Annie with coach Jung Choong-hoi at the 1995 SEA Games in Chiangmai.
PETALING JAYA: Former national fencing head coach Jung Choong-hoi will be remembered as a kind and gentle soul.
The 75-year-old Choong-hoi, who was Malaysia's coach from 1988-1996, passed away on Nov 3 after suffering from aneurysm.
Prior to coaching in Malaysia, he was also the national head coach of South Korea (1974-1986) and Taiwan (1986-1987).
He loved Malaysia and stayed on to be the member of the Olympic advisory committee in Malaysia (1993-1998) and groomed many juniors through his club activities over the last two decades.
One of his former national athletes Annie Foo, described him as a father figure.
"I've known coach Jung since my teenage days. He was strict but yet humourous. He had a gentle and compassionate heart," said the former SEA Games medallists Annie.
"He took good care of us in the national team. He taught us our first Korean words, cooked chicken soup and sometimes, ramyeon with rice! He also found sponsors for some of us.
Under him, Malaysia won a significant number of medals in international tournaments.
"He was highly passionate and took Malaysian fencing to greater heights. I'm glad he got to do what he loved most.
"He had touched and impacted many lives. To me and many others, he was a father figure. He will be missed," she added.
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