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FROM the look of things, dedicated teachers may no longer suffice for the development of sports.
Professional coaches might be the answer if schools are to produce calibre athletes.
This was the point raised by former Olympian sprinter Mej Jen (rtd) Datuk Shahrudin Mohd Ali, who competed in the 1960 Rome Olympics.
Now 64, the former Deputy Chief of Air Force, spoke his mind at the Olympian Night organised by the Malaysian Masters Athletics Association (MMAA) last Saturday.
He was among the 24 of 41 athletes from eight Olympics - 1956 in Melbourne to 1988 in Seoul - who attended the function, the first- ever organised to pay tribute to these past greats.
Eight athletes could not be contacted, six are deceased and another three - Datuk Dr M. Jegathesan, Dilbagh Singh Kler and Junaidah Aman, could not attend because of prior engagements.
Those present wanted to meet Sports Minister Datuk Azalina Othman Said, who was scheduled to attend, but could not make it because of other pressing matters.
Most of them had come to talk about the ailing sports condition and how best to put it right.
Shahrudin expressed his views when he was asked to speak on...