Pada hari ini, kami mengimbau kembali pencapaian atlet Malaysia daripada 50 tahun yang lalu dan mempertengahkan dua nama yang diberi penghormatan sebagai Olahragawan dan Olahragawati Kebangsaan 1975.
Atas kejayaannya pada tahun 1975, anugerah Olahragawan Kebangsaan telah disampaikan kepada pelumba jalan kaki Khoo Chong Beng. Setelah memperoleh pingat gangsa di Kejohanan Olahraga Asia 1973 dalam acara 20km lumba jalan kaki, Chong Beng berjuang lebih keras untuk memenangi emas pada edisi 1975. Pada ketika itu, beliau merupakan pemegang rekod 10 kilometer bagi Malaysia dan rantau Asia.
Beliau juga memenangi emas di Sukan SEAP selepas menghadapi sedikit kontroversi, di mana beliau dikatakan berlari dalam acara tersebut menurut laporan pengadil. Namun, kemenangannya diisytiharkan sah selepas proses rayuan. Raja jarak jauh Malaysia kemudiannya ditawarkan untuk menjalani latihan khas di Jerman Barat dan seterusnya bertanding di Sukan Olimpik Montreal 1976.
Olahragawati Kebangsaan 1975 dianugerahkan kepada ratu badminton Malaysia, Dato’ Sylvia Ng. Selepas bertahun-tahun berkorban demi sukan and negara, Sylvia merasakan seolah-olah dedikasi beliau telah diiktirafkan dengan penghormatan tersebut. Pada tahun 1975, beliau berjaya membawa pulang tiga pingat emas di Sukan SEAP 1975 dalam acara perseorangan wanita, beregu wanita (bersama Rosalind Singha Ang), serta pasukan wanita bersama Rosalind Singha Ang, Ong Ah Hong dan Yap Hei Lim. Beliau kekal sebagai satu-satunya pemain badminton wanita yang menerima anugerah berprestij ini dalam sejarah sukan tanah air.
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Today we reflect back on our athletes’ achievements from 50 years ago and spotlight two names who were given the honour of being 1975’s Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year.
Due to his golden success in 1975, the Sportsman of the Year title was presented to race walker Khoo Chong Beng. After securing the bronze medal at the 1973 Asian Athletic Championships in Men’s 20km road walk, Khoo fought harder to win gold at the 1975 edition. At the time, he held the record for 10km race walk in Malaysia and Asia.
He also rightfully won gold at the SEAP Games after encountering a slight controversy, where he was first said to be running in his event by a track official. However, his win was declared true after an appeal. The Malaysian master of long-distance was then offered to undergo special training in West Germany and went on to compete at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games.
1975’s Sportswoman of the Year was awarded to a prolific name in Malaysian badminton, Dato’ Sylvia Ng. After years of sacrifice for the sport, Sylvia felt as though her work had finally paid off with this honour. In 1975, she secured three gold medals at the 1975 SEAP Games in women’s singles, women’s doubles (with Rosalind Singha Ang), as well as the women’s team alongside Rosalind Singha Ang, Ong Ah Hong and Yap Hei Lim. She remains the only woman badminton player to receive the prestigious award in Malaysian sporting history.
