‘Ishtiaq’s death a big loss to athletics in country’

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REST IN PEACE: Shamimi Selvarani Abdullah (right) shows the photo of her late husband Ishtiaq Ahmad Mubarak, accompanied by her daughters Shaniz (left) and Shakira. — Bernama photo

KUALA LUMPUR: Leading sports personalities and the country’s sports fraternity in general expressed shock after learning about the death of former Olympian hurdler Ishtiaq Mubarak.

Ishtiaq, 65, passed away at his house in Taman Zooview, Ulu Kelang, here, at 9.55am yesterday and survived by wife Shamini Selvarani, also a former national athlete, and two daughters, Shaniz and Shakira but the actual cause of his death was not known though it was reported that he had a fall.

Tan Sri Dr Mani Jegathesan, the country’s most celebrated sprinter, aptly nicknamed the ‘Flying Doctor’, deemed the death of the Olympian hurdler Ishtiaq Mubarak as a great loss to Malaysian sports, especially athletics.

Jega who was in the same athletics team with Ishtiaq when competing in the 1968 Mexico Olympics said he first came to know Ishtiaq through his father Mubarak Ahmad.

“I still remember how the late Ishtiaq had suffered serious injuries after a motorcycle accident in 1970 and had to rest for a few months. But before recovering fully, he was already on the training ground.

“That was how dedicated he was,” said Jega who was the team doctor when Ishtiaq qualified for the 110m hurdles semifinals in the 1976 Montreal Olympics.

The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) honorary secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi said Ishtiaq’s death was a big loss to sports in the country.

Kok Chi who is a good friend of Ishtiaq, whose full name is Ishtiaq Ahmad Mubarak Ahmad, said his death would certainly leave a ‘big hole’ in the country’s sports arena, especially in athletics.

“When I heard of his demise early morning today, I was shocked because I had always expected me to go first, not him because he was healthy and not facing any illness,” he told Bernama, here yesterday.

Kok Chi said apart from being a dedicated athlete during his hey days in the late 60 and 70s, Ishtiaq was also a very disciplined and dedicated coach, especially for back up athletes.

Former National hurdler and coaching chairman Hanafiah Nasir who was a good friend of the late hurdler said Ishtiaq had dedicated his life to athletics.

“We look up to him as not only a coach but a fatherly figure. His dedication and inspiration was unparallel. He lived for athletics and sacrificed his entire life for athletics,” said Hanafiah who took over the helm from Ishtiaq when he retired.

Ishtiaq wrote himself into national sports lore when he became the first Malaysian to compete at three Olympics
Games – 1968 (Mexico), 1972 (Munich, Germany) and 1976 (Montreal) and became the first Malaysian to qualify for the semi-finals of the 110m hurdles at the Montreal Olympics in 1976.

Ishtiaq first represented the country at the 1966 Asian Games in Bangkok where he won a bronze medal in the 110m hurdles and eight years later he won a silver medal at the Asian Games in Teheran, Iran and proved his distinction in Asia by winning the silver medal at the Asian Track and Field Championship in 1973 and 1975.

Ishtiaq who leaves behind his wife and two daughters, shot into prominence when he began competing internationally for Malaysia in 1969 and immediately shot into fame by winning the first of his four SEA Games gold medals in 1969.

Ishtiaq’s remains was buried at the Taman Batu Muda Muslim cemetery yesterday. — Bernama