Missing loved ones to strive for nation a worthwhile experience: Ma Hussein

KUALA LUMPUR: Powerlifter Ma Hussein Mat Noh, a widower with two sons, had to leave his loved ones behind in Kelantan, to undergo centralised training in Kuala Lumpur as part of his preparations to represent the country in the 9th Asean Para Games (APG).
However, his sacrifice bore fruits when he managed to win a silver medal in the men’s powerlifting M80 category with a lift of 135kg, behind gold medal winner Kampa Pongtao from Thailand who managed 165kg.
The powerlifter from Bachok, Kelantan, who has a motorcycle mechanic shop back home, had to leave his eldest son Mohd Nasrullah,12, and younger son Mohd Saifullah with his brother to undergo full-time training at the Kampung Pandan Paralympic Sports Complex.
"I missed my children and they missed me too. Initially I was travelling from Bachok three times a week to attend training but once I was absorbed into the squad for full-time training, I first stayed and trained at the National Sports Council in Bukit Jalil before moving to Kampung Pandan. Everyday I will call my sons after training because they miss me dearly,” said Ma Hussein, 37, who first represented the country at the 2014 APG hosted by Myanmar.
Meanwhile, his eldest son Mohd Nasrullah who recently sat for his Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) told Bernama that though they missed their father, they knew what their father had to do as part of his training.
"I and my brother missed my father... but my father calls us everyday without fail and normally advises us to study hard," he said after arriving from Kelantan yesterday.
Ma Hussein who had lifted 135kg easily, had opted to lift 166kg which would have given him the gold, but the attempt failed and he had to settle for the silver.
“I had just recovered from an injury and opted to lift a lighter weight in the beginning, but when I tried 166kg and failed, the gold medal hopes evaporated,” said the mechanic whose next assignment will be the World Championships in Mexico City from Sept 30 to Oct 6. — Bernama