Olimpian Berbasikal Negara – M. Kumaresan

Olimpian lumba basikal kebangsaan, M. Kumaresan, telah dilantik sebagai Pengerusi Panel Pakar Program Pembangunan Sukan Olimpik bagi sukan berbasikal. 

Dilahirkan di Batu Pahat, Johor, minat Kumaresan terhadap sukan berbasikal bermula sejak awal persekolahannya. Hasil kerja sambilan selepas waktu sekolah, beliau mengumpul wang untuk membeli basikal sendiri dan berlatih sejauh 20 batu dalam waktu lapangnya. 

Kumaresan menyertai pertandingan pertamanya, Kejohanan Lumba Basikal Lebuhraya Kajang 1984, setelah menarik perhatian jurulatih tempatan, Salleh Arif. Dengan kemenangan yang diraihnya, beliau dipilih untuk bertanding di Kejohanan Dunia Remaja di Perancis.

Itu hanya permulaan bagi kegemilangan kerjaya Kumaresan. Beliau telah bertanding di Sukan SEA dari 1985-1997, memenangi sejumlah 19 pingat, di mana 9 daripadanya adalah pingat emas. Pada tahun 1987, beliau memenangi pingat perak dalam perlumbaan mata 30km Kejohanan Asia, dan berjaya memenangi emas dalam acara yang sama di Sukan SEA tahun itu. Pada edisi tersebut, Kumaresan memenangi tiga pingat emas, dua pingat perak, dan satu gangsa. Beliau kemudiannya dianugerahkan Olahragawan Kebangsaan 1987 atas pencapaiannya.

Bakat dan kegigihan Kumaresan membawa beliau ke pentas Sukan Olimpik, mewakili Malaysia pada tahun 1988 dan 1992. Setelah terlepas tempat pada tahun 1988, beliau menjadi atlet Malaysia pertama yang layak ke peringkat akhir berbasikal dalam acara perlumbaan mata di Sukan Olimpik Barcelona 1992, di mana beliau menduduki tempat ke-21.

Kumaresan bersara pada tahun 1998 selepas Sukan Komanwel KL, menyatakan bahawa beliau berasa sedia pada usia 31 tahun. Zaman kegemilangannya di Sukan SEA tidak dilupakan kerana beliau dipilih sebagai salah seorang Timbalan Chef-de-Mission bagi Sukan SEA KL 2017 dan beliau turut dimasukkan dalam ‘Hall of Fame’ Majlis Olimpik Malaysia (MOM).

(Sumber foto asal: Dunia Sukan)

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National cycling Olympian M. Kumaresan has recently been appointed as chairman of the Panel of Experts for the Olympic Sports Development Programme in cycling. 

Born in Batu Pahat, Johor, Kumaresan’s passion for cycling began early on during his schooldays. From working part-time after school hours, he had saved enough money to buy his own bicycle and would spend his spare time training over 20-mile distances. 

Kumaresan joined his first competition, the 1984 Kajang Highway Cycling Championships, after being scouted by local coach Salleh Arif. After his win, he was selected to compete at the Junior World Championships in France. 

That was only the beginning of Kumaresan’s illustrious career. He competed at the SEA Games from 1985-1997, winning a total of 19 medals, where 9 of them were gold. In 1987, he won silver in the Asian Championships 30km point race, only to come out stronger by winning gold for the same race at the SEA Games later that year. In that edition, Kumaresan won a total of three gold medals, two silvers, and a bronze. He was subsequently awarded 1987 Sportsman of the Year for his achievements. 

Kumaresan’s talent and tenacity led him to the Olympic Games, representing Malaysia in 1988 and 1992. After narrowly missing a place in 1988, he became the first Malaysian to qualify for a cycling final in the Men’s Point Race at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, where he placed 21st. 

Kumaresan retired in 1998 after the KL Commonwealth Games, stating that he felt ready at 31 years old. His glory days at the SEA Games were not forgotten as he was named one of the Deputy Chef-de-Mission for the 2017 KL SEA Games and he has been inducted into the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) Hall of Fame.