My main objective and vision for this column is to give our readers regular inspirational vibes about Malaysian sports. Sometimes I might write about an international sports issue or personality, but I love promoting our local talent. Our Malaysian athletes and coaches are humble, hardworking, and just all-around nice people.
Another good person or legend as I like to call her is former Malaysian 400 meters Athletics Hurdler - Norseela Mohd Khalid. To many she is known as “Seela or Kak Seela.” Seela was a Malaysian High Performance Athlete from 1999-2013.
During her career, she won multiple SEA Games Gold Medals, obtained a Bronze medal at the 2006 Asian Games, finished sixth at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, and is also a dual Asian Track & Field Championship Silver Medalist.
The highlight of her career is competing at the London 2012 Olympic Games. She is now retired and coaching at the Sarawak State Sports Council.
I always like to tease Seela because her favorite story is that she is still the current national 400 meters Hurdles record holder, which she broke several times from 1999-2006. All jokes aside, Seela is very committed and passionate about making Malaysian sports popular and attractive to all Malaysians, and that is what she is trying to champion as the President of the Olympians Association of Malaysia.
Seela is a great role model and friend to all Malaysian athletes, regardless of the sport. Before any major international competition - SEA Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games or Olympics – Seela is always at the pre-departure events to wish all our athletes the best of luck.
Due to her new coaching role in Sarawak and also the pandemic restrictions, we don’t see Seela as often as pre-COVID. But don’t worry; she is forever present as she runs many Zoom sharing dialogue sessions and meetings to constantly keep the Malaysian sports movement going.
Seela’s favorite advice to young Malaysian athletes is about the word “Always.”
“Always respect others including your competitors. Always persist with your life goals, and always bring a great working attitude to training and competition. In summary, always keep going and never ever quit.”
Told you she is a legend.
Ben Ibrahim is a TV Commentator, Sports & Media Consultant. In his career, he has also worked for FIBA, FISU, Foxsports, and the Ministry of Youth & Sports.
He also helped set-up the Malaysia Valke Rugby Club that played in the 2019/2020 Global Rapid Rugby competition.
You can contact him on his Public Facebook page or his Instagram Account @benibrahim_
