CURRENT AND FORMER NATIONAL ATHLETES RECEIVE DEEPAVALI DONATIONS

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 31 (Bernama) -- The National Sports Council (NSC), together with the National Athletes Welfare Foundation (YAKEB) and Fraser & Neave Holdings Berhad (F&N), has extended donations to current and former national athletes in the Klang Valley and Penang in conjunction with the Deepavali celebrations.

Among the recipients were three former national athletes - former wheelchair racer M. Balle, V. David (para table tennis) and former track and field athlete Saravanan Govindasamy, who now resides in Penang.

At the same time, this collaborative programme also extended contributions to current athletes, namely karate exponent Geerijaieswaran Pillai Sivanesan, R. Vikneswaran (boccia) and bodybuilder L. Palavendiran.

"I am grateful and hope that visits like this can help ease our burden when celebrating festivals," Saravanan said in a statement today.

Meanwhile, Balle said: "Thanks to NSC and 100PLUS for easing our burden, allowing us to return to our hometowns and celebrate Deepavali with family members."

YAKEB chairman Datuk Noorul Ariffin Abdul Majeed said the foundation welcomes private companies to assist current and former athletes who are facing financial burdens, as they have fought in the name of Malaysia.

Representing F&N, event management and sponsorship manager Muhd Fauzi Ahmad said the company consistently collaborates with NSC and YAKEB to provide donations to alleviate the burdens of current and former national athletes who have sacrificed greatly for the country.

-- BERNAMA