“Forget about instant results as that is not how champions are made.”
That is the advice of former SEA Games medallist R. Murugan (main image, middle), who now runs Kelab Olahraga Setiawangsa – an athletics club in the heart of Malaysia’s capital city, Kuala Lumpur.
Murugan employs four coaches and one yogi (yoga master) to train his athletes seven days a week.
“I started Kelab Olahraga Setiawangsa in 2019. Today, we have grown to 115 athletes,” said Murugan, a member of the Malaysian 4x400m relay team that won silver at the 1995 Chiang Mai SEA Games.
“The club is open to athletes as young as seven. Everyone here puts in the work as they know it is nearly impossible to achieve overnight success.
“Besides coaches, we also have a yoga master who helps athletes learn proper breathing techniques and be more mentally focused. They also learn stretching methods and there are other benefits such as reduced stress,” he added.
Murugan said coaches need two to four years to develop talent and urged those involved to be patient.
“Patience is key. Parents, associations and clubs must remember that it takes time for an athlete to develop. Some get upset if there is no immediate progress.
“They then pressure the coaches and their children if results don’t go their way. That is detrimental to the growth of the athletes.”
This has led to Kelab Olahraga Setiawangsa honouring its finest athletes by organising an annual awards ceremony. This year’s edition is on April 19 at Diyaasri Curry House in Batu Caves, Selangor.
“The idea behind the awards is to reward our athletes who have done well in their competitions,” said Murugan.
Murugan, meanwhile, said he hopes Malaysia Athletics can conduct more training programmes to upgrade coaching in the country.
“The better equipped and qualified the coaches are, the higher the chances of producing athletes for the country,” he said.
“I also hope to see more events for the Under-21 and Under-23 age groups. That was how I was talent-spotted.
“By having more events at the grassroots and also for the later age groups, the national coaches would have more chances to spot athletes.”
Murugan, however, has some words of advice for his fellow coaches.
“When the time comes, let go of your athletes. If they are absorbed into the national team, congratulate them. Don’t hold them back,” he said.
“Some coaches may feel the urge to interfere, but their athletes are in better hands. There is no issue with giving them advice but allow the national coaches to do their job.”
