Back from the wilderness

IT is a truly remarkable comeback story by former national athlete N. Sanmuganathan who has resurrected from a has-been and a nasty motorcycle accident, to return to the tracks after 16 years at the Asia Pacific Masters Games 2018 in Penang to win three gold and one silver.

The 43-year-old Penangite, who still holds the Malaysian national record of 8:59.10 for the men’s 3000m steeplechase which he clocked at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, saw his athletics career come to an end when he was dropped for the Bangkok Asian Games the same year.

Disillusioned, he quit athletics soon after that.

His life was further shattered when in February 2015, he met a motorcycle accident which left him with a serious head injury and in a coma for 14 days.

It took the Penangite more than a year to regain full memory,

It was then he decided that he would turn things around for himself.

“Instead of wallowing in self-pity, I wanted to prove that I have what it takes to make a comeback and do what I love most, which is running,” said Shan.

“I have been running and creating records since my school days,” said the former Westland School student who started winning races at his school in middle distance before moving to Selangor after his SPM.

He only represented Penang in Sukma. He went on to compete in the Asean University Games, Selangor and the nation.

Shan recovered slowly from his motorcycle accident and decided to return to the tracks in late 2016.

After one year and eight months of training, he managed to shed 20kg to compete at the APMG 2018.

“Many people asked me ‘how can you compete again’ because after my accident my weight was 97kg. I just told them I will.

“My only mission was to prove that I am capable of getting back to where I was before the accident. With these victories in the APMG 2018, I have proven that I can walk the talk,” said Shan.

Probably his tagline on his name card clearly explains his never say die attitude. It reads “I am born to win. I live the rest of my life as a champion.”

Indeed, he has once again regained his champion status.

He bagged gold medals in the 10km road race, 3,000m steeplechase and 5,000m and silver in the 1,500m events while competing in the 40 and above age category at the City Stadium.

And the icing to his comeback story was when he was selected to read the oath on behalf of the participants at the APMG 2018 opening ceremony last Saturday.

“I was shocked when asked to read the oath. It was a last-minute call up to read the oath. I received the call on the eve of the opening ceremony to come for the rehearsal. I must thank (Sports Commissioner) Datuk Zaiton Othman for recommending me to the organisers for the oath reading.

“I believe things are turning around for me and I am determined to make amends for all my mistakes earlier and start afresh.”

Shan, a sports science graduate from UPM said his biggest mistake was when he quit his ten-year job with Maybank in 2002 to start a business and return to Penang.

“Everything went downhill after that as I was a failure in my business and then the motorcycle accident,” said Shan, who is married with a 12-year-old son.

“This APMG 2018 is a blessing in disguise for me. I have proven to myself that I can make a comeback and intend to use it as my launching pad for another shot at athletics,” said Shan, who is still unemployed.

“I have a lot of good friends and my parents for supporting me and encouraging me to reach a high level again.

“I want to repay their kindness to stand on my own feet again and I believe athletics will give me that opportunity again.”

Shan said he has a dream and rather keep it close to his chest for now.

“When I achieve it, everyone will know what it is.”

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