No gender discrimination among athletes in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, 3 Aug 2020:

Independence is not just about freeing a country from the clutches of its colonisers, but an invaluable gift to create a nation that celebrates laudable values while rejecting all forms of oppression.

That’s why Malaysian tenpin bowling queen and world champion Shalin Zulkifli is thankful female athletes in the country are not discriminated against, noting the fact that women are allowed to venture into sports is one of the fruits of independence which all Malaysians should be grateful for.

Shalin, the most celebrated female bowler in Malaysia’s history, said she was lucky to have been treated equally as her male counterparts.

“Women athletes who win medals in sporting events, such as the Asian Games, receive the same amount of incentive payments as our male counterparts, so we are very lucky because (our) mentality is far more advanced.

“If we were still colonised, we may not enjoy so much freedom. At present, there is no gender discrimination in Malaysia,” said the five-time winner of the National Sportswoman award.

The 42-year-old sports icon hopes the younger generation will use the sacrifices made by the country’s past heroes in securing the country its independence as a guide to bravely face future challenges.

“We should appreciate what we have because these have been made possible by those who had shed their blood and tears for our freedom.

“No matter what condition we are in, (and) no matter what technological advancement we have made, we should always have a strong sense of identity,” said Shalin.

She also recalled that she used to take part in the National Day parade during her schooling days, saying she would attend training daily for two weeks as a member of the Girl Guides and her school’s marching band.

She also reminisced how she led the Malaysian team to victory at the World Women’s Championship in Mexico during the national month in 2007.

The veteran bowler, who is still active on the international stage, said sincerity and hard work were the keys to being successful in any venture.

“We should not wait for things to fall into our laps.”

– Bernama