VETERAN ATHLETICS OFFICIAL, VEGI CALLS IT A DAY

Vegi, Mr Athletics of Malaysia and King of Roads, passes the baton on

Iconic veteran athletic official and administrator, Datuk S. Vegiyathuman Thevar, or popularly known among the athletics circle as ‘Vegi’, called it quits because of poor health on Saturday after being involved with the sports for 42 years.

Vegi who turned 78 on Aug 5, did not contest for president’s post for a second term at the Federal Territory Kuala Lumpur Athletics Association (FTKLAA) Biennial General Meeting on Saturday and the baton has been passed on to former middle-distance athlete and Malaysian Masters Athletics Association (MMAA) patron, Datuk Seri (Dr) V. Pulainthiran, uncontested.

Vegi was the general secretary of FTKLAA from 1985 to 2016 and became president from 2017 taking over from another veteran athletics coach and official Leslie Armstrong.

Vegi was the Board member of Malaysian Athletics Federation for the past 30 years and the national walking Committee chairman for the past 17 years.

MMAA president, S. Sivapragsam was the only other new face to the FTKLAA lineup in the BGM. Sivaparagsam came in as vice-president to replace Lt. Com (Rtd) S. Anthonysamy who did not contest.

“Due to my poor health currently, I felt it is best that I pass the baton to someone who can be more active and drive the association to greater heights,” said Vegi who is on wheelchair these days after a back operation recently.

 

Datuk Vegi with MAF President Datuk SM Muthu at Road event

“It is with a sad note that I am relinquishing the post and leaving FTKLAA after all these years because it was been my second house and my passion for the sports has kept me going all these years.

“But it is in the best interest of the sports and especially city sports that I withdraw and allow a more capable person to lead the association and the sports.

“However, as long as I can give my advice and share my knowledge and it is required, I will be more that happy to give my assistance,” said Vegi whose first employment was as a finger-print examiner with the Royal Malaysian Police.

Then in 1998 he got involved in athletics fulltime when he was hired as the venue manager for athletics for the 16^th Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur in 1998.

A long-distance runner when he was in school who also played cricket, football, rugby, and hockey, soon became known as an expert sports official in organisation of athletics competitions, walks and marathons.

He was as specialist in the settings of layouts of new tracks, inclusive of pits for jumping events and circles for throwing events.

He was a much-sought athletics official for many international meets held in KL and has been chairman for many committees like organising, technical, competition, facilities, and road races.

And at the international level he has worked or officiated as walks judge at the KL 1998 Commonwealth Games, many Sea Games, Asian Track and Field championships, World Athletics championships, World Universities Games, Paralympics Games, Walks World Cup, Asia Games and even the Olympics.

His highlight at the world level must surely be his last international assignment, as age caught up with him, when he was the walk judge at the 2004 Athens Olympics Games.

Vegi has also conducted numerous athletics courses both locally and at the international level.

For his voluntary contribution for the development, growth of athletics and system organisation of athletics meets, it has fittingly earned him the name “Mr Athletics of Malaysia and “King of Road Races.”

Datuk Vegi over seeing the distribution of Race Kits

Former national athlete P. Sidamparam seeking Datuk Vegi's opinion over a matter at a meet

His name is also synonymous with ‘The Malay Mail Big Walk’.

He is also recognised as the founder of several events namely the Inter-Bank athletics championship, road running industry in Malaysia and the Kuala Lumpur International Marathon which is now organized by another name – Standard Chartered Marathon – to name a few.

Vegi’s famous motto in carrying out his duties exemplarily is ‘First to come to the venue, and last to leave’ and is a stickler for starting events on time.

Vegi is surely going to be missed immensely as athletics meets, but he certainly leaves behind a legacy and act hard to be matched.

 Federal Territory Kuala Lumpur Athletics Association (FTKLAA) Council for 2020/2021

President:

Datuk Seri (Dr) V. Pulainthiran

Deputy President:

K. Ramalingam

Vice Presidents:

Gulam Ghani Mohd Ayub

G. Raman

Dr S. Radhakrishnan

S. Muthiah

S. Sivapragasam

Miss Teen Suk Man

General Secretary:

S. Murugesu

Honorary Treasurer:

Syamsul Bani Abdullah

Internal Auditors:

M. Shamugam

V. M, Gunasekaran

 

Ends.