PETALING JAYA, May 21 — Rugby in Malaysia, is a game largely played by the purist, due to a non-existent centralised programme.

But even with the lack of professional playing opportunities, one man gambled his purse strings for passion when he quit his well-paying job as a senior engineer to pursue the sport for a living.

That man is Mohd Azmir Zainul Abidin, who became Malaysia’s hero when his two tries against Singapore earned the national team their maiden Division 1 Asian Rugby Championship (ARC) title after a 40-20 win last week.

“I quit my job just to focus on last year’s SEA Games in Singapore and have not looked back since,” said the chemical engineering graduate, who harbours ambitions of seeing Malaysia feature at the World Cup someday.

“For me it’s possible. Even without proper facilities and previous struggles with funds, we managed to make heads turn by winning the ARC Division 2 title last year to earn promotion to Division 1.

“After the national 7s clinched silver at last year’s SEA Games, quitting my job seemed the best decision,” said the right winger, who now operates his own fitness equipment business.

The country’s silver also ended their 20-year drought for a medal, also a silver at the 1995 edition.

The ruggers’ exploits earned plaudits from Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, who decided to reward the sport with an RM1million fund. He also promised to find them a home.

“My next mission is to bag gold at the SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur next year. But first, we need to beat the top teams for promotion in the playoff next month. We may lack proper facilities, but we have the determination to prove nothing is impossible.

“If we have good support, a proper venue with a centralised programme that could see more full time athletes compete with allowance from the National Sports Council, one day Malaysia will play at the World Cup,” said Azmir.

Currently the national team only have two venues to train at — the Astaka Field and the Universiti Putra Malaysia field.

“We are now ranked 52nd in the world and sixth in Asia, behind Japan (10), Hong Kong (23), South Korea (29), Sri Lanka (40) and Kazakhstan (42).

“W are getting nearer to the World Cup. But first we need to be in the Top Three division which consist of Japan, Hong Kong and South Korea,” said the 30-year-old, affectionately known as Tengkuk, who was inspired by his parents Halijah Endin and Zainul Abidin Soot to score those two crucial tries.

“To have my mother to watch me play for the first time brought me to tears. I have been playing rugby since 11, but she has never come before because she can’t bear to see me get hurt,” said the father of two.

“My wife Aida Munirah Azmi is five months pregnant and both our kids Aariq and Aayra were down with high fever.

“I need to juggle my role as a father, husband and at the same time fight for Malaysia,” said Azmir.

Besides his two tries, Malaysia scored through their Fijian imports Etonia Vaqa Saukuru, Jone Mawara Nasalo and Atunasia Lacadamu Takubu, while Mohd Syarif Saiful Aazwan Sudin converted all the penalties and tries for Malaysia.