C. Kunalan
Canagasabai Kunalan (born 23 October 1942), known as C. Kunalan,[1] is a retired Singaporean sprinter, relay runner, former footballer and educator, widely regarded as one of Singapore's greatest ever athletes.[2][3] Named Sportsman of the Year in both 1968 and 1969,[4] his feat of 10.38 seconds in the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games 100 metres was a national record that stood for 33 years.[5][6][7]
Kunalan at a Singapore Olympic Academy Youth Session, 2008. | |
Personal information | |
---|---|
Full name | Canagasabai Kunalan |
Nickname(s) | Mr. Kunalan |
Nationality | Singapore |
Born | Singapore | 23 October 1942
Years active | 1963–1979 |
Sport | |
Country | Malaysia (before 9 August 1965) Singapore |
Sport | Athletics |
Event(s) | |
Coached by | Tan Eng Yoon Yap Boon Chuan |
Retired | 1979 |
Career
Runner
Kunalan first came into running in 1963, at the age of 20. Formerly a football player, Kunalan switched to running when his PE teacher commended him for his fast moving legs after noticing him running while chasing the ball.[8] He participated in the 1964 Summer Olympics as part of the Malaysian 4 × 100 m relay team with Malaysian sprint legend Mani Jegathesan, and subsequently represented Singapore after it left the federation.
Kunalan has participated in two Olympic Games (Tokyo, 1964 and Mexico City, 1968)[9] and has earned five Asian Games and fifteen Southeast Asian Peninsular Games medals.[10]
Educator
C Kunalan taught six years in Tiong Bahru Primary School and thirteen years in Dunearn Secondary Technical School before joining the National Institute of Education in 1980.[1][11] Kunalan became an assistant professor there.[12] He specialised in functional anatomy and exercise physiology, and conducted practical classes in fitness and conditioning. Kunalan left the institute in 2010.[13]
He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in 2015 as part of the National Day awards.[10]
Singapore Athletic Association
He also serves as Vice Principal (Training and Selection) with the Singapore Athletic Association.[14][15]
SYOGOC
Kunalan was one of the 23 members of the Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (SYOGOC).[16]
References
- "A Tribute to The Fastest Man in 100m for 33 years". Dunearn Tech. Archived from the original on 25 August 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
- "31 years of sporting heroes". AsiaOne. Archived from the original on 24 July 2009. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
- "Singapore's 50 greatest athletes". Get For Me. Archived from the original on 4 January 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
- "Hall of Fame: C Kunalan". SSC Sports Museum. Archived from the original on 28 November 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
- Ministry of Education Singapore. Love Matters: An Anthology of Poems and Short Stories. Singapore City: Armour Publishing.
- "Canagasabai Kunalan". Singapore Olympics. Archived from the original on 18 September 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
- Peter H. L. Lim (2009). Chronicle of Singapore, 1959-2009: Fifty Years of Headline News. Singapore City: Editions Didier Millet.
- Wong, Ashika (27 July 2012). "Local hero: C Kunalan, 72, retired athlete". Time Out Singapore. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
- "CANAGASABAI KUNALAN". Retrieved 14 November 2018.
- "Another medal for track star and teacher Kunalan". Retrieved 14 November 2018.
- "Mr. C. Kunalan". Woodlands Secondary School. Archived from the original on 29 April 2011. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
- "Service". National Institute of Education. Archived from the original on 24 December 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
- Wong, Alicia (12 September 2011). "If I can do it, you can do even better". Yahoo News. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
- "C Kunalan: Track Legend, Father of Three". Dads For Life. Archived from the original on 18 April 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
- "SAA Annual General Meeting 2012". Singapore Athletics Association. 29 June 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
- "Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (SYOGOC) board members". Archived from the original on 9 April 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-12.
Further reading
- Quek, Steven (2010). C. Kunalan: Singapore's Greatest Track and Field Athlete. Singapore.