ROSLINDA GESTRANDET IN GERMANY
By Tony Mariadass
https://www.nst.com.my/sports/others/2020/05/593183/ex-national-pole-vaulter-stranded-germany
Former pole vault queen Roslinda Samsu, is stranded in Mainz, Germany after being there for a year and successfully achieving another feather to her cap to her coaching career, at the DLV-International Coaching Academy at the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz.
Roslinda who turns 38 on June 9, received her diploma on Friday from the Academy, as she emerged the top student of the course, which saw ten coaches from Cambodia, Myanmar, Mexico, Nigeria, Tanzania and Azerbaijan attend.
\“I was looking forward to returning home after a year and share my joy of my success here with my aged parents in Kuala Nerang (Kedah), and at the same time, spend my birthday with them,” said Roslinda who did the course in German.
“I was supposed to fly back on June 1, but the flight has been cancelled and I don’t know when it will be available again,” said a disappointed Roslinda in a telephone interview after her award presentation ceremony in Mainz.
“If it was not bad enough having to miss being home with my parents for Hari Raya, now even when I finally return, I will have to spend 14 days compulsory quarantine because of the Covid 19 pandemic.
“At this rate, I really do not know when I will be back. I really miss home and being with my parents and siblings,” said Roslinda, who comes a family of eight and is the fifth among five girls and three boys.
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 grateful to many for her stint in Germany.
“I owe a great deal to the Ministry of Education, National Sports Council (NSC), Malaysia Athletics Federation, the German Embassy in Malaysia (deputy head of mission Dr David Krivanek) and of course to the Institute here for offering this valuable course with top level instructors.”
The course in Maniz was fully sponsored by the Institute and she had only pay for the airfare, which was paid by NSC.
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 here and eager impart the knowledge back home. It will be waste if I do not impart the knowledge attained here,” said Roslinda who did the course in German.
“Our first three months here was to learn basic German (speak, read and write). It was tough, but I managed. And I am proud to have passed off as the top student, having sat for the examination in German.”
Roslinda said when she came to the Institute a year ago, she had sat and listened to the best student of the previous year speak.
“Then I told myself that I want to be the one to deliver the speech next year,” revealed Roslinda.
“A few days ago, I got an email saying that I had scored the highest points. And as the best student, I had to give a speech at the graduation. This was my happiest day in Germany.”
Roslinda whose motto is Never Give Up, said she set a goal and just strived for it.
“I am glad that I achieved it and indeed it is a proud moment for me. I now can’t wait to get home 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.
“I was 14 d my Cikgu Man, asked me to do a chin up and it was my first and only test and he told me that I would take up pole vault. That’s how I got my start,” recalled Roslinda.
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.
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