Sunday April 19, 2009

Former Olympian fighting for his life

KUALA TERENGGANU: Former Olympian Kamaruddin Maidin, 66, has been admitted to the Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital (HSNZ) with a liver ailment.

Kamaruddin represented Malaysia in the 1960 Rome Olympics.

His wife, Rajemah Sheikh Ahmad, the 1966 Asian Games bronze medallist, said Kamaruddin was admitted to the intensive care unit on Friday when his condition deteriorated.

“He is in a coma now ... the doctors have advised the children to be by his side always,” she said.

Kamaruddin, a national triple jump and long jump champion in the 1960s, has been suffering from liver problems since 2003.

He is the first Malaysian athlete to win the long jump gold medal in five consecutive SEA Games from 1959. — Bernama