Main Image via OrangPerak

Tan Sri Dr. Mani Jegathesan is the first sportsman in Malaysia to receive the National Athlete award in 1966. 

The award is a recognition from the National Sports Council for his outstanding achievements that year. 

 

Known as “Malaysia's flying doctor" and "the fastest man in Asia" during his heyday, Tan Sri Dr. Mani Jegathesan made history in 1962 when he became the first Malaysian to win an Asian Games gold medal in Jakarta. 

Jega was named the nation's Sportsman of the Year in 1966 after bagging three golds for Malaysia at the 1966 Asian Games in Bangkok. 

Another feather in his cap was the honour of being the first Malaysian to reach the semi-final of an Olympic event at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico. 

Till today, his 200m and 400m national records established in 1968 and 1966 respectively, are still intact.

 

Tan Sri Dr. Mani Jegathesan was born on 2 November 1943 in Kuala Kangsar, Perak. He received his early education at Batu Road Primary School located in Kuala Lumpur between 1950 and 1954. He continued his secondary education at the Victoria Institution in Kuala Lumpur in 1955 and at the Anglo Chinese School in Singapore from 1956 to 1961.

To pursue his higher studies, he went to the University of Singapore from 1962 to 1967 and graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (M.B.B.S.). He also holds a Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Bangkok in 1969 and a Diploma in Clinical Pathology in 1971 from the University of London. He started his service as a Houseman at the General Hospital, Kuala Lumpur from 1967 to 1968.

 

Tan Sri Dr. Mani Jegathesan continued on his journey as a Trainee Pathologist at the Institute of Medical Research (IMR), Kuala Lumpur in 1968 to 1970 and subsequently became Head of Serology Division at the same institute in November 1971. 

In the same month, he was appointed Head of the Bacteriology Division in 1971 to 1985. After that, he was appointed Head and Consultant Bacteriologist in the Department of Laboratory Services at the General Hospital, Kuala Lumpur. He returned to IMR as a Director and Consultant Bacteriologist in 1988 to 1993 and his last position was as Deputy Director General of Health (Research and Technical Support) under the Ministry of Health Malaysia. 

In athletics, he is the national record holder for the 100 meter event with a time of 10.38 seconds and the 400 meter event with a time of 46.3 seconds.

 His outstanding performance in the 100 meter event in 1966 placed him as the fastest runner in Asia. However, his record was broken by Watson Nyambek during the 6th Malaysian Games (SUKMA) in Kuantan, Pahang in 1996 with a record of 10.31 seconds.

Tan Sri Dr. Mani Jegathesan is truly a national treasure that needs to be celebrated! 

Info via OrangPerak

By Thineshkan