MAY 10 ― Daphne Boudville is married to sports and her life, till today, revolves around it.

She never got married because her only love was sports.

While many who know Daphne, who turned 72 last Saturday, a hockey player for almost three decades, many may not know she was a national athlete, winning the 800m bronze medal at the 1965 SEAP Games in Kuala Lumpur, as well as a player with the national women’s football team in 1965.

Besides, Daphne was also actively involved in netball, badminton at state level and competed in cross-country runs and big walks.

“I loved sports from a very young age and would play any sport on the streets near my home in Peel Road even under the streetlights,” said Daphne, who still walks and jogs daily to keep fit.

“I was a tomboy and used to play hockey, football and badminton against the boys in my neighbourhood,” said Daphne, the fifth in a family of nine.

“At the age of seven, I trained on my own in the evenings after school by running around the field just to enjoy the fresh air and gain stamina.

“The training increased my appetite for more activities.” Daphne said her first hockey stick was made of bamboo.

“A few schoolboys, girls and I explored the jungle nearby and I cut a strong bamboo stick and brought it home to shape it into my first hockey stick.

“With that stick, I enjoyed hours of hockey from the age of nine. A hockey team was formed at my school (Peel Road Convent) by the sports teacher Miss Lee.

“Soon more girls became interested in the game and inter-school tournaments were held and we emerged champions,” said Daphne, who used canvas rubber studded shoes until she could afford a decent pair of boots in the 70's.

Daphne still remembers the days when she used to play hockey every day after school at a small field which was close to a pond, losing many hockey balls which landed in the pond.

“It was distressing when the balls went into the pond because we did not have money to buy new balls.

“It forced us to play under the streetlights with the boys on sandy patches. It was here that I improved on my stickwork, flicks, basics skills, stopping, hitting and pushing accurately.

“Then we moved on to play at the Kampung Pandan indoor cement courts and played in six-a-side and nine-a-side tournaments, which was a sheer joy.”

Daphne said although there were no monetary gains for being involved in sports then, the opportunity to play for school, district, state and nation kept her going.

Apart from hockey during her schooldays, Daphne took part in athletics in an era where there was only 100m and 200m.

At the age of 16, Daphne was selected to play for Selangor, and represented the state for 26 years, while she turned out for the nation for 21 years and earned 450 caps and won many titles, including the Asian championship in 1974.

Daphne was attached with the Public Service Department which enabled her to compete in the Government Services Games in various sports.

“As a PSD staff, I was able to get leave to attend training and competing in tournaments was never a problem.”

However, she said that having to compete in many sports at various levels required her to be fit and strong.

“I took care of myself. I did my own training. My training was highly intense, individual and self-motivated.

“I used to cycle from my home in Peel Road to Batu Caves to run up the 272 steps and cycle back to strengthen my legs and muscles.

“When we got a small daily meal allowance during training camps, I used the money to eat steak, eggs and fruits, while many of my teammates ate instant noodles.

“I took up sports seriously because of the sheer joy of competing, and the sacrifices I was prepared to make.

“Sports, in return, moulded me with the ability to take defeat in my stride. It also enhanced my character building, thinking power to be logical and to find solutions to problems.”

For her dedication to sports, it was sad that she was not honoured with the Sportswoman of the Year award despite being nominated by the Malaysian Women’s Hockey Federation in 1965, 1977 and 1978.

But she as eventually duly recognised when the Olympic Council of Malaysia inducted her into their Hall of Fame last year and the Malaysian Hockey Federation named her among the hockey legends of the country.

Daphne is still giving back to the sports as on Sundays, she trains four boys from the ages of seven to 10 in badminton.

“I play badminton on Sunday and saw these boys come to the courts regularly. I offered to coach them and they took up the offer,” said Daphne, who is also an advanced qualified hockey coach, having coached the national Under-21 team in 1979.

Those who know Daphne will associate her with her Vespa which she used for 20 years. Seeing Daphne in training rain or shine with her ever faithful Vespa was a familiar sight.

“I made a grave mistake when I sold it after I retired and was working with a Japanese company who nominated me three years in a row as the ‘Best Employee’.

“In the third year, they gave me a locally assembled motorcycle.

“I sold the Vespa and after two years of using the motorcycle, it was giving me too much problem and I sold it. Now I walk or take the bus.”

Asked why she does not want to get another Vespa, she said: “I cannot afford it with my pension.”

*This is the personal opinion of the columnist.