Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, June 1, 2024: The Olympic Council of Asia received a treasured piece of Malaysian sports history for the Asian Games Museum at the Olympic Solidarity/OCA Regional Forum welcome reception at the Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur on Saturday night.
The President of the Olympic Council of Malaysia, Dr. Norza Zakaria, presented the first known photo of Team Malaysia to the OCA Deputy Director General, Mr. Vinod Kumar Tiwari.
The photo shows the Malaysian team heading for their first multi-sport games – the 2nd Asian Games in Manila, Philippines in 1954.
The team included eight athletes, all in athletics, and was led by the Chef de Mission, Mr. N. M. Vasagam.
In a fitting celebration 70 years on from this historic occasion, the framed photo was brought to the banquet hall stage by Malaysian sports legend Dr. Mani Jegathesan – son of the first Chef de Mission and younger brother of two of the athletes in the eight-strong team. Dr. Jega is now 80 years old.
Malaysia’s “Flying Doctor”, with three gold medals for Malaysia in the 1966 Asian Games in Bangkok, handed the photo to Dr. Norza Zakaria, who in turn gave it to OCA Deputy Director General Vinod Tiwari for display in the Asian Games Museum.
The Olympic Council of Malaysia, formally known as the Federation of Malaya Olympic Council (FMOC), was founded in 1953.
The FMOC was recognized by the IOC as the NOC in Malaya in 1954, leading to their participation in the 2nd Asian Games in Manila from May 1-9, 1954 – 70 years ago.
The FMOC contingent consisted of the following members: Mr. N.M. Vasagam, Honorary Secretary of FMOC and Chef de Mission for the 2nd Asian Games; Mr. Lim Thye Hee (coach, athletics), Mr. M. Harichandra (men’s 4x400m), Mr. M. Balakrishnan (men’s 4x400m), Mr. Cletus Gomez (men’s 4x400m), Mr. Michael Parry (men’s 4x400m), Ms. Annie Choong (women’s 4x100m and long jump), Ms. Carmen Koelmeyer (women’s 4x100m), Ms. Maureen Siebel (women’s 4x100m) and Ms. Fay Siebel (women’s 4x100m).
“The athletes, making their debut in the Asian Games, introduced Malaya to the rest of Asia as a nation of promising champions,” the OCM said.
M. Harichandra, M. Balakrishnan, Cletus Gomez and Michael Parry achieved fifth place in the men’s 4x400m relay, and Annie Choong, Carmen Koelmeyer, Maureen Siebel and Fay Siebel finished fourth in the women’s 4x100m. Annie Choong also participated in the women’s long jump event, finishing sixth.
The photo shows the President of FMOC, Mr. E.M. McDonald, sending off the Malayan contingent to the second Asian Games on Monday, April 26, 1954. They are:
Back row: Lim Thye Hee, E.M. McDonald and N.M. Vasagam.
Middle Row: M. Harichandra, M. Balakrishnan, Cletus Gomez and Michael Parry.
Front Row: Annie Choong, Carmen Koelmeyer, Maureen Siebel and Fay Siebel.
