M. Harichandra (left) receiving the pin and certificate from Noraseela Mohd Khalid in Singapore
KUALA LUMPUR: M. Harichandra, the older brother of legendary Malaysian sprinter Tan Sri Dr M. Jegathesan, has died at the age of 92.
According to Jegathesan, his brother, who represented the country in athletics in the 1950s, died of old age in Singapore on Thursday.
“Funeral prayers and cremation were held in Singapore,” Jegathesan, known as The Flying Doctor, said.
He leaves behind a wife, Thangarasi, 78, and two children – Rohan and Anita.
Harichandra featured in the 1954 Asian Games in Manila and 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne and was among the first group of Malaysian athletes to compete at international level.
“He was my hero and role model, and it was because of him that I ventured into athletics and achieved success,” Jegathesan said.
Harichandra also broke the national 800m record with a sub-two-minute run at the age of 23, before representing the country in many other events.
He eventually moved to Singapore where he started work as a prisons officer in Outram Road in 1957 and became a citizen in 1959. He also represented Singapore in athletics, including at the masters level. — Bernama
