Monday, October 10, 2016

Brother Jesbir: A passionate sports official...

JESBIR ... Holding card with I love Tolley (Punjabi slang for Tanjung Tualang)

SERGEANT JESBIR SINGH S/O MOKHTAR SINGH (101575), a passionate member of Sarawak hockey and cricket, passed away Monday.
  His last assignment with hockey was during the Sarawak Malaysia Games in August where he was the recorder for the men's and women's finals.
  Originally from Tanjung Tualang Sikh Settlement in Perak, Jesbir joined the force when he was 20 years old and has been stationed in Sarawak for the past 32 years.
  "I never wanted to leave Perak and cried when I was posted to Sarawak after I finished my police training. But after 32 years, Sarawak has given me everything and I will cry if I am posted back to Malaysia," said Jesbir to this scribe when we met during the Malaysia Games.
  Rest In Peace my brother, will miss you.... Had a fantastic time with you for 20 days during the Malaysia Games.
  RESIDENCE: No 605 Lorong Kedandi 1, Tabuan Jaya. Kuching.
  CREMATION: Expected to be on 12/10/2016 at the Buddhist Village, Jalan Seniawan, Bau.

Malaya: 1956 Olympian Aman Ullah dies...

AMAN Ullah Karim, 85, died on Sunday.
  He was among the first batch of hockey players from the Federation of Malaya who represented the country in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics where he scored a total of eight goals.
  And the man who played alongside him in Melbourne, Tan Sri P. Alagendra, was beyond grief as all his team-mates have now left him.
  "Oh! No... the two of us were the last remaining members of the squad and now Aman has also left," grieved Alagendra.
  "Before joining national training, he was Perak's top striker and his darting runs from the left had no answers from the defenders," remembered Alagendra, 86.
  Alagendra, who retired as Selangor Chief Police officer, said: "We encountered many difficulties travelling to Melbourne those days, but Aman was always a helping hand. He was a bit quiet and unassuming, but with the ball and stick, he tore the defence apart with ease."
  And among the notable goals he scored in 1956 were the two against Australia, but Malaya still lost 3-2.
  Aman was a terror in his days, and his school-mate at the Government English School, Tapah, remembers well his mentor and hero.
  Datuk R. Yogeswaran, coach of the famous 1975 World Cup team, remembers him well as he received a hockey stick from Aman.
  "He was my senior in school, and I used to look up to him as my mentor and hero those days because he was such a terror in Perak. One day, after training, he gave me his hockey stick, which was one of my best moments with him," said Yogeswaran.
  Aman later moved to Anderson School.
  Yoges also remembers him as one of the best left inside in the country in his days.
  "He was referred to as 'half of the Perak strikers' for his speed and when he moved into the semi-circle, the defenders and goalkeeper used to panic," said Yoges.
  Aman was an all-rounder as he played cricket, golf and tennis as well.
  "After the Melbourne Olympics, he started playing golf and was active at Kelab Golf Negara Subang.
  "In the first game against Great Britain, Malaya drew 2-2 and Aman was one of the scorers. In the end he scored a total of eight goals for the nation in our maiden Olympics," said Yogeswaran.