Friday September 21, 2012
Yogasveran vows to help raise standard of athletics
By AFTAR SINGH
The standard of athletics has gone down over the last few years. With my vast experience in coaching, I hope to take athletics back to its past glory. - K. Yogasveran KUALA LUMPUR: Selangor Athletic Association secretary K. Yogasveran is the only candidate nominated for two Malaysian Athletic Union (MAU) posts – deputy president and vice-president.
The former international said he would be vying for both the posts with the noble intention of helping to raise the standard of athletics.
“The standard of athletics has gone down over the last few years. With my vast experience in coaching, I hope to take athletics back to its past glory.
“I was also the first Malaysian to receive a diploma in coaching from the world governing body IAAF in 1986 and have experience and knowledge in coaching national athletes,” said the 60-year-old retired bank officer.
MAU have come under fire from all quarters for the poor performance of athletes at the SEA Games and also for their deputy president Datuk Karim Ibrahim’s alleged involvement in two doping cases.
An inquiry committee headed by retired judge Tan Sri V. C. George was set up to investigate the allegations and they are expected to hand over their findings to MAU in the next few weeks.
Malaysia won six golds in Korat (2007) and Laos (2009) but at last year’s SEA Games in Palembang, they only won five out of 45 medals at stake in athletics.
The lanky Yogasveran has represented Malaysia in three SEA Games from 1975 to 1979 in the 800m and 1,500m. He has been the Selangor AA secretary since 1990 and was MAU vice-president for one term from 2008 to 2010.
He did not seek election for the 2010-2012 term because he was not happy with the way things were run in MAU.
Yogasveran will face incumbent Datuk Karim Ibrahim and Terengganu AA president Datuk Wan Hisyam Wan Salleh for the deputy president post.
Yogasveran added that it will be tough to win the deputy president’s post against incumbent Karim and also Terengganu AA Wan Hisyam. “But I am keeping my fingers crossed and hoping that I will win one of the posts. If I am elected, I promise to deliver my best to help raise the standard of athletics in the country,” said Yogasveran, who will face eight candidates for the vice-presidents’ posts.
Besides Yogasveran, the others vying for the post of vice-president are Mohamed Awang of Kelantan, Datuk Paiman Abdul Karim of Sabah, Rajemah Ahmad of Terengganu, P. Solomon of Kedah, S. Rajasegran of Johor,incumbents Datuk R. Annamalai and Datuk Paduka Mumtaz Jaafar.
Four vice-presidents will be elected and one must be a woman.Incumbent president Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim is facing a three corner fight against Negri Sembilan AA president Datuk Zainal Abidin Ahmad and former deputy president Datuk Danyal Balagopal.
The MAU elections will be held on Sunday.
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