Hockey great Kevin Nunis dies at 65
PETALING JAYA : Former national hockey player and Olympian Kevin Nunis died in hospital today at the age of 65.
His brother, Graig Nunis, said in an Instagram post that Kevin breathed his last at Hospital Kuala Lumpur this evening.
Nunis had been recuperating from surgery on May 21 the second since he was diagnosed with a bacterial infection in the blood last month, according to the national athletes foundation (Yakeb). He was discharged on May 2 but was admitted again two weeks later after his health deteriorated and underwent another surgery.
Nunis, who was born in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, later converted to Islam and took the name Muhammad Khairy Nunis Abdullah. His son, Muhammad Karl Iskandar Nunis, a television sports journalist, said final rites for his father would be performed at 8am tomorrow.
Nunis was a member of Malaysia's hockey team at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and also represented Malaysia at the 1982 and 1986 Asian Games in India and Korea.
After retiring, he ventured into coaching and once coached the Terengganu and Pahang hockey teams. He was also head coach of the Malaysian Hockey Confederation's national hockey development programme.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
7 hours ago
- The Star
Taiwanese boxer Lin agrees to gender test for world championships
Chinese Taipei's Lin Yu-ting won the women's 57kg boxing final against Poland's Julia Szeremeta at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. - Photo: AFP TAIPEI: Taiwanese Olympic champion boxer Lin Yu-ting will undergo compulsory gender testing ahead of the world championships in Liverpool next month, her coach told AFP on Thursday (Aug 21). Lin and Algerian boxer Imane Khelif were embroiled in a gender row at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where they both won gold medals in different weight classes. World Boxing said on Wednesday that women wanting to compete at the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool would have to undergo "mandatory sex testing" under its new policy that took effect the same day. "They announced that everyone must submit, so we will submit as well," Lin's coach Tseng Tzu-chiang said. "If you want to compete you have to follow the rules of the competition. Since we are participating, we will go by their rules." Under the new policy, athletes over 18 who want to participate in a World Boxing-sanctioned competition need to take a PCR, or polymerase chain reaction genetic test, to determine their sex at birth. Lin and Khelif both fought at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. There was no controversy at the time and neither won a medal. The pair were excluded from the International Boxing Association's (IBA) 2023 world championships after the IBA said they had failed gender eligibility tests. However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) allowed them both to compete in Paris, saying they had been victims of "a sudden and arbitrary decision by the IBA". Both went on to triumph. Neither Khelif nor Lin are transgender women. Both were born and raised as women, which is how they are registered on their passports. World Boxing will organise the boxing competition at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics after being granted provisional recognition by the IOC. - AFP
The Sun
7 hours ago
- The Sun
Taiwanese boxer Lin agrees to gender test for world championships
TAIPEI: Taiwanese Olympic boxing champion Lin Yu-ting will undergo compulsory gender testing ahead of next month's world championships in Liverpool. Lin and Algerian boxer Imane Khelif were embroiled in a gender controversy during the 2024 Paris Olympics where both athletes secured gold medals in their respective weight categories. World Boxing announced on Wednesday that female competitors must undergo 'mandatory sex testing' under a new policy effective immediately. 'They announced that everyone must submit, so we will submit as well,' Lin's coach Tseng Tzu-chiang said. 'If you want to compete you have to follow the rules of the competition. Since we are participating, we will go by their rules.' The new policy requires athletes over 18 to undergo PCR genetic testing to determine their sex at birth for World Boxing-sanctioned competitions. Both Lin and Khelif competed at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 without controversy though neither won medals during that event. The International Boxing Association excluded both boxers from its 2023 world championships after claiming they failed gender eligibility tests. The International Olympic Committee permitted their participation in Paris, describing their previous exclusion as 'a sudden and arbitrary decision by the IBA'. Neither athlete identifies as transgender, with both having been born and raised as women according to their passport documentation. World Boxing will organise the boxing competition at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics after receiving provisional recognition from the IOC. – AFP
Focus Malaysia
7 hours ago
- Focus Malaysia
The decline of Malaysian hockey
IN THE mid-20th century, Malaysian field hockey stood tall on the global stage. From the 1950s through the 1970s, the national team was a formidable force. Malaysia is regularly qualifying for the Olympics, finishing fourth in the 1975 World Cup, and challenging traditional giants like India, Pakistan, and the Netherlands. Back then, Malaysia was one of the best in Asia, often ahead of countries like South Korea and Japan. Fast forward to 2025, and the national team struggles to qualify for major tournaments. Rankings have plummeted, infrastructure is deteriorating, and domestic interest is waning. The once-thriving hockey scene now survives largely on nostalgia and sporadic government interventions. The collapse of development systems Malaysia's golden era in hockey coincided with strong grassroots systems. Hockey was deeply embedded in school sports, especially in states like Perak, Selangor, and Kuala Lumpur. The sport was accessible, coaches were passionate, and state-level competitions were fiercely contested. But over time, that pipeline began to dry up. In the 1980s and 1990s, as football began to dominate the public consciousness and funding, hockey was quietly sidelined. Schools stopped prioritizing the sport, coaching standards dropped, and state associations lost their influence. Unlike India and Pakistan, who also experienced declines but eventually reinvested in their grassroots, Malaysia failed to rebuild its foundation. Today, there are fewer structured pathways for young players. Hockey is rarely played outside select schools or private academies, and even those lack adequate facilities, competitive leagues, and coaching depth. Without a steady stream of talent, national teams have become overly reliant on aging players and quick-fix solutions. Lack of vision and long-term planning Malaysia's field hockey authorities have long lacked a coherent, long-term development plan. While countries like Belgium, who were once mid-tier, invested in 10- and 15-year plans that transformed them into world champions, Malaysian hockey leadership has remained reactive. There have been frequent changes in coaching staff, inconsistent investment in development programs, and a troubling focus on short-term performance that often driven by the need to justify funding. Instead of creating a sustainable ecosystem, the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) has often chased immediate results, leading to disjointed programs and stalled progress. This short-termism has also led to rushed national team selections, where players are chosen without long-term development arcs, often promoted too early or discarded too quickly. The decline of domestic competitions Once a robust platform for talent identification and development, Malaysia's domestic hockey league has lost much of its competitive edge and public interest. In the past, club teams like Tenaga Nasional and Maybank drew crowds and created local heroes. Today, even top-tier matches struggle to attract fans, and media coverage is minimal. This decline in domestic competition has a direct impact on player quality. Without a strong league, players lack the intensity, tactical exposure, and professional environment needed to transition to international standards. Additionally, many clubs suffer from financial instability, inconsistent coaching, and poor facilities, a stark contrast to the professional setups in countries like the Netherlands or Australia. Global game evolved, Malaysia did not Perhaps the most critical failure has been Malaysia's inability to adapt to the modern game. The introduction of artificial turf in the 1970s transformed hockey, making it faster and more physically demanding. Countries that embraced this shift by investing in synthetic pitches, fitness science, and tactical innovation that stayed competitive. Malaysia was slow to adapt. While countries like South Korea, Germany, and even Argentina evolved their style of play to match the modern game, Malaysia clung to outdated tactics and failed to prioritize physical conditioning and analytical coaching methods. As a result, the team has often looked outpaced and out-thought on the international stage. The way forward Malaysia's hockey decline wasn't inevitable as it was the result of decades of neglect, mismanagement, and resistance to change. But the path to revival is still possible, if difficult. First and foremost, grassroots development must be revitalized with a strong emphasis on schools, community clubs, and certified coaching programs. Investing in artificial turf pitches outside urban centres would democratize access to the sport, making it more accessible and encouraging wider participation. Ensuring inclusivity at every level is essential to rekindle the spirit and success that once defined our national hockey legacy. Second, the domestic league must be restructured with clear professional standards, better marketing, and financial incentives to attract and retain talent. Clubs should be encouraged to build academies and invest in youth development. Third, a transparent, depoliticized governance model is essential. Only with accountability, continuity, and expert leadership can Malaysian hockey create and execute a long-term vision. Finally, the national team needs a reset with an emphasis on youth, modern playing styles, inclusivity and sustained overseas exposure. Once a proud hockey nation, Malaysia still holds a place in the sport's history books. With bold reforms, patience, and national unity, there remains a chance to script a new chapter that one that brings Malaysian hockey back from the brink. ‒ Aug 21, 2025 R Paneir Selvam is the principal consultant of Arunachala Research & Consultancy Sdn Bhd, a think tank specialising in strategic national and geopolitical matters. The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia. Main image: Malaysian Hockey Confederation
