Muhammad Elfi Mustapa and Muhammad Amirudin Jamal may appear just like any other sophomore at NUS, except that each has a Southeast Asian (SEA) Games medal in his pocket.
Mustapa and Jamal were part of the team that finished runners-up in the men’s 4 x 100m relay at last December’s SEA Games in Laos, breaking the national record for the event with a timing of 39.82 seconds in the process.
Psychology major Jamal, who has been actively competing in amateur athletics at the national level since he was 11, said that the experience of officially representing Singapore in an international competition felt “really professional.”
“We were the only country, at least for us and our sport, who were not full-time athletes. So it felt good competing at such a top level,” he said.
Mustapa, who only became a competitive sprinter at the age of 18, echoed Jamal’s sentiments.
“I’ve always thought of representing my country since I was young. To be able to do so for the first time, within a short period of time since I started training and actually winning a medal, is a big achievement,” said the economics major.
 Jamal said that it was a “great moment” for everyone in the team when they heard that they had broken the longstanding 40-second barrier.
“Once we found out about our timing, we just went mad.”
“Having realized our dreams of getting the silver and doing it under 40 seconds was really very breathtaking. Even though it may be just once in a lifetime, we were all overjoyed,” said Jamal.
Mustapa also described how the success, and the celebration that ensued after, encapsulated the team spirit and camaraderie that was present amongst the runners and their coach in Laos.
“Of course we had some disagreements, even with the coach, but winning is about the team so at the end of the day we had to listen to and work with each other,” he said.
Not everything was rosy however. Both athletes said they did not receive as much support as they would have liked in the run-up to and during the Games.
Jamal said, “There was no financial support provided, other than meals. We were just running for ourselves.”
Mustapa expressed his hope that his team’s recent achievement will invite more support for Singaporean athletes competing in international events in the future.
“There was not much support for the Singapore team itself, especially in the stadium during the track events. We understand because it was in Laos, but we hope that more people will turn up for track events in the future,” he said.
Another test that Mustapa and Jamal faced and successfully overcame was having to juggle their studies with their rigorous training schedules, especially during the examination period.
Mustapa said, “At the end of the day, it all boils down to proper time management. The same can be said if you ask any of the sportsmen and sportswomen in the school, as they will offer the same opinion.
“It is difficult, but at the same time, very doable.”
The duo was also quick to acknowledge their parents for constantly motivating them despite the challenges they faced.
Jamal said, “My parents have been very supportive and encouraging of me throughout my competitive career.
“All the while, they tell me that even though athletics is not going to give me money or anything, and no matter what the world says, I should just do what I want to do and excel in it.”
Both sprinters continue their 2010 sprinting season as they put their fond memories from Laos behind in the hope of setting new records and performing beyond expectations once again. |
