Ishtiaq Mubarak (with Malaysian flag) with (from left) hockey players Lam Kok Meng, Ow Soon Kooi and team doctor Dr M. Jegathesan waiting for the march past at the Montreal Olympics 1976.
Former national athlete and coach Ishtiaq Mubarak, ex-Olympian and Sportsman of the Year in 1976, passed away at 9.55 Friday morning at his home in Hulu Kelang, at the age of 65.
Ishtiaq Mubarak first represented the country at the 1966 Asian Games in Bangkok where he won a bronze medal in the 110 m hurdles. Eight years later at the 1974 Asian Games, he won a silver medal. He proved his distinction in Asia by winning the silver medal at the Asian Track and Field Championship 1973 and 1975.
he hurdler represented the country at three consecutive Olympic Games - Mexico 1968, Munich 1972, and Montreal 1976. At the 1976 Games, Isthiaq was the only Malaysian to qualify for the semi finals making him only the second Malaysian to do so at the Olympic, after M. Jegathesan in Tokyo 1964. Ishtiaq also the flag bearer for 1976 Olympic Games.
Ishtiaq won the 110m hurdles title at the SEA Games in 1969, 1971, (with new SEA Games record of 14.4), 1973 and 1977.
His national record for the 110 m hurdles (14.08) stood for 15 years until it broken by Nur Haerman Majid.
Istiaq was inducted into the OCM Hall of Fame in 2002.
