<figure id="attachment_3037209" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3037209" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-3037209" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/00c78ca0-g-saravanan-emel-pic-170425-1.webp" alt="G Saravanan" width="1600" height="1000" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3037209" class="wp-caption-text">A warm handshake and the spirit of togetherness shines through for G Saravanan (left) and Mohamed Kenneth Low. (Noorul Ariffin pic)</figcaption></figure>
PETALING JAYA: Two former national athletes, each confronting a fatal illness, came together yesterday in a show of caring in adversity.
Former national squash player, Mohamed Kenneth Low, and golden race walker, G Saravanan, had never met.
Kenneth, 48, was a beneficiary of strangers’ compassion, and he chose to pay it forward.
Armed with empathy and lived experience, Kenneth made a surprise donation of RM500 to Saravanan at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre.
In stepping up for Saravanan, Kenneth reaffirmed that champions support one another long after the crowds have gone home.
“It’s a small amount but I pray it brings some hope and encouragement to him,” said Kenneth, who is suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS).
“Sportsmen bear the same scars of competition and courage,” he said. “When one of us stumbles, we step forward.”
Saravanan said the humble act embodied the spirit of sportsmanship and selflessness.
<figure id="attachment_3037210" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3037210" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-3037210" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/d28a378b-g-saravanan-emel-pic-170425-2.webp" alt="G Saravanan" width="1600" height="1000" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3037210" class="wp-caption-text">Two former champions, G Saravanan (centre) and Mohamed Kenneth Low (right) bound by deadly illnesses and resilience. Looking on is Noorul Ariffin Abdul Majeed, who has been by the side of both the men in their darkest hour. (M Sassikala pic)</figcaption></figure>
“Such gestures heal, knit communities together, and elevate our national character,” he said in slurred speech.
“Could anything be sweeter?” chipped in former national athletes welfare foundation (Yakeb) chairman, Noorul Ariffin Abdul Majeed.
“Despite his own MS struggle, Kenneth stepped up to aid a peer facing a similar fate,” he added.
Since 2023, public kindness has kept Kenneth in a nursing home, and paid for his treatment for MS.
Two days ago, Saravanan, who is locked in his own battle against motor neurone disease (MND), appealed publicly for funds <a href="https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/highlight/2025/04/16/from-gold-to-grief-for-golden-race-walker-saravanan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">through FMT</a>.
Saravanan, 55 next month, has been robbed of his strength, mobility and clarity.
His muscles are wasting away, his powerful legs have given way, his commanding voice has slurred, and he is struggling emotionally.
The 1998 Commonwealth Games 50km walk gold medallist needs treatment such as physiotherapy to slow the march of the disease.
He had spent his savings on treatment abroad and locally since 2021, and was forced to seek public help due to the limitations of existing support systems for former athletes.
Saravanan said he was grateful for the donations that he has received to date. “We are strongest united. God bless them.”
To contribute, bank your donation to Saravanan’s wife, Sassikala Muniandy (Maybank account 1070 9526 7317) or to Yayasan Pemerkasaan Pendidikan dan Kemahiran, Maybank Islamic account (5622 0962 7619) with the reference Saravanan Aid.

MatchPoint Times

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