Ng Joo Pong ~ a national hero

Venue: Petaling Jaya (Sunday May 30th 2010)

We were having breakfast out when this man ‘parked’ his bicycle and walked in. Well, people cycles ya… but this one is special. At 64 years old, our twice Olympian Mr. Ng Joo Pong was still at it. ‘Just for the exercise’, he said. We invited him to sit with us where he ordered ‘Teh cam kurang manis satu!’… that’s one coffee, mix with tea plus creamer and unsweetened; means… no sugar or less sugar. (Malaysian’s and their food delicacies)

We started talking or more of getting ‘his-story’ out. How he trains and qualifies for the Olympic games back then. He went for the first Olympic games when he was eighteen and the second in Mexico despite being warded for three months after a collision with a lorry during training that broke his jaw. sheesh... and even that, made it as top qualifier during the qualifying meet which was to cycle from north (Alor Setar) to south (Johor Baru). He has so many experiences and tricks on how to make it out there. I kept telling him to give talks and pass his knowledge down to budding cyclists but he declined. Politics in sports… well, Malaysian sports sad to say. Maybe those really interested should seek this man for ‘hand-me-downs’. Such a waste if no one taps it out of him for good use.

In the older days where our sportsmen/women lack technologies and facilities like how we have today, only with sheer determination, energy and brain… they make it to the highest level in sports competition. Despite the hardship and the many setbacks… these are things that youngsters of today should listen, and make good example of. 

We sat and he told us stories of “the good old days”. However, time was not with us. It was getting hot, old man ya… let him go back. He will need to cycle all the way back in the hot sun, I believe easily nearing fifty kilometre. God! ask me to cycle five and I’d choose… my bed!

I salute this man…. he has broken bones on both legs, his jaw and God knows what other injuries, now suffering from back pain… he doesn’t even walk straight… and yet.

With his old bike and shoes… there he goes… an honour to know you uncle Joe…  hats up!

 

 

 

Full name: Ng Joo Pong, Joe               Gender: Male
Height: 5'6" (167 cm)               Weight: 141 lbs (64 kg)
Born: June 19, 1946 in Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Country: Malaysia            Sport: Cycling

Results

Games	Age	City	Sport	Event	Team	NOC	Rank	Medal
1964 Summer	18	Tokyo	Cycling	Men's 100 kilometres Team Time Trial	Malaysia	MAS	32
1964 Summer	18	Tokyo	Cycling	Men's 1,000 metres Time Trial	Malaysia	MAS	24
1964 Summer	18	Tokyo	Cycling	Men's Team Pursuit, 4,000 metres	Malaysia	MAS	AC h9 r1/4		DNF
1968 Summer	22	Ciudad de México	Cycling	Men's Road Race, Individual	Malaysia	MAS	AC		DNF

Men's Road Race, Individual

 

Games	Age	City	Sport	Country	Phase	Unit	Rank
1968 Summer	22	Ciudad de México	Cycling	Malaysia	Final Standings		AC	DNF

Men's 100 kilometres Team Time Trial

 

Games	Age	City	Sport	Team	NOC	Phase	Unit	Rank		T
1964 Summer	18	Tokyo	Cycling	Malaysia	MAS	Final Standings		32		3-11:47.02

Men's 1,000 metres Time Trial

 

Games	Age	City	Sport	Country	Phase	Unit	Rank		T
1964 Summer	18	Tokyo	Cycling	Malaysia	Final Standings		24		1:20.68

Men's Team Pursuit, 4,000 metres

 

Games	Age	City	Sport	Team	NOC	Phase	Unit	Rank
1964 Summer	18	Tokyo	Cycling	Malaysia	MAS	Round One	Heat Nine	AC	DNF