Former athlete Savithri’s reunited with her SEAP Games medals after 54 years

PETALING JAYA: It was an emotional moment for former athlete P. Savithri (pic) after she finally received her hard earned SEAP Games medals after 54 years.

Savithri, who won pentathlon gold and 100m hurdles silver in the 1971 SEAP Games in Kuala Lumpur, never saw the medals again after it was borrowed by officials.

Starsport highlighted the issue and Malaysia Athletics (MA) secretary-general Nurhayati Karim visited the 84-year-old at her home to find out more about the oversight. Nurhayati apologised for the oversight and promised that Savithri will receive replica medals.

True to her word, Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) president Tan Sri Norza Zakaria presented the medals to Savithri during a forum on the challenges faced by women in sports at the Mines Beach Resort in Sri Kembangan on Sunday.

Malaysia Athletics (MA) president Karim Ibrahim was also present during the ceremony.

Savithri was emotional after finally getting her medals.

“It’s such a very emotional moment for me to receive the gold and silver medals even though they are the replicas of the original medals which I never really got to see,” said Savithri.

“Nurhayati met me only once in August but kept promising me that I will get my medals this month.

“I am very thankful to her. She made my day. I feel so much happiness after 54 long years.

“I want to thank The Star as well for highlighting this in the news. The coverage started it all,” added Savithri.