This work is originally published by Cahya Mata Sarawak. DayakDaily has been given permission to share this story on our platforms.
By Martin Yee, Kenny Ee, and Marlynda Meraw
ASone of the first women from Sarawak to compete on an international stage, Kueh Swee Hong, or Noraini Abdullah as she is now known, paved the way for future generations of female athletes. She holds a unique place in Sarawak’s sports history by participating in the Asian Games of 1962, the premier athletic event of the continent alongside long jump and sprinting champion, Chen Li Na.
Their shared achievements in the Asian and Southeast Asian Peninsular (SEAP) Games mark the early foundations of women’s athletics in Sarawak, where Noraini established herself as a key figure in the 80m hurdles and relay events. This was during a time when women’s sport was still finding its footing, yet she flourished, lighting a path for those who would come after her.
Born in 1943, during the Japanese occupation of Sarawak, Noraini’s early years were shaped by a time of hardship. She attended Chung Hua Primary School No 3 and later moved to Chung Hua Middle School No 3 for her secondary education, where her athletic journey truly began. Her potential was first spotted by her dedicated school coach, Mr Lee Part, who noticed her speed and encouraged her to take up sprinting.
Initially more inclined towards basketball and softball, Noraini eventually embraced athletics, a path that would lead her to greater heights.
“Mr Lee saw something in me,” she recalled with a soft smile, “He pushed me to run.” And run she did. Her first significant victory came in 1953, when she won the 220-yard race in Kuching, clocking 28.5 seconds. Two years later, she would claim the 100-yard title in 13.4 seconds.
Her journey to the top was not without competition, especially from her teammate Li Na, a formidable sprinter herself. But it was the hurdles where Noraini truly shone, dominating the 80m hurdles at the Sarawak Amateurs Athletics Association (AAA) Championships in 1962 and 1963. She became a national sensation, representing Sarawak at the prestigious Borneo Games and eventually the Asian Games, the crowning jewel of her career.
However, her career was short-lived. After competing in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in 1965, Noraini retired from competitive sports to focus on her studies. It was during one of the athletic meets that she met her future husband, Saidi Ramli, known fondly as “Jejeng,” a fellow sportsman involved in boxing, weightlifting, and golf. They married in 1970, and since then, Noraini has lived a quieter life.
Looking back, Noraini remembered those days with a fondness and a hint of nostalgia.
“Taking part in sports was the happiest time of my life,” she said as her eyes lit up at the memory. “I had the chance to see the world, meet incredible people.”
But the years have faded her name from the limelight. Currently in her retirement years, she tends to her flower garden while reflecting on the passage of time, aware that her story, like many others from her generation, is largely forgotten. “Now, I am forgotten,” she says, her voice with a hint of sorrow.
Yet, Noraini’s legacy is far from lost. Her courage, determination, and groundbreaking achievements as one of Sarawak’s first female athletes to compete on an international stage remain, though perhaps unsung, were an essential part of Sarawak’s sporting history. Her story is a testament to the trail she blazed for women athletes to follow, a story that deserves to be remembered and cherished. –DayakDaily
