6 days ago
Malaysia's Turbo Grandpa dies at 95
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's oldest sprinter Pushpanathan Letchmanan, known as Turbo Grandpa, has died at the age of 95.
He passed away on Wednesday at Ipoh General Hospital after falling at home. Pushpanathan leaves behind a wife, daughter and two grandchildren.
Pushpanathan was a legend who ran in his 90s and even outran younger athletes.
Representing Perak, Pushpanathan wasn't chasing trophies, he was chasing purpose.
Pushpanathan was an English teacher from SM Raja Chulan in Ipoh who took up athletics late in his life. He made his debut at the Malaysian Open Masters in 2018.
He clocked 32.4 seconds in the 100m at the age of 93 to finish fourth in a category for men aged 75 and above. He was the only nonagenarian runner in the event.
In 2023, Pushpanathan won the 100m gold in 28.74s ahead of India's Kirpal Singh (45.78s) in the 90-94 age group at the Malaysian International Open Masters in Kuala Lumpur. In the same meeting, he ran the 200m in 88.8s to finish second.
Pushpanathan co-founded Swifts Athletics Club in Ipoh with Suppiah Ramalingam, helping to shape athletes like track queen M Rajamani.
He also served for over 60 years as a technical officer at national and international meets, including the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur.
The funeral ceremony for Pushpanathan will be held today at Six Pearls Funeral Parlour, Jalan Madras, Ipoh, followed by cremation at Buntong Crematorium.
