PETALING JAYA: From squash highs to lows in personal life, former Malaysian sporting star Kenneth Low Ewe Loong has sunk into the depths of despair.
Once a six-time national No 1 squash player, Low, 44, now works as a cleaner, is broke, and battling poor health.
He is suspected to be suffering from stroke-induced impairment, reduced coordination and motor skills, cognitive disability and short-term memory dysfunction.
Low does not have the money for tests to determine the severity of the damage to the brain.
He has gone from wall-basher, once rated No 4 in Asia and No 38 in the world, to cleaning floors, mirrors, doors, tables and chairs at his workplace.
Two years ago, he mopped and swept floors, wiped mirrors and cleaned the interior of elevators, together with foreign workers, at condominiums.
“It’s a matter of survival, and I will do whatever it takes to earn a living,” said Low of his month-old job at the Best Archery Centre in Glo Damansara.
“I can’t complain as there are many people who don’t have jobs. At least I have a job and I am not a burden to anyone,” he offered.
He is thankful to have been given a second chance at life by the archery centre’s owner-coach, Jeffrey Kok. “The only happiness I have is being with good-hearted people.
Low at his lowest
“When I suffered a stroke about two years ago, I needed help, but there was no one around,” said Kuala Lumpur-born Kok. His father had passed away from a stroke, his older brother was similarly afflicted, and his mother couldn’t do anything as she is in her 70s.
“I was all by myself, struggling financially and experiencing depression,” said Low, whose marriage had broken down before he was struck by a stroke.
He said he has not seen his son, Mohamed Nico, who moved with his mother to Sabah since he was five years old.
“Nico is now 11, and my sadness will disappear if I have him beside me, and it will all be so different,” said Low, proudly showing a picture of his son on his mobile phone.
Sadly, Low cannot remember the days when he helped Malaysian squash reign supreme internationally. His medals are with his mother in Puchong, and he doesn’t have a single photograph of his playing days.
He stared blankly when he was reminded it was his victory in the deciding game in 2000 that ended Pakistan’s stranglehold on the Asian team squash championships since the event’s inception in 1981.
Low smiled when told he made up for his surprise exit to Pakistan’s Mansoor Zaman in the individual semi-finals by beating Ajaz Azmat 9-1 9-3 4-9 9-5 in the thrilling title decider in Hong Kong.
Forgotten athletes
Kenneth Low (second from right) cannot remember the number of times he represented Malaysia. He is pictured here with his Malaysian teammates at the 1993 Singapore SEA Games.
Low’s plight once again throws the spotlight on Malaysia’s treatment of its sporting heroes, many of whose sufferings remain hidden from the mainstream.
Through the years there has been a lack of official support for the wellbeing of retired athletes, save for the limited financial and medical aid that the National Athletes Welfare Foundation (Yakeb) provides them.
Low said he only knew about Yakeb when its chairman Noorul Ariffin visited him on July 16 after being alerted to his predicament by former national high jumper Loo Kum Zee.
Noorul said he will help fast-track Low’s medical treatment and provide him with a monthly allowance of RM300.
Those who wish to help Low can make their contributions to Public Bank account 4919922822, with “Kenneth Low Welfare” as the reference.
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Post time 30-7-2023 07:29 PMFrom the mobile phone|Show all posts
sebab tu la meol sgt tekankan pelajaran daripada focus on sukan. kalau ngko pandai, excel dlm plajaran mmg org akan cri. kerja best2, kalau sakit ka apa, ada kwsp... bidang sukan hanya utk org yg cergas dan sihat shj. skli ngko sakit, khidmat ngko sudah x diperlukan.
Post time 30-7-2023 08:16 PMFrom the mobile phone|Show all posts
Rasanya heols mmg dpt pencen, tapi tak banyak kot. Also lepas stroke tu mcm2 kesan sampingan yg dia dapat, so nk keje as coach pun dh tak boleh. Short term memory dysfunction camno nk kasi keje yang gaji mahal skit? Apepun kalau org mcm ni aku setuju kalau buat crowdfund
Post time 30-7-2023 09:08 PMFrom the mobile phone|Show all posts
kalau ada cara nak bantu dia or dah ade yg buat tepek la sini...iols sedih plak sbb dia tak meminta2.
patut la dulu mak iols merempan abg iols taknak masuk uni sbb dpt masuk team bola bwh 18 ke apa entah. pestaim i tgk mak iols sampai tak bertegur sapa dgn anak siap ckp ko pergi habiskan degree dulu lepas tu nak melantun ke langit hijau pun lantak laa asalkan tak buat kerja haram.
dah skrg iols plak merasa, anak iols nak masuk sukan equestrian minta kebenaran nak homeskol. dah la mahai kot sukan ke mana, bljr kemana
Post time 30-7-2023 10:50 AM
变色卡
Post time 30-7-2023 01:03 PM
siap ckp ko pergi habiskan degree dulu lepas tu nak melantun ke langit hijau pun lantak laa asalkan tak buat kerja haram.
