NRI Malaysian weightlifter, winner of three gold medals in 1975, dies in accident

 

Kuala Lumpur, Oct. 08, 2008
Sunder Singh

NRI Harbans Singh, 73, Malaysian weightlifter, who won three gold medals at the 1975 Seap Games in Bangkok, died in a accident on Oct. 06, Monday at Petaling Jaya.

At the age of 40, he was the first NRI Malaysian to win three gold medals in weightlifting.

From 1965 to 1975, he took part in six Seap Games for compiling a personal tally of four gold and three silver medals.

• In 1967, he won first medal in Bangkok
• In 1969, he won second medal in Rangoon
• In 1973, he won third medal in Singapore

The Malaysian Hockey Federation vice-president Datuk, Dr S. S. Cheema said, "Harbans Singh was the type of sportsman who did not do it for personal glory but for the nation. There was no monetary award to speak of at that time, the only satisfaction he derived was bringing joy to the people by winning."

He retired from Tenaga Nasional, the largest electricity utility company in Malaysia and also the largest power company in Southeast Asia