I was shocked and saddened when I received an sms from Lazarus Rokk informing me that one of Malaysia's greatest sportsman, former Olympian Datuk Ho Koh Chye passed away at the Kelana Medical Centre this evening.
Although at the point of writing this blog, the cause of his death had not been established, it was learnt that he had earlier today complained of abdominal pains.
Ho, 66, was a great sportsman. He represented Malaysia in hockey for many years and played a pivotal role in making Malaysia the top four in the world hockey ranking. Those were the days when you took part in sports in the spirit of nationalism and patriotism and not the lure of monetary rewards. Those were the days when Ho, like other sportsmen and sportswomen, survived on a RM10 meal allowance a day.
An old boy of St Paul's Institution in Seremban, Ho was one of the best hockey goalkeepers the country had ever produced.
Even after retiring from active hockey, he continued to contribute as a volunteer towards developing Malaysian sports.
He was the Chef-de-Mission of the Malaysian Contingent to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Having represented Negri Sembilan in hockey from 1983 to 1989, I knew Ho as a dedicated man who devoted his entire 66 years of life to the development of sports in Malaysia, especially hockey.
Ho's untimely death leaves a vacuum in the Malaysian sporting arena which only a great person like he was can fill.
10 comments:
Dear Dato' Ho, may you rest in peace
Dear Ashraf,
You may want to check your mathematics. If Dato' Ho is 66, then he must be born in 1942. If he represented NS in hockey from 1983 - 1989, then he must still be playing hockey for the state when he was 41 to 47 years old.
Dear Anonymous of 7:12am,
You may want to read this paragraph again:
"Having represented Negri Sembilan in hockey from 1983 to 1989, I knew Ho as a dedicated man who devoted his entire 66 years of life to the development of sports in Malaysia, especially hockey."
I WAS TALKING ABOUT ME!
why u talking about yourself when describing ho. just say he played a role in hockey lah .. May he rest in peace.. a good man he was.
*floyd*
Ashraf, no wonder Negri was one of the lousiest teams during the time you represented them! Thank god, you were never in the national team.
There's nothing wrong with ashraf's grammar lah, you morons!
All you guys leave poor Ashraf alone while he mourns his mentor on the hockey field-lah!
Dear Puppy Kuttan, you have my vote.
Cheers
KH
Ashraf,
Anon 7.12 is your ex constipated reporter!
thanks for writing about my grandad and by the way my grandad was born in 1942. anyway thanks for writing this about my grandad. i never knew that so many people look up to him like me and my cousins so thanks from the bottom of my heart.
I represented Malaysia in my sport from 1989 till the mid 90s. During that time, Mr Ho was a director with the NSC. While we were in different fields, I always looked up to him for wisdom and guidance. He had a significant influence on my successes and was always encouraging during my down times. After moving to Australia, I lost touch with him. Hearing of his passing brought enormous sadness to me. I shall miss him. Mr. Ho.. may your soul rest in peace.
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