Pioneers of Sarawak athletics: A legacy to remember

A RECENT social media post displaying an old photograph of an athletic meet at the Jubilee Ground in Kuching – believed to be taken in the 1960s or early 1970s –rekindled my interest in the pioneers of Sarawak athletics.

It prompted me to reflect on the athletes, coaches and officials who, through sheer passion and perseverance, laid the foundation for the development of athletics in the state.

It is a blessing that some of these trailblazers are still with us today.

Their achievements, as well as those of their contemporaries who are no longer around, deserve recognition.

In this column, I am honouring their struggles and successes, and to ensure their contributions are never forgotten.

In the early years, most competitors were secondary school students or young adults who had just entered the workforce.

They received little or no support in the form of sponsorship or incentives that present-day top athletes enjoy.

Some like Sarawak’s hurdling legend Bala Kita struggled to buy their running shoes.

He recalled having to borrow money from his superior officer in the police force to buy a pair of spiked shoes for his races.

Although athletics was introduced in Sarawak as early as 1900, pre-war competitions were held mainly as part of special celebrations and festive occasions.

After World War II, the sport gained momentum in schools as part of the curriculum, with regular meets organised throughout the year.

In 1953, a significant step was taken when an inter-school athletics meet was held between the four major mission schools in Kuching: St Thomas’, St Joseph, St Mary’s and St Teresa’s.

The meet, organised by the Kuching Rotary Club in conjunction with the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, took place at St Thomas’ School field, one of the few venues in Kuching capable of accommodating a 440-yard track at the time.

The field had only a single track marked out with sawdust, forcing runners to bunch together and jostle for space throughout their races.

Datu Tham Siew Khai, then a student of St Joseph’s School, who won the 440-yard race, recalled his heel was gashed by the spike shoe of a runner behind him.

Despite these limitations, the meet drew a massive crowd.

The turnout impressed the British Governor that he urged Mr Tan Kui Choon, the president of the Kuching Rotary Club, to establish a formal athletics body.

That same year, Tan and a group of sports enthusiasts formed the Kuching Amateur Athletics Association (KAAA), giving rise to annual open meets that began attracting participants from across Sarawak.

In 1956, the KAAA expanded into the Sarawak Amateur Athletics Association (SAAA), marking the beginning of organised athletics development throughout the state.

A major milestone in Sarawak’s sports history was the construction of the Jubilee Ground in 1941 by the Brooke government, to commemorate 100 years of Brooke rule.

Built as an eight-furlong racecourse, the venue became the heart of horse racing in Kuching for several decades, drawing large crowds on weekends.

Although horse racing declined and eventually ceased in the 1970s, the Jubilee Ground evolved into a vital hub for athletics.

In 1954, an 880-yard running track was developed around the football field within the racecourse.

Soon after, a roofed grandstand was added to accommodate spectators, who flocked to the ground for athletics meets and football matches.

In 1961, the then-Kuching Municipal Council replaced the grass tracks with bitumen tracks.

Annual SAAA meets and the Borneo Games regularly packed the venue, with live radio broadcasts extending the excitement across Sarawak until the 1970s.

With the completion of the Sarawak State Stadium in the 1980s, the Jubilee Ground gradually lost its role as the centre of major sporting events.

Yet its legacy endures, for it was on this track that many remarkable athletes trained and honed their skills – athletes who would later represent Sarawak and Malaysia in regional competitions.

By the time Sarawak athletes competed for the first time in the 1965 SEAP Games, the state had already produced champions at the Malaya Championships and Borneo Games, and had even taken part in the Commonwealth and Asian Games.

In the 1956 Malayan Championship held in Penang, Terrence Janting – the ‘Flying Dayak’ – shocked many by snatching gold in the 100-yard race, and Chan Pak Weng grabbed the bronze in long jump.

The following year, Chen Li Na won the long jump event in the same championship.

They were followed by the likes of Joseph Lee, Kuda Ditta, Salleh Wahab and Latiff Olen who continued to establish Sarawak as a regional athletics powerhouse.

Unfortunately, many of the stars of the 1950s had retired by 1965, missing out on the opportunity to compete in the SEAP Games.

Only two athletes: hurdler Kueh Siew Hong and middle-distance runner Chong Mei Ling, were selected to represent Malaysia in 1965.

No Sarawakian athletes were chosen for team sports.

The two women made history. Kueh won gold in the 80m hurdles and 4x100m relay, while Chong claimed bronze in the 800m, marking Sarawak’s first podium finishes at the SEAP Games.

Their achievements paved the way for future generations of Sarawak athletes, who have since made significant contributions to Malaysia’s medal tally at the SEA Games.

While we celebrate the achievements of these pioneering athletes, we must not forget that behind every champion stood passionate organisers, officials and volunteers who worked tirelessly – often without recognition – to stage competitions, manage teams and nurture talents.

These individuals, though seldom celebrated, were instrumental in shaping the athletics landscape in Sarawak.

It would be a loss to history if the struggles, dedication and achievements of these pioneers – athletes, coaches and administrators alike – were not properly recorded.

Their legacy inspired those who came after them, and continues to motivate today’s athletes to strive for excellence.

Their story deserves to be preserved, remembered and told.