Name:

C Kunalan

Age:

69

Sport:

Athletics (Sprints and Relays)

What do you do in your free time/Hobbies?

I do my share of the housework. I also do my share of the garden work – more like the washing of the filter of the fish pond. Fish is not my hobby – I just like to see water, plants, and fish swimming around in the pond. I relax as I do the outside cleaning as I get a chance to be close to the garden and pond.

What is your favourite song, favourite movie and favourite athlete?

I like ALL songs and ALL movies and ALL athletes.  Only problem is I don’t spend time with each as much as I would want to. But sometimes I wonder where my time goes.  I do still day dream as I did as a kid.

How are you currently giving back to society (and/or) what do you hope to do more of in terms of giving back in the near future?

I serve whoever asks me (if I am capable or up to the task). I share my experiences from my life as a primary school teacher, secondary school teacher, as a lecturer in teacher training, as a school coach, as a national sprints coach, as a SEAP, SEA, Asian, Commonwealth and Olympic athlete, as a father of three daughters, as a husband of a fellow athlete.  I lecture for SSC on the NCAP Courses. For several years I used to lecture at the Fitness Instructors and PTI courses at the Army Fitness Centre and Civil Defence respectively. I am Vice President Training & Selection with the Singapore Athletic Association. This voluntary work is more time and energy and emotion consuming than I thought it would be, but one has to serve when one is called.

Was there a lowest moment in your sport? Can you share with us how you bounced back from it?  

In 1970 I faced a severe calcaneal spur problem from the beginning of the year. It really affected my preparations for the Asian Games in December of that year. Because of that I was only able to get Bronze in the 100 and 200m.  I was very sad that I could not do better because my training had been hampered throughout the year.  I didn’t have the heart to run the 4 x 400m and a reserve took my place. I sadly gave up the sport after this sad episode.  I didn’t bounce back.  But two years later I came back just to run the relay at the 1973 SEAP Games which Singapore hosted for the first time. I was the anchor man and we managed to clinch the Silver.

Any motivational advice/favourite quote you can share with us?    

When you look deeply into yourself you cannot lie.