At 81, Datuk Rajamani Mailvaganam, the woman once hailed as Malaysia’s “Asian Track Queen” still remembers her first Merdeka celebration in 1957 as vividly as if it were yesterday. At just 14 years old, clad in tattered slippers and simple home clothes, she stood with her family among the crowd at a Chinese school in Tapah, Perak, watching history unfold as Malaya embraced its independence.

From those humble beginnings, Rajamani blazed her way into the record books. In 1964, she made history as the first Malaysian female Olympian, representing the nation at the Tokyo Games. Just two years later, at the 1966 Asian Games in Bangkok, she became the first Malaysian woman to win gold in the 400 metres, forever cementing her name in the nation’s sporting legacy.

Her strength and determination were mind-blowing. At the 1965 SEAP Games in Kuala Lumpur, Rajamani swept four gold medals in the 200m, 400m, 800m, and the 4x100m relay. She would go on to dominate the Games with a total of seven gold medals throughout her career.

The nation recognised her greatness when she was named Malaysia’s first-ever Sportswoman of the Year in 1966, and again in 1967, the latter honour personally presented by none other than Tunku Abdul Rahman, the man whose cry of “Merdeka!” had stirred the nation’s soul. Rajamani recalls fondly the Tunku’s warmth, his personal efforts to attend athletic meets, and his thoughtful gesture of sending her flowers when she was hospitalised after being struck by lightning during training.






Though that tragic accident cut short her Olympic dreams in 1968, it never dimmed her spirit. Rajamani’s journey was not only about medals but also about resilience, gratitude, and love. Having lost her mother at just five years old, she credits her father as her greatest supporter. A man of modest means, he had a local cobbler craft her running spikes when he could not afford new shoes. “He was a beautiful person,” she recalls. “I achieved everything in sports because of him.”

Even after retiring from competition, Rajamani dedicated herself to uplifting Malaysian athletics, training and inspiring the next generation of athletes. Today, she continues to stay active with her daily walks, carrying the same discipline and strength that once made her the fastest woman in Asia.

Rajamani Mailvaganam’s story is one of humble beginnings, extraordinary achievements, not just to sport, but to her country. She remains a living reminder that with determination and heart, even the simplest beginnings can lead to greatness.

Source / Image Credit : FMT / forzameyya