Noraseela Khalid supports Malaysia’s renewed connections with German athletics, recalling her training experiences that significantly advanced her career. Recent discussions about sending Malaysian athletes abroad have sparked hope for improved athletic development. The collaboration could also pave the way for more record-breaking performances by future athletes. Noraseela and fellow Olympians stress the importance of these international ties.
Noraseela Khalid, a prominent Olympian, is expressing her enthusiasm for Malaysia’s renewed engagement with German athletics. This comes after National Sports Council (NSC) director-general Jefri Ngadirin discussed plans to send Malaysian athletes to Germany for training. In the past, Noraseela herself benefitted significantly from such opportunities, enhancing her career and setting a remarkable 400m hurdles record of 56.02 seconds in Regensburg back in 2006—a record that remarkably still stands today.
Her time training in Germany was pivotal, and Noraseela fondly recalls her experiences. “I cherish my time training in Germany as it made me a better athlete and person,” she stated, adding that she hopes for a revival of the previously strong ties between the two countries. She is also fluent in German and has completed a sports psychology course there, further emphasizing her deep connection to the nation.
Noraseela isn’t alone in her sentiments; several other Malaysian athletes, including Moh Siew Wei, Malik Tobias, and Zaiful Zainal Abidin, also gained tremendous value from their time in Germany. Nauraj Singh, a high jumper who previously trained there, recently retired in 2023, coinciding with the fall of this partnership.
Reflecting on her journey, Noraseela shared, “I first broke the national record in 1999, but after several more record-breaking years, I felt my career had stagnated.” She nearly quit athletics due to a lack of support before receiving a chance to train under coach Idriss Gonschinska in Germany. This opportunity proved transformative, allowing her to lower her national record significantly during her training there.
Noraseela, who went on to compete in the 2012 London Olympics, feels a mix of pride and disappointment regarding her record. “It is a shame that no one has come close to breaking my record. I’m still the only Malaysian woman to run the 400m hurdles in under a minute,” she remarked, pointing out her lingering status in Malaysian athletics.
Notably, Gonschinska was recently in Malaysia leading a 50-member German training squad, preparing for the World Athletics Relays held in Guangzhou. With support from Malaysian Athletics vice-president Datuk Mark Ling, this training session was a significant event, showcasing several top German athletes, including medalists from the Paris Olympics and last year’s European Championships.
“It was great meeting my former coach and other familiar faces from my time in Germany,” stated Noraseela, who also holds a position as president of the Malaysia Olympians Association. She is optimistic that more Malaysian athletes will have similar opportunities in the future and continue breaking records.
In total, two other records, Moh Siew Wei’s 100m hurdles time of 13.27 seconds set in 2004 and Malik Tobias’ decathlon score of 7,095 points in 2003, also remain unbroken. Noraseela ponders how different the landscape of Malaysian athletics could have been with ongoing collaboration with Germany. Her hope? That decision-makers in Malaysian Athletics will work to foster such relationships again, propelling Malaysian athletes to new heights.
Noraseela Khalid’s enthusiasm toward Malaysia’s renewed relationship with German athletics highlights the value of international training opportunities. Her own transformative experience served as a reminder of the potential benefits for Malaysian athletes. With hopes for rekindled partnerships and ongoing support in athlete development, there’s optimism for future successes on the athletic front. Records continue to stand, but the momentum toward improving Malaysia’s sports scene is slowly building again.
Original Source: malaysia.news.yahoo.com
