ROSLINDA FINALLY BACK IN MALAYSIA

Ex-pole vault queen Roslinda finally back in Malaysia

By Tony Mariadass - May 30, 2020

Roslinda (second right) with her course mates from the DLV-International Coaching Academy at the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz.

Former top athlete Roslinda Samsu returned to Malaysia yesterday after being stranded in Mainz, Germany.

After a year-long coaching course in the German city, she obtained an athletics coaching diploma from the DLV-International Coaching Academy at the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz on May 15

Roslinda was supposed to come back on June 1 but her flight was cancelled due to the Covid 19 pandemic.

The academy, on learning of her flight cancellation, helped Roslinda find an alternative flight on May 28 from Frankfurt.

Roslinda finally arrived at KLIA yesterday at 7.30pm, after leaving Mainz to Frankfurt by train to catch a KLM flight. She transited in Amsterdam and Bangkok.

The whole journey from Mainz to Kuala Lumpur took 22 hours.

Upon arrival, Roslinda had to undergo the mandatory 14-day quarantine and was taken to a hotel in Petaling Jaya.

"Never mind the quarantine, I am just glad to be back after a year away.

"Earlier I had doubts I could get home after my initial flight for June 1 was cancelled," said a relieved Roslinda after arriving at KLIA.

Roslinda, who turns 38 on June 9, is not disappointed that she will have to spend her birthday in quarantine.

"As much as I miss spending my birthday with my parents in Kuala Nerang (Kedah), I am just glad to be back on Malaysian soil.

"In any case, it will be a unique birthday in quarantine which I will remember forever," said Roslinda.

The former pole vaulter has soared high on paper too, emerging top student, together with Hakim Ibrahim from Azerbaijan.

Ten coaches from Cambodia, Myanmar, Mexico, Nigeria, Tanzania, Azerbaijan and Malaysia attended the year-long course.

Roslinda, who teaches physical education, civics and sports science at Pahang Sports School, is a four-time Sea Games gold medallist and the 2006 Asian Games silver medallist.

She looks forward to spending time with her parents and siblings (she is the fifth among five girls and three boys) after the quarantine.

"I am glad that everything has worked out well in the end, and above all having attained the diploma," said Roslinda who did the course in German.

Her study in Maniz was fully sponsored by the institute, and she had only pay for the airfare, which was sponsored by the National Sports Council.

Roslinda's diploma is equivalent to the B licence athletics coaching certificate in Germany and IAAF Level 2 certification.

"I learnt a great deal there and I am eager to impart the knowledge here," she said.

Roslinda, whose motto is Never Give Up, said: "Now that I am home, I can't wait to begin my next two goals: enhance grassroots development programmes for athletics and to help produce more women pole vaulters.

"There is a lot of paperwork on grassroots back home but not implemented to the best.

"I want to make a difference and ensure that grassroots development moves to top priority and a different level."

Roslinda, who competed in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, still holds the national record of 4.40m, set in Spain in 2006.

She won the bronze medal at the 2005 Asian Athletics championships in Incheon, South Koreas and gold at the 2007 championship in Amman, Jordan.

ROSLINDA BACK HOME FROM MAINZ

 

By Tony Mariadass

 

Former pole vault queen Roslinda Samsu returned home last night (Thursday), after earlier being stranded in Mainz, Germany.

 

She was attending a coaching course in Mainz for a year and successfully achieved an athletics coaching diploma at the DLV-International Coaching Academy at the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz on May 15.

 

Roslinda was earlier supposed to fly back on June 1, but the flight was cancelled, because of the Covid 19 pandemic.

 

The Academy learning of her flight cancellation, helped her find an alternative flight and even managed to get her on an earlier available flight at the last minute, to fly out late night on May 28 from Frankfurt.

 

Roslinda arrived in KLIA Thursday night at 7.30pm, after leaving Mainz to Frankfurt by train to catch her KLM flight, which transited in Amsterdam and Bangkok. Her total journey from Mainz to Kuala Lumpur took her 22 hours.

 

However, upon arrival, Roslinda had to undergo the mandatory 14 days quarantine and was whizzed to a quarantine hotel in Petaling Jaya.

 

“Never mind the quarantine. I am just glad to be back home after a year and after earlier having doubts of getting a flight back home, when my initial flight for June 1, was cancelled,” said a relived Roslinda after arriving in KLIA.

 

Roslinda who turns 38 on June 9, was also not perturbed that she had to spend her birthday in quarantine.

 

“As much I will miss spending my birthday with my parents in Kuala Nerang (Kedah), I am just glad to be back on Malaysian soil. In any case, it will be a unique birthday in quarantine which I will remember forever,” said Roslina who received her diploma on May 15 from the Academy, where she emerged the top student, together with another from Azerbaijan (Hakim Ibrahim).

 

Ten coaches from Cambodia, Myanmar, Mexico, Nigeria, Tanzania, Azerbaijan and Malaysia attended the year long course.

 

The Pahang Sports School teacher who teaches physical education, civics and sports science, was four-time SEA games gold medallist and 2006 Asian Games silver medallist, said she was looking forward to spending time with her parents and siblings (she comes from a family of eight and is the fifth among five girls and three boys) after the quarantine.

 

“I am glad that everything has worked out well in the end and above all having attained the diploma,” said Roslinda who did the course in German.

 

The course in Maniz was fully sponsored by the Institute and she had only pay for the airfare, which was paid by the National Sports Council.

 

The diploma Roslinda attained is equivalent to the B licence athletics coaching certificate in Germany and IAAF Level 2 certification.

 

“I learnt a great deal there and eager impart the knowledge here,” said Roslinda.

 

Roslinda whose motto is Never Give Up, said she set a goal and just strived for it to achieve their diploma.

 

“Now that I am home, I can’t wait to begin my next two goals – enhance the grassroots development programme for athletics and to help produce more women pole vaulters.

 

“There is a lot of paperwork on grassroots back home but not implemented to the best. I want to make a difference and ensure that grassroots development moves to top priority and a different level,” said Roslinda who was spotted by her school teacher coach Man Sahar.

 

Roslinda still holds the national record of 4.40m (her personal best) which she set in Spain in 2006 (24 years ago).

Roslinda had won the bronze medal at the2005 Asian Athletics championship in Incheon, South Koreas and captured the gold medal at the 2007 championship in Amman, Jordon.

Roslinda is also an Olympian having competed at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Ends.