Yakeb: The National Athletes Welfare Foundation (Yakeb) will hold a meeting with the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (PPUM) to facilitate an effective line of treatment for former race walking champion G. Saravanan, who is suffering from a debilitating muscle disease. Yakeb chairman Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail said that for now, the 55-year-old, who is stricken with motor neurone disease (MND) – a rare disease that causes muscle neurodegenerative disorder and has no known cure – has returned to his hometown in Penang.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Ahmad Shapawi explained the critical nature of Saravanan’s disease, which necessitated seeking alternative treatment in India. The planned meeting with PPUM aims to explore further medical treatment options, with Saravanan remaining at the medical center until his condition improves. Ahmad Shapawi emphasized that the assistance provided to Saravanan would align with the foundation’s capacity, along with a six-month subsistence allowance starting this month.

On Friday, Saravanan received a contribution of RM10,000 from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Additionally, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Adam Adli Abd Halim and the Prime Minister’s Political Secretary, Datuk Ahmad Farhan Fauzi, visited him at PPUM. Saravanan has reportedly been battling MND since 2021.

In 1998, Saravanan made headlines by overcoming agonizing leg cramps to win the men’s 50-kilometre walk gold medal at the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games. His triumph marked Malaysia’s 10th gold medal, contributing to the country’s impressive fourth-place finish overall at the Games.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Shapawi announced that Yakeb would also be visiting former athletes in Melaka and Johor this week, including national football legend Datuk Soh Chin Aun and former national boxer Nekmat Jantan.