V. Subramaniam – Pelumba Jalan Kaki – 11 Pingat di Sukan SEA

V. Subramaniam amat meminati olahraga jarak jauh lama sebelum beliau berjaya ke pentas antarabangsa. Semasa di bangku sekolah, beliau mula berminat dalam larian 800m dan 1,500m. Beliau  mewakili sekolah beliau, Sekolah Lelaki Batu Road, dalam pertandingan antara negeri dalam acara-acara tersebut. 

Subramaniam membuat penampilan sulung dalam acara jalan kaki 10km di kejohanan sukan sempena menyambut Hari Kemerdekaan 1969. Beliau mengejutkan semua termasuk dirinya sendiri apabila beliau memenangi pingat emas. Bakat Subramaniam tidak dapat dinafikan. Namun, kerana kekurangan dana dan beliau yang bekerja sepenuh masa, impian Subramaniam untuk menjadi seorang atlet negara terbantut. 

Enam tahun kemudian, Subramaniam mula bekerja dengan Telekom Malaysia dan majikannya sudi meyokong kerjaya olahraga beliau. Walaupun berusia 26 tahun ketika itu, beliau sudah bersedia setelah berlatih secara bersendirian. Selepas mendapat permulaan yang diidamkan, Subramaniam terus memenangi acara-acara kebangsaan yang disertai beliau. 

Pertandingan antarabangsa pertama Subramaniam merupakan Sukan SEA 1977, di mana beliau memenangi pingat emas dalam acara 10km and pingat perak dalam acara 20km. Beliau meraih pingat emas dalam kedua-dua acara tersebut di dua edisi Sukan SEA yang berikutnya, iaitu pada 1979 dan 1981. 

Subramaniam membawa pulang pingat perak dalam acara 10km dan 20km di Sukan SEA Singapura 1983 sebelum muncul juara sekali lagi di Sukan SEA Bangkok 1985, di mana beliau memenangi pingat emas 10km. Pada edisi tahun 1989 di Kuala Lumpur, beliau meraih pingat perak 10km dan 20km.

Pada penghujung 1970an, beliau telah dianggap sebagai salah seorang pelumba jalan kaki terbaik di rantau Asia. Salah satu momen yang tidak dapat dilupakan dalam kerjaya beliau adalah di Sukan Asia Bangkok 1978. Setelah beliau mendaluhui perlumbaan 20km, Hakam Singh dari India datang memintas dari belakang pada pusingan terakhir dan muncul sebagai juara. Subramaniam bukan sahaja kembali dengan pingat perak, tetapi beliau berjaya memecahkan rekod kebangsaan dengan catatan masa 1:31:58. 

Subramaniam juga telah mewakili negara di Sukan Komenwel 1978 dan menduduki tempat ke-12 sebelum memenangi pingat gangsa 20km di Kejohanan Trek dan Padang Asia 1979, dan sekali lagi pada 1981. Selepas kemenangan pertama itu, beliau dianugerahkan Olahragawan Kebangsaan 1979. 

Peningkatan Subramaniam semakin menyerlah apabila beliau seterusnya layak ke Sukan Olimpik Moscow 1980. Malangnya, Subramaniam tidak dapat berlumba di pentas dunia disebabkan pemulauan Malaysia terhadap Sukan Olimpik tersebut. 

Setelah bersara, Subramaniam memulakan karier sebagai jurulatih dan menjadi jurulatih lumba jalan kaki negara selama 11 tahun. Namun, karier tersebut berakhir apabila Persekutuan Olahraga Malaysia (MAF) membuat keputusan untuk memberi laluan kepada jurulatih-jurulatih baharu sebagai persiapan Sukan SEA KL 2017. Sebagai seorang jurulatih, Subramaniam telah memupuk bakat ramai atlet negara termasuk Olimpian 1996 Annastasia Karen Raj dan pemenang pingat gangsa Sukan SEA 2015 Khairul Harith Harun. 

Perjalanan karier Subramaniam sebagai seorang atlet negara harus dijadikan teladan kepada generasi baharu. Pengorbanan dan dedikasi beliau telah membuktikan tidak terlambat untuk mencapai kejayaaan setelah berusaha gigih walaupun terpaksa melalui pelbagai rintangan.

(Kredit foto: Dunia Sukan)

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V. Subramaniam loved the long distance years before he made it onto the international stage. While in school, he developed interests in running 800m and 1,500m. He had represented his school, Batu Road Boys School, in interstate competitions in these events. 

Subramaniam made his debut at the 1969 Merdeka Games in the 10km race walk event where he won the gold medal, which surprised everyone including himself. His talent was undeniable. However, due to lack of funding and working full-time, Subramaniam had to put his dream on the back burner. 

6 years later, Subramaniam started working for Telekom Malaysia and they supported his athletic career. Although already 26 years old at the time, his discipline towards the sport made him prime and ready. He was already prepared by training on his own. After getting the jumpstart he needed, Subramaniam went on to win many of the national events he competed at. 

Subramaniam’s first international competition was the 1977 SEA Games, where he won the gold medal in 10km and the silver medal in 20km. He claimed the gold medal in both events at the next two editions, the 1979 and 1981 SEA Games.

At the 1983 Singapore SEA Games, Subramaniam brought home the silver medal for both 10km and 20km, before emerging victorious once again at the 1985 Bangkok SEA Games, where he won gold in 10km. At the 1989 edition held in Kuala Lumpur, he claimed silver medals in both 10km and 20km.

In the late 1970s, he was considered one of the best race walkers in Asia. One of the most notable moments of his career was at the 1978 Bangkok Asian Games. After leading the 20km race, Hakam Singh from India came from behind him during the finishing lap and emerged as the winner. Not only did Subramaniam return with the silver medal, it was also a personal victory as he broke the national record with a time of 1:31:58. 

Subramaniam also represented the country at the 1978 Commonwealth Games, placing 12th, before winning the 20km bronze medal at the 1979 Asian Track and Field Championships, and again in 1981. After the initial victory, he was awarded the Sportsman of the Year later in 1979 for all of his achievements thus far. 

His momentum only grew stronger and Subramaniam went on to qualify for the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. Unfortunately, due to Malaysia’s boycott of the Games, Subramaniam did not get the opportunity to race on the world stage. 

After retiring, Subramaniam started coaching and spent 11 years as the national walks coach. His coaching career ended when the Malaysian Athletics Federation (MAF) made the decision to remove old coaches and make way for new ones in preparation for the 2017 KL SEA Games. During his time, Subramiam had nurtured talents including 1996 Olympian Annastasia Karen Raj and 2015 SEA Games bronze medalist Khairul Harith Harun. 

Subramaniam’s athletic career should be an example for the new generation. His sacrifices and dedication prove that it is never too late to achieve success despite various obstacles that may come. 

(Photo credit: Dunia Sukan)