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C. Kunalan

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In this Indian name, the name Canagasabai is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Kunalan.

Canagasabai Kunalan (born 23 October 1942), known as C. Kunalan,[1] is a retired Singaporean sprinter, relay runner, former footballer and educator, widely regarded as one of Singapore's greatest ever athletes.[2][3] Named Sportsman of the Year in both 1968 and 1969,[4] his feat of 10.38 seconds in the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games 100 metres was a national record that stood for 33 years.[5][6][7]

C. Kunalan
Kunalan at a Singapore Olympic Academy Youth Session, 2008.
Personal information
Full nameCanagasabai Kunalan
NationalitySingapore
Born (1942-10-23) 23 October 1942 (age 82)
Singapore
Years active1963–1979
Sport
Country
  • Malaysia
  • Singapore
SportAthletics
Events
Coached byTan Eng Yoon
Yap Boon Chuan
Retired1979
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  Singapore
Asian Championships
Silver medal – second place 1975 Seoul 4×100 m
Bronze medal – third place 1973 Marikina 4×400 m

Career

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Runner

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Kunalan first came into running in 1963, at the age of 20. Formerly a football player, Kunalan switched to running when his PE teacher commended him for his fast-moving legs after noticing him running while chasing the ball.[8] He participated in the 1964 Summer Olympics as part of the Malaysian 4 × 100 m relay team with Malaysian sprint legend Mani Jegathesan, and subsequently represented Singapore after it left the federation.

Kunalan has participated in two Olympic Games (Tokyo, 1964 and Mexico City, 1968)[9] and has earned five Asian Games and fifteen Southeast Asian Peninsular Games medals.[10]

He had to retire in 1979 due to a heel injury.

Educator

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C Kunalan taught six years in Tiong Bahru Primary School and thirteen years in Dunearn Secondary Technical School before joining the National Institute of Education in 1980.[1][11] Kunalan became an assistant professor there.[12] He specialized in functional anatomy and exercise physiology, and conducted practical classes in fitness and conditioning. Kunalan left the institute in 2010.[13]

He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in 2015 as part of the National Day Awards.[10]

Singapore Athletic Association

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He also serves as Vice Principal (Training and Selection) with the Singapore Athletic Association.[14][15]

SYOGOC

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Kunalan was one of the 23 members of the Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (SYOGOC).[16]

Personal life

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Kunalan is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. [17]

References

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  1. ^ a b "A Tribute to The Fastest Man in 100m for 33 years". Dunearn Tech. Archived from the original on 25 August 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  2. ^ "31 years of sporting heroes". AsiaOne. Archived from the original on 24 July 2009. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  3. ^ "Singapore's 50 greatest athletes". Get For Me. Archived from the original on 4 January 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  4. ^ "Hall of Fame: C Kunalan". SSC Sports Museum. Archived from the original on 28 November 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  5. ^ Ministry of Education Singapore. Love Matters: An Anthology of Poems and Short Stories. Singapore City: Armour Publishing.
  6. ^ "Canagasabai Kunalan". Singapore Olympics. Archived from the original on 18 September 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  7. ^ Peter H. L. Lim (2009). Chronicle of Singapore, 1959-2009: Fifty Years of Headline News. Singapore City: Editions Didier Millet.
  8. ^ Wong, Ashika (27 July 2012). "Local hero: C Kunalan, 72, retired athlete". Time Out Singapore. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  9. ^ "CANAGASABAI KUNALAN". Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  10. ^ a b "Another medal for track star and teacher Kunalan". The Straits Times. 10 August 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  11. ^ "Mr. C. Kunalan". Woodlands Secondary School. Archived from the original on 29 April 2011. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  12. ^ "Service". National Institute of Education. Archived from the original on 24 December 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  13. ^ Wong, Alicia (12 September 2011). "If I can do it, you can do even better". Yahoo News. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  14. ^ "C Kunalan: Track Legend, Father of Three". Dads For Life. Archived from the original on 18 April 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  15. ^ "SAA Annual General Meeting 2012". Singapore Athletics Association. 29 June 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  16. ^ "Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (SYOGOC) board members". Archived from the original on 9 April 2008. Retrieved 12 January 2008.
  17. ^ Deseret News 1999-2000 Church Almanac. Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret News. 1998. p. 555. ISBN 1573454915.

Further reading

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  • Quek, Steven (2010). C. Kunalan: Singapore's Greatest Track and Field Athlete. Singapore.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
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