The inspiring story of perseverance from our athletes

THE Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon (KLSCM) is just a week away and I’m already sweating. And it’s cold sweat.

It’s just a 10km run, under the media challenge, but all I can think about is – why did I even sign up.

Running long distance races needs a lot of practice, a positive mindset and perseverance. Unfortunately, I didn’t practise much but I intend to persevere.

I have athletes to inspire me to stay on course, especially this week. One of them is national bowler Sin Li Jane.

Li Jane may be 32 but she has been bowling for two decades – that speaks volume of her endurance as an athlete.

The Perakian has made this year spectacular – winning three professional titles in the United States, including the prestigious US Women’s Open. To make these achievements even more staggering, she managed them with her own funds.

She then hit the ground running by winning three golds at the Asian Championships in Bangkok.

Li Jane is now the longest serving bowler in the national team in the absence of Shalin Zulkifli. She started bowling when she was just about 10.

In her junior days, she used to beat bowlers ranked higher than her. My boss then had, rightfully, pointed out that this Ipoh girl will rule the alleys one day.

She did just that. She left her home when she was 14 to join the national youth squad, and by the time she was 16, she was winning titles. She was the first Malaysian to win a pro title in 2017 and first to win a title by beating the men at Euro Med.

I remember interviewing her during her tender years. She was soft-spoken, humble and her eyes would simply light up when talking about bowling.

Despite the years, Li Jane’s love for the sport has not diminished. In fact, she is almost as exuberant now as she was then.

While she has been the mainstay of the national team for the longest time, Li Jane has remained a down-to-earth person.

Together with Li Jane, Rafiq Ismail and Co have also been instrumental in the recent Asian meet success when they won the bulk of the golds in the men’s category. It was such an inspiring performance and result.

Unfortunately, long-serving and former Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC) president Datuk Dr P. S. Nathan did not get to see the grand success. The 90-year-old passed away on Sunday even as the Asian tournament was going on.

But he will be remembered as an inspiration for the bowlers and officials, as the man who had stood tall for 50 years and turned the association from its humble outfit to a very successful one.

It wasn’t just the alley. There was inspiration from the badminton courts, too.

Take mixed doubles player Hoo Pang Ron. He had to undergo two eye operations over the last one year but he refused to give up.

Yesterday, he and Cheng Su Yin blew away top seeds Tang Chun Man-Tse Ying Suet of Hong Kong to reach the semi-finals of the Macau Open.

Pang Ron, the younger brother of former top women player Vivian Hoo, has translated his dogged determination to make a mark in the mixed doubles event. This attitude will take him far in the sport for sure.

Another mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei are also known for their persistence in the game.

That’s why I’m confident that Ee Wei, who received 16 stitches after a mishap in the gymnasium recently, will return stronger.

Ee Wei fell onto a glass panel after slipping while holding a dumbbell but fortunately, she did not hurt her playing hand.

But she is a resolute shuttler, and although it has been announced that she will skip the Arctic Open in Finland and the Denmark Open next month with Tang Jie, don’t be surprised if she boards the plane to Copenhagen for the World Tour 1000 event.

Ee Wei is a fighter at every level and will not lay low for too long.

And looking at the tenacity and strong resolve shown by these athletes, I see no reason why I should not lace up and head for Dataran Merdeka on Oct 5.

My cold sweat has vanished. I’m looking forward to completing the race, and will worry about the pain later.

All the best to all those taking part in the half and full marathon races in KL. It’s all about perseverance, just like Li Jane.

The writer is Running For A Cause with KLSCM. So, join her and donate to charity organisations. Hers is Teach for Malaysia (TFM).