KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 13 — Two-time Paralympic Games bronze medallist P. Mariappan recalled his glory days in a run-down flat he has called home for the past 20 years.
The walkways are wet, dimly lit and reek of urine. Although he struggles to make ends meet, there was no hiding the joy when he talked about the gold medals won by Mohamad Ridzuan Mohamad Puzi, Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli and Abdul Latif Romly.
The trio won the country’s first gold medals in Paralympics. Over the weekend, Mohamad Ridzuan won the T36 100m event, Ziyad the T20 shot put and Latif the F20 long jump.
Mohamad Ridzuan won in a Games record while Ziyad and Latif set world records en route to their victory. Ziyad broke the world record twice while Latif did it three times.
Mariappan is delighted the trio are now instant millionaires — a gold medal is worth RM1 million under the newly-revised reward scheme — but he hopes more is done for former athletes.
“I feel used. I was discarded after having served the country for so long,” said the 58-year, who competed in seven Paralympic Games (1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012).
“I miss the days when the national anthem played with the flag flying high behind me on the podium,” said powerlifter, who used to sell ice cream in Ampang to eke out a living.
The Malacca-born, who came to Kuala Lumpur as a child, said life was never a bed of roses.
In 1980, before he started powerlifting, Mariappan worked as a tailor near his home in Kepong Baru.
“When I started powerlifting, it was a struggle to train and work at the same time,” said Mariappan, who was the first Malaysian to win a medal in the Paralympic Games 28 years ago.
“I eventually left my job. But even after I started winning titles, I had to work as an ice cream seller in Ampang.
“While I don’t regret my decision, I wish there were people who taught me the importance of managing money,” said Mariappan, who is grateful to have a roof over his head.
“We cannot complain, I know there are others who have it worse than us,” said Mariappan’s 46-year-old wife, Chandriga Batumalai.
“My children are still in school, my son is graduating and wants to do powerlifting as well. That will be another hurdle for us,” she said.
It was clear Mariappan’s patriotism was not lost as portraits of him with the Malaysian flag decorate the walls of the modest living room.
“I’ve accomplished a lot for Malaysia. An athlete’s time is limited. As soon as you retire, you are forgotten. I hope that won’t be the case for me and our three new heroes,” said Mariappan.
* This article first appeared in the Malay Mail Afternoon E-Paper yesterday.
