IT is appalling that Malaysian track star Shereen Valabouy’s achievement in the recent sport event in the US was met with silence from out sports officials, Women Community in Sports (FOWCUS) president Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin said.
“Shereen’s achievement should have been celebrated, especially by our Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) and other relevant sports bodies. However, only silence greeted her extraordinary feat.
“This sends a wrong message to the sports community, especially local athletes who have sacrificed their blood, sweat and tears to put Malaysia on the global sporting map.
“How are we supposed to nurture world-class athletes if we ignore promising sportspersons and do not extend the necessary support for them to thrive?” she queried.
Yesterday, both The Star and New Straits Times featured in their sports section water skier Aaliyah Yoong Hanifah’s success in producing a golden finish at the Moomba Masters in Melbourne.
While Aaliyah’s name was on the media, there was silence with regard to the achievement of track star Shereen Vallabouy who emerged queen of indoor 400m in the second-tier US college athletics championship.
Shereen emerged the best among 400m racers by setting a new championship mark and a Malaysian record of 53.79s at Pittsburg State University, Kansas.
Nearly 300 teams and over 1,000 individual athletes contested the women’s indoor 400m title at the start of the 2021-22 US National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) division II track and field campaign.
Challenges faced by women in sports
Shereen is the youngest daughter of Malaysia’s decorated middle-distance running couple Samson Vallabouy and Josephine Mary Singarayar.
Hurling brickbats at the sports authority, Zuraida said it was time for the relevant agencies to treat all their sports heroes equally regardless of their background.
The plantation and commodities minister added that all over the world, female athletes face more challenges than their male counterparts and her foundation is committed to address the issue.
“We will send a memorandum to the Youth and Sports Minister (Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu) to urge his ministry and the National Sports Council to give due recognition to Shereen’s achievements and others like her,” Zuraida concluded. – March 17, 2022
