RM400,000 aid ‘big relief’ for Shereen: mother

KUALA LUMPUR – Shereen Samson Vallabouy is a step closer towards achieving her Olympic dream after receiving a financial boost from the government worth RM400,000.

Mother and former national athlete, Josephine Mary Singarayar said she is grateful for the assistance from the Youth and Sports Ministry through the National Sports Council.

“This is the biggest support we have received from the government. It is a big relief for all the struggles we have gone through.

“Shereen’s dream is to finish on the podium at the Asian Games and the Olympics, and she wants to do it all by merit, no wild card. 

“She has worked hard to overcome many obstacles, including some injuries.

“She is focused and passionate about athletics from a young age,” said Josephine, who is the national record holder for the women’s 800m, clocking at 2m 7.44s, held at the 1986 Asian Games in Seoul.

Josephine was joined by her husband, Samson Vallabouy when met after attending the press conference with Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh today to announce the one-year financial aid for Shereen.

For the record, Samson is also a former national athlete who still holds the SEA Games record in the men’s 800m event, clocking at 1m 48.29s, held at the 1989 Kuala Lumpur edition.

The aid comes after their 25-year-old daughter’s achievement at the recent SEA Games in Cambodia for returning home with a gold medal in the women’s 400m category by clocking 53.53s, which was last won in 1999 by N. Manimagalay.

The assistance from the government is the first for Shereen and the largest ever received by a Malaysian female athlete.

“This is good encouragement for young athletes. You have to work hard, and your turn will come. For us, today is the day.

“Shereen believed in her dreams. She started competing from the age of 13 and now she is at the peak of her performance.

“Each athlete needs to believe that the training process is not short-term but long-term, and I hope this kind of help will come to athletes at a younger age from now on,” added Josephine.

Shereen has been pursuing her studies at Winona State University in Minnesota since 2019 and is expected to graduate at the end of this month.

Shereen holds the women’s 400m national record with a time of 51.80s at the St Mac Relays Invitational Elite competition in California last month, surpassing the 30-year-old record held by the late Rabia Abdul Salam at 52.56s at the 1993 Asian Championship in Manila. – The Vibes, May 23, 2023