zaki Sadri, a seven-time SEA Games gold-medal winner. He is the new head coach and has his work cut out for him.

The 56-year-old Zaki is someone who brooks no nonsense and that’s a positive sign.

The man, dubbed the golden kangaroo, has his heart set on bringing changes and is eager to jumpstart Malaysian athletics.

But to be fair, he is not likely to be able to deliver the records in Cambodia.

Rama and all the other old-timers will have to wait, hopefully not for long, before their records fall and national pride rises.