Hockey’s act of respect: Mahendran repaid after 53 years
Hockey great M Mahendran has finally received the RM5,000 cash award he was promised more than half a century ago, as the row over unpaid cash incentives to past champions continues.
Mahendran’s repayment is a milestone, but not the end of a long-running controversy that has left several of Malaysia’s sporting greats still waiting for what is theirs.
Today, the 1972 sportsman of the year received the money from Kedah Hockey Association president, Rodhanizam Mat Radzi, on behalf of Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) president Subahan Kamal.
The repayment came three days after cycling legend Ng Joo Ngan, Malaysia’s 1970 sportsman of the year, was told he will receive the remaining RM4,500 of his award from the Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) next week – 55 years after his honour.
