Where he is now

A 62-year-old assistant professor at the National Institute of Education, he lectures on functional anatomy and exercise physiology, and conducts practical classes in fitness and conditioning, plus track and field.

Although he does not follow the sport intimately, he still keeps in touch through the Internet, newspapers and coaches.

Daughters Soma, 37, Mona, 30, and Gina, 28, followed him and wife Choong Yan into the teaching profession. Only Mona took to the track, but she has since given up competitive running.

These days, he spends his leisure time playing with grandchildren Jasmine, eight, and Amber, six.

The induction of C Kunalan into the Hall of Fame at a glittering and glamorous event on the 11 January 2002 was probably overdue. But ask the man himself about his status, a man who is the epitome of humility, and one might dare believe that others are more deserving. Not so.

The Minister for Community Development and Sports, Mr Abdullah Tarmugi presented seven awards at the Fullerton Hotel during a night of emotion and reflection. The regal procession down the stairs to the decorated ballroom was a prelude to a highly personalised display of sentiment and passion - characteristics that do not come easily in this particular type of public and social life in Singapore.

The assembled dignitaries, friends, family members and most significantly the other heroes and heroines of past and present were enraptured by the glittering array of talent that modestly acknowledged the contributions of others as significant in their achievement of fame.

C Kunalan (right) with the Guest-of-Honour, Mr Abdullah Tarmugi at the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

The programme described the affable Kunalan as a sprint icon, one who was an ideal role model for athletes. The soft-spoken Kunalan then thanked his mentors and his peers but most importantly he singled out his wife. Before she married him, Chong Yoong Yin herself, had been a national sprinter. The ultimate role model spoke of the responsibility that goes with commitment to sport. He had learned from his own coaches Tan Eng Yoon and Yap Boon Chuan, that you should always be there for the athlete - come rain or shine.

Kunalan made rapid progress in track when he first started in 1963. Tan Eng Yoon, then National Coach, commented at the time that the most improvement shown by any athlete had been displayed by C Kunalan, who after only five months of training had returned times of 10.9 seconds, 22.3 seconds, and 50.9 seconds for the 100m, 200m, and 400m respectively. He was clearly a good prospect for the future. But it was in the relay that he first made his name. That year at the Malaysia Sports Festival at Kuala Lumpur, Kunalan, together with Cedric Monteiro, Wong Fey Wan, and Low Sin Chock, completed the sprint relay in a new Singapore National Record, and a Malayan All-Comers Record time of 42.0 seconds.

Competitive athletics provided ups and downs. An Olympian the following year in Tokyo, again in the relay, but this time with the legendary Mani Jegathesan, he played his part in creating new records. The Asian Games of 1966, two years later, were bitter-sweet for Kunalan - a silver medallist failing minutely to oust his rival and friend Jega in Bangkok. At the Mexico Games in 1968, a new national record that remained untouched until 2001. Injury and imposed retirement at the end of 1970 brought Kunalan into coaching. This was the place, which contributed just as much to his growing reputation as a role model as did the times he had produced on the track.

For many people, this might have proved sufficient, but for Kunalan the drive to compete remained and so he returned to the competitive scene and extended his active career until 1979. Even then, injury not age was to draw the line on his career.