Malaysia has been blessed with athletes of great talent and calibre over the decades, but unfortunately for some, they have fallen within the cracks and slowly forgotten by everyone as time goes by.
One of them is Kenneth Low, who was a six-time national No. 1 squash player but now struggles to make ends meet as a cleaner at an archery centre.
From former M’sian squash champion to ailing cleaner
In a heartbreaking interview with FMT, Low, who is now 47-years-old, was also revealed to be suffering from stroke-induced impairment, reduced coordination and motor skills, cognitive disability and short-term memory dysfunction.
However, he doesn’t have the funds to undergo tests to determine the severity of brain damage afflicted on him.
Adding onto his epic fall from grace, Low, who was once ranked No. 4 in Asia and No. 38 in the world, is now working as cleaner at the Best Archery Centre in Glo Damansara.
Furthermore, he had worked alongside foreign workers in cleaning the floors, mirrors, and elevator interiors at condominiums two years ago.
‘At least I have a job’
When asked what he thinks of his cleaner job and RM1,500 salary, Low said he’s grateful to hold a job unlike so many others.
It’s a matter of survival, and I will do whatever it takes to earn a living. I can’t complain as there are many people who don’t have jobs. At least I have a job and I am not a burden to anyone.
“No one will say they are happy with a monthly salary of RM1,500, but for me it is enough as I am able to eat, and to do little things that make me happy,” he said.
Low also expressed gratefulness towards Best Archery Centre’s owner-coach Jeffrey Kok for giving him another opportunity to make the most out of his unfortunate situation.
‘He’s a survivor’
Kok told FMT that he was initially shocked by the extent of Low’s disability, where performing simple tasks seemed near impossible.
“When you talk to him, he’s normal but when we put him to the task we were shocked that he was unable to do basic day to day things, and lacked coordination skills.
“A simple thing like stringing a bow is challenging for him, but he will overcome it as his strength is starting from scratch to reach the top,” he said.
Kok praised Low’s willingness to start from the ground up despite having basked in the glory days of his sporting career, calling him a “survivor”.
Not the first athlete
Low’s predicament isn’t something new in Malaysia’s sporting scene, where athletes who made several accomplishments on behalf of the country were eventually ditched to the sidelines to fade into obscurity.
For Low, his situation remained unknown until July 16, where he was visited by National Athletes Welfare Foundation (Yakeb) chairman Noorul Ariffin, who heard of his story through ex-national high jumper Loo Kum Zee.
Following the visit, Noorul said that he would help hasten Low’s medical treatment as well as provide a monthly allowance of RM300.
In the meantime, those who wish to donate to Low can do so by donating to this Public Bank account 4919922822, under the name of “Kenneth Low Welfare”.
Aside from Low, another forgotten athlete is Koh Lee Peng, who now sells tissue paper at Bukit Bintang:
