Kawan Athletics, a homegrown inclusive athletics club, strives to nurture young sporting talents to develop both their athletic prowess as well as their personal growth.
As Malaysia is gearing up to revamp its coaching structure, Kawan Athletics joins this mission to encourage and train more people not only to put their fitness first but to also work on their general character and resilience.
Founded in 2018, Kawan Athletics has grown from a two-man running club to a family of over 100 members of all levels striving to reach their desired health and sporting goals.
The community platform is led by three coaches who create various programmes for the members, including basic motor skills training for early ages, basic running techniques, strength and fitness, and team-building exercises.
“At Kawan Athletics, we want to encourage more people to foster a healthier journey for themselves, including both improving their athletic prowess and life skills. With a lively community like ours, it makes each step easier as we all work out and run together towards our individual goals,” – Kwong Kar Jun, Head Coach and Founder of Kawan Athletics.
Some of Kawan Athletics’ notable members include 12-year-old running sensation from SJKC Kuen Cheng 1 Kuala Lumpur, Zoey Sim.
Through her experience with Kawan Athletics, she became the fifth fastest girl in Malaysia in 2023 and the Best Under-12 Female Athlete in the Majlis Sekolah Sukan Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur (MSSWPKL). Her performance contributed to her team’s gold medal achievement in the 4x200m at the Malaysia School Sports Council (MSSM).
Another member making Kawan Athletics proud is Wan Othman, who overcame a major setback in the progress of his athletic goals back in 2022 to win the gold medal in the 4x400m relay at MSSM alongside his team.
In addition, there is also Yong Zen Yi, who has struggled with hearing impairments since birth. However, this condition did not stop him from breaking the 200m record and being named the Best Under-12 Male Athlete at the MSSS Pendidikan Khas – reflecting Kawan Athletics’ inclusive mission and belief that true dedication can lead to greatness for everyone.
As part of their ongoing mission to focus on the holistic growth of young athletes, Kawan Athletics has also played a crucial role in collaborating with EIN Foundation to introduce EIN Foundation’s Emerging Talent Development Scholarship.
This three-year programme is designed to support athletes with scholarships valued at RM11,880 to cover training expenses as well as an annual RM600 cash allowance for each recipient for their training gear, physiotherapy sessions, and more.
Currently, two Kawan Athletes from SMK Damansara Jaya, Khanaghe Lohshini A/P Kumara Vadivaelan and Sean Hue Sher Heng (pictured below), have been awarded this scholarship.
Kawan Athletics continues to expand its horizons with the opening of a new centre at SS3, Petaling Jaya, as well as a collaboration with Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) to host a multilateral competition involving young athletes from 10 to 16 years of age. The event is scheduled to commence sometime in June/July 2024.
For more information about Kawan Athletics and their plans, visit https://www.kawanathletics.com/
