Indian-origin Malaysian athlete now varsity don

March 20th, 2011 - 5:11 pm ICT by IANS  

Kuala Lumpur, March 20 (IANS) M. Jegathesan, an Indian-Malaysian known as the “flying doctor” for winning this country’s first gold at the Asian Games, is the new pro-chancellor of a prestigious university.

An appointment scroll to the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) was presented to the ethnic Indian by university chancellor Raja Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamalullail at the university’s 43rd convocation.

USM vice chancellor Dzulkifli Abdul Razak said Jegathesan’s appointment would give a boost to sports development, as well as the university, the New Straits Times reported Sunday.

Jegathesan responded by saying: “I aim to do my best to help bring USM to greater heights through holistic development of its staff and students.”

Jegathesan, 67, who is also deputy president of the Olympic Council of Malaysia, earned the “flying doctor” nickname after he became the first Malaysian to win an Asian Games gold in the 100-metres sprint in 10.3 seconds at the 1966 Bangkok Asian Games.

He also won the 200-metres gold besides helping Malaysia win the 4×100-metres men’s relay.

He is also the chairman of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) Medical Commission, chairman of the Anti-Doping Agency of Malaysia and was appointed honorary medical adviser for the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.

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