By Asia Samachar | Malaysia |
Two-time SEA Games gold medallist Semret Singh, the Malaysian athlete who literally took over his father’s mantle, passed away today (15 Feb 2022). He was 66.
He was involved in the transportation business.
Semret won gold medals at Sea Games Bangkok (1985) and Kuala Lumpur (1989). In 1986, he broke the national record set by his father, Ghenda Singh. At the Police Games that year, he managed a throw of 51.644m, breaking his dad’s record of 44.14m that was set in 1966 in Ipoh.
Semret also bagged three silver medals in the 1981 edition (Manila), 1985 (Singapore) and 1987 (Jakarta).
“The cremation details will be announced soon. We are now awaiting for the arrival of some relatives form abroad,” his son Amarraj Singh told Asia Samachar. “For those wanting to pay their last respects, they can do so at the Loke Yew Crematorium, probably on Friday or Saturday.”
UPDATE: Last Respects: 2.30pm – 4.30pm, 18 Feb 2022 (Friday), at Jalan Loke Yew Crematorium, Kuala Lumpur. Saskaar / Cremation: 4.30pm.
Ghenda started competing in 1960 and retired after the 1977 KL Seap Games at the age of 55. A pectoral muscle tear did not stop him as he defied doctors’ orders to compete in the 1977 Games where he won the bronze medal. Ghenda passed away in 2011 at the age of 89.
The story as to how Semret got into the sports makes amazing reading. It happened after his father was forced to retire due to an injury, and looked at one of his four children and one daughter to take over.
Semret related the story in an article he shared with a sports portal. Here is the story:
One of my sweetest memories in athletics was setting a Malaysian record for the hammer throw at the 1981 Australian Spring Championship in Perth.
Not only did I set a new distance of 50.5 metres for this event which bettered my Pitaji (father) Genda Singh’s record, I also defeated Australia‘s Matt Barber, the defending champion. This came after my three-month training stint in Perth. All of a sudden, people started taking notice of this Malaysian athlete at the Perry Lake Stadium. One of them was a talent scout attached to a European athletics club.
After the many back-slapping and bear hugs from my competitors and spectators, this talent scout took me aside and made me an offer to turn professional with his club.
He then handed me several sheets of paper, which were supposed to be a contract, and asked me to take my time to read them and get back to him the following day.
As I browsed through it that night in my room, I was totally surprised by its contents. It was like a once in a lifetime offer and I found it too good to be true.
They were offering me a US$18,000 monthly salary, a Mercedes Benz (model was not mentioned), a bungalow, and the possibility of being a citizen of the country where the club was situated.
As for prize money winnings, and the personal sponsorship, they did not mention the quantum I will receive, but were open for discussion after I signed the contract.
However, there was one paragraph that caught my eye and I was uncomfortable with it. It was regarding medical and clinical services which read: “We will provide the best and you will not question us.”
And I had to agree to all these terms and conditions without any being deleted or for further discussion.
As I stared at these words “medical and clinical services,” my thoughts took me back to November 27th, 1977 in my home in Ipoh with my Pitaji Genda Singh and how I ended up being involved in the hammer throw. My Pitaji, was the undisputed hammer throwing hero in our family and he had just returned after winning the bronze medal in the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games. He achieved this despite going against doctor’s advice as he was injured with a pectoral muscle tear.
All strapped with plasters on his chest, he called me and all my other siblings, brothers Kulwant Singh, Kaldip Singh, Manohor Singh, and Mahinderjit Singh and sister Persin Kaur together. He announced that this was his last competition internationally.
He then looked at us and said: “One of you will have to carry on where I left off.’’ It was more like an order, and he did not say which one of us.
There was silence among us siblings. We just looked at one another but no one said a word. As soon as we were out of earshot, all my siblings unanimously decided that I should be the chosen one. You have to carry on with the legacy as you are the eldest in the family.”A couple of days later after careful thought, I informed my Pitaji at lunchtime that I would continue where he left off. I was just 22 years of age and had never thrown a hammer as I was more a 400m runner.
My Pitaji beamed with delight and said: “Train with the right attitude and stay clean.”
My Pitaji’s words especially “stay clean” jolted me to the situation in Perth and the contract. So, when I met up with the talent scout I enquired:” ‘‘Does medical and clinical services mean I have to go on anabolic steroids?”
He was slient and I told him I cannot accept the offer although it was very tempting. He was surprised and never tried to change my mind.
As for me, the offer was too good to be true and I have had no regrets turning my back on a professional career. I continued to compete internationally until the 1989 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur and thus fulfilling my Pitaji’s dream.
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Hammer great Semret Singh refused riches to go pro
By Frankie D’Cruz -February 16, 2022 | FMT
PETALING JAYA: When legendary Malaysian hammer thrower Genda Singh told his family that he was retiring from the sport at the age of 55, he wanted one of his five sons to take over his mantle.
Genda, who won the bronze medal at the 1977 Kuala Lumpur SEAP Games while nursing a serious injury, wanted to ensure the honours in the hammer throw stayed with his family.
His eldest son, Semret, who was a 22-year-old 400m runner and had never thrown the iron ball, answered the call.
Semret outdid his father’s feats by breaking his national record and winning the gold medal at the 1985 and 1989 SEA Games. He bagged silver medals at three other editions.
But Genda’s achievement in competing at the top level in hammer, discus and shot put until the age of 55 is unrivalled by any athlete in Malaysia.
Genda, who was a great mentor to his son, died aged 89 in 2011. Semret breathed his last yesterday at his home in Sungai Buloh at the age of 66.
Semret’s son, Amarraj, said his father died in the presence of his family and that the cause of death was unknown.
Semret’s rise in hammer, fuelled by his determination to keep his father’s legacy alive, has all the virtues of selflessness, perseverance and heroism.
At the Australian Spring Championships in Perth in 1981, he set a Malaysian record of 50.5m to better his father’s mark and defeated Australian Matt Barber, the defending champion.
Writing a first-person account in mysportsflame.com, Semret said an European talent scout offered him a contract to turn professional with his athletics club.
He wrote that he was offered a US$18,000 monthly salary, a Mercedes-Benz, a bungalow and the possibility of being a citizen of the country where the club was situated.
He described the offer, which included prize money winnings and personal sponsorship, as a “once in a lifetime offer that I found too good to be true”.
“However, there was one paragraph in the contract that caught my eye and I was uncomfortable with it.
“It was regarding medical and clinical services which read, ‘We will provide the best and you will not question us’.
“As I stared at these words ‘medical and clinical services’, my thoughts took me back to Nov 27, 1977, in my home in Ipoh with my pitaji (father) and how I ended up being involved in the hammer throw.
“My pitaji was the undisputed hammer throwing hero in our family and he had just returned after winning the bronze medal at the Kuala Lumpur SEAP Games.
“He achieved this despite going against the doctor’s advice as he was injured with a pectoral muscle tear.
“All strapped with plasters on his chest, he called me and all my other siblings, brothers Kulwant Singh, Kaldip Singh, Manohor Singh and Mahinderjit Singh and sister Persin Kaur together and announced that was his last international competition.
“He then looked at us and said, ‘One of you will have to carry on where I left off. It was more like an order, and he did not say which one of us had to take up the event.
“We just looked at one another but no one said a word. My siblings then unanimously decided that I should be the chosen one as I was the eldest.”
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2022/02/16/hammer-great-semret-singh-refused-riches-to-go-pro/
King, Queen convey condolences to family of Semret Singh
Tuesday, 15 Feb 2022 06:03 PM MYT
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 15 — The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and the Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah have expressed their condolences to the family members of former national hammer throw great Semret Singh, who died today.
According to a post on the Istana Negara Facebook page, Their Majesties expressed sadness over Semret’s passing and hoped that his family will remain patient and resilient in coping with the loss.
“Their Majesties are very appreciative of his devotion, service and sacrifice to the country and described Semret’s passing as a great loss to the sport of hammer throw in the country,” according to the post.
During his heyday, Semret won two SEA Games gold medals — at the 1985 Bangkok and 1989 Kuala Lumpur editions.
He also broke the national record in 1981 with a throw of 50.5 metres (m) in Perth, Australia.
Semret, whose father Ghenda Singh was also a national hammer thrower, died at 9.30am at his residence in Sungai Buloh. He was 66. — Bernama
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