I believe in the impossible because no one else does.
– Florence Griffith Joyner, American athlete and fastest woman ever recorded
I know International Women’s Day has come and gone, but it’s only fair that I dedicate today’s column to all our women achievers in the field of sports, because to me, every day is Women’s Day. Let’s honour some of our women athletes who brought fame to Malaysia.
In our country’s sporting history, women athletes have woven threads of excellence, resilience and unity. From the early days of independence to the present, these trailblazers have not only elevated the nation’s status on international platforms but have also inspired generations.
We pay tribute to the remarkable sportswomen who have left a lasting impression in their respective disciplines.
The 1981 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Manila remains a landmark event in Malaysia’s athletics history, largely due to the outstanding performances of four women: Zaiton Othman, V. Angamah, Saik Oik Cum and Mumtaz Jaafar.
This multiracial team showcased the nation’s unity in diversity, clinching gold medals in both the 4×100m and 4×400m relays. Their synergy and dedication culminated in a new Asian record in the 4×400m relay, a reflection of their determination and prowess and the spirit of Malaysia.
Zaiton, affectionately known as the ‘Heptathlon Queen’, dominated the seven-event discipline, setting a national record that stood for nearly four decades. Angamah’s versatility shone through her victories in the 400m and 800m events, while Oik Cum and Mumtaz were formidable sprinters in their own right.
Their collective achievements during the 1981 SEA Games not only brought glory to the country but also exemplified the strength of unity across different races and backgrounds.
Sarawak also has had its fair share of achievers. And one that comes into mind is Sibu-born Lau Kiew Ee, the track queen of the 70s and 80s, who competed in the 100m, 200m, 400m, and long jump, though it was the 400m hurdles in the 1976 SEA Games that propelled her to fame.
In the 1977 SEA Games at Stadium Merdeka, Lau beat hurdling queen Datuk Marina Chin, the darling of Malaysia, in the 400m hurdles which was broadcast live across the nation. Enroute to the gold after Chin tripped over one of the hurdles midway, Lau won the hearts of Sarawakians. Chin nevertheless made it one-two for Malaysia.
Lau also excelled in the long jump when she took the title at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Schools meet in the 70s in Singapore.
Another prominent Sarawak achiever is Pandelela Rinong who has become synonymous with Malaysian diving excellence. Her journey from a Bidayuh village to the global diving arena is nothing short of inspirational.
Pandelela made her Olympic debut at the 2008 Beijing Games, finishing 27th in the 10m platform event. Undeterred, she clinched a gold medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, signalling her arrival on the international stage.
The pinnacle of her career came at the 2012 London Olympics, where she secured a bronze medal in the 10m platform, becoming the first Malaysian female athlete to win an Olympic medal and the first in a sport other than badminton.
She continued her awesome performance by winning a silver medal in the 10m synchronised platform with Cheong Jun Hoong at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Her dedication and success earned her numerous accolades, including national honours such as the Member of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (AMN) in 2016 and the Commander of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of Sarawak (PSBS), which carries the title ‘Dato’, in 2021.
Meanwhile, Thinaah Muralitharan has rapidly ascended in the world of badminton. Specialising in women’s and mixed doubles, Thinaah, partnering Pearly Tan, made history by becoming the first Malaysian women’s doubles pair to reach the semi-finals at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Their synergy and tenacity were further showcased at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, where they clinched gold medals in both the women’s doubles and the mixed team events.
Thinaah’s linguistic versatility – fluent in Tamil, Malay, English and Mandarin – reflects her adaptability both on and off the court. In October 2024, she graduated with a Bachelor of Education in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) from Open University Malaysia, where she was also honoured with a special sports icon award during the convocation.
Her journey exemplifies the harmonious blend of academic pursuit and athletic excellence, serving as an inspiration to many young Malaysians.
Then we have Cindy Ong Pik Yin. Her swimming career is a reflection of perseverance and passion. Ong hails from a family with a rich swimming heritage; her brother, Allen Ong, is a former national swimmer, and her aunt, Ong Mei Lin, was among Malaysia’s first female Olympic swimmers.
Ong’s competitive journey began in 1989, and she qualified for the 2004 Athens Olympics in four events. Her resilience was evident when, at eight months pregnant, she secured a silver medal at the Malaysia Masters Speedo International Championship.
In 2017, just seven months after giving birth to her third child, she competed at the Fina World Masters in Budapest, placing fifth in the 100m freestyle.
Her determination bore fruit at the 2019 Fina World Masters Championship in Gwangju, South Korea, where she won five gold and two silver medals, earning her recognition in the Malaysia Book of Records for the most gold medals won by an individual swimmer in a World Masters Championship (female) in 2019.
Beyond the pool, Ong is a certified swimming coach and an advocate against sexual harassment, using her platform to drive positive change in the sports community.
While these athletes have garnered significant attention, many other Malaysian sportswomen have made remarkable contributions. Chin was a dominant sprinter in the late 1970s and early 1980s, specialising in the 100m hurdles and playing a key role in popularising women’s athletics in Malaysia.
Mumtaz, renowned for her sprinting prowess, was part of the formidable relay teams of the early 1980s and later transitioned into coaching and sports administration, mentoring the next generation of athletes.
Oik Cum, as a key member of the 1981 relay team, contributed significantly to Malaysian athletics, both as an athlete and as a mentor to young sprinters.
Shalin Zulkifli, a ten-pin bowling sensation, was named Malaysian Sportswoman of the Year multiple times and represented Malaysia in numerous international championships. Nur Suryani Mohamed Taibi gained global attention as an Olympic shooter who competed in the 2012 London Olympics while eight months pregnant.
The history of Malaysian sports is rich with the contributions of outstanding women athletes who have defied odds, broken records and brought immense pride to the nation. Whether in athletics, diving, badminton, swimming or bowling, these women have shown that dedication and perseverance can lead to remarkable achievements.
As we honour these women, let us also encourage future generations of female athletes to chase their dreams and continue Malaysia’s proud sporting legacy.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune.
