The apology came in a humble Facebook post following his induction into the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) Hall of Fame.

Kok Chi, then an honorary member of the OCM, said: ““Frankly, I am embarrassed because there are many more deserving athletes and medal-winning teams who should have been inducted.

“I volunteered to serve OCM and the athletes and, if the sports people think I have done well, I was only doing my duty to the best of my ability and as such do not deserve anything else.

“On the other hand, the athletes were selected by OCM and, when they didn’t do well, they were criticised; but when they did well, they were sometimes forgotten.”

He cited the bronze medal-winning national women’s hockey team at the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi as a good example of forgotten heroes.

The team, he noted, remained the only Malaysia women’s hockey team to have won an Asian Games medal.

“During my tenure as honorary secretary of OCM, I missed recommending them to be inducted into the hall of fame, for which I offer my sincere apologies. I hope they will be recognised and inducted in 2020.

Kok Chi, who was OCM secretary-general between 2013 and 2015 after serving as honorary secretary for 21 years from 1992, died two years ago.

Last week, the squad, captained by goalkeeper Mary Soo, and regarded as Malaysia’s finest, took their long-overdue place in the hall of fame.

On the stage during the ceremony on Dec 11 were Soo, vice-captain Maheswari Kanniah, Mary Lim, Teh Siew Bee, Elizabeth Gomez, Annie Yew, Rawiyah Rawi, Halimathon Yaacob, Norizan Abd Majid, Noorlaila Senawi, Yuen Lai Heng and Lum Sau Foong.

Some of them had not seen one another for over 30 years.

Absent were Asma Amin and Christina Chin, while those who had passed away were Daphne Boudville and Goh Joo Phaik, coaches Lawrence van Huizen, Peter van Huizen and William Fidelis, and team manager Teh Gin Sooi.

Despite the challenges they faced during a period where women’s sports had limited visibility and resources, the squad laid the groundwork for future players, breaking barriers for women’s participation in hockey at international level.

OCM president Norza Zakaria said: “They inspired a new generation of hockey players, showcased the potential and talent of Malaysian women on the continental platform, and did the country proud.

“Their journey to the Asian Games in 1982 was a story of determination and unity and this induction ensures their legacy will live on.

Maheswari said: “To be inducted into the hall of fame after 42 years is an emotional and proud moment for all of us.

“It was never just about winning; it was about paving the way for the next generation.”

Gritty girls

Most of the players in the team were in their early 20s, with one at 19, the oldest being 41-year-old Boudville.

Training was centralised in only three stages of two weeks each before tournaments, with just one international outing before the Asiad.

The team also drew strength from the encouragement of the late Sultan Ahmad Shah, who, along with his royal hockey team, served as sparring partners during their training sessions.

Despite minimal preparation and elite competition, their commitment and resolve were never in question.

Maheswari said the pivotal period was between the 1981 Asia Cup, where Malaysia secured a bronze medal with 11 fresh faces, and their growth as a team with 12 new players at the 1982 Asian Games.

She said the transition was not just about filling the shoes of the retired seniors.

“It was about proving the worth of the investment in juniors and stepping up to uphold the legacy of Malaysian sports.”

Maheswari said their mission was supported by the steadfast leadership of the late Zainon Hussain, then president of Malaysian Women’s Hockey, and Dorothy Bailey, the secretary.

“Pride and patriotism drove us. Wearing the national colours gave us the strength to push boundaries and give everything we had.

“This was not just a test of skill but of resilience, unity, and belief,” said Maheswari, who is now Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad’s group chief regulatory and compliance officer.

She recalled Malaysia beating South Korea for the first time at the Asia Cup in Kyoto, Japan, one year before the Asian Games.

Maheswari said the match was suspended after the first half, with Malaysia leading 2-0, following an incident involving Korean players being beaten with a hockey stick by their coach.

Malaysia finished third, missing the silver on goal difference to Japan, and Maheswari kept looking around going: “What have we done? We are here to stay.”

Call that electric performance a dress rehearsal.

Months later at New Delhi where women’s hockey was making its debut in the Asian Games, the women were fearless.

In the round-robin format, they recorded wins over Japan ( 2-1), Hong Kong (3-0), Singapore (1-0), drew 1-1 with South Korea and lost 4-0 to India.

Malaysia again missed out on the silver which the Koreans snatched on goal difference.

Maheswari, a left half, said: “Each encounter was not just a game; it was a testament to our hard work and purpose.

“We played for each other and our beloved country with relentless grit.”

Driven by a shared dream

“From the very start, our strength lay in our unity. We trained not just as individuals but as a single entity, always pushing each other to improve.

“We believed in the collective goal above all else, and that belief transformed us into a formidable team,” said Maheswari.

Gomez, a forward, said: “We were one big family, fuelled by a shared dream to represent our country with pride and to push each other beyond our limits.

“The commitment we had to one another and our collective resilience were key.”

Lai Heng said she was grateful for the sisterhood and friendship the players had formed among themselves.

“We set aside our individual aspirations and embraced a unified goal, showcasing that greatness can stem from the most unexpected beginnings.”

For Siew Bee, her hockey adventure was not about monetary reward.

“It was simply for the love of the game. What kept us going was the camaraderie, the coaches, the management. Everyone stayed as a team.”

New Delhi was Siew Bee’s second Asian Games. In 1966 at Bangkok, she represented Malaysia in athletics.

The other double internationals in hockey and athletics are Maheswari, G Shanti and P Savithri, while Boudville represented the country in hockey, athletics and football.

Friendship and teamwork were also central to Malaysia’s fine performances, said Norizan.

“At the induction ceremony, we picked up right where we left off — laughing, reminiscing, and caring for one another just as we did on the field.”

Centre-forward Mary Lim thanked Maheswari for pushing the case of the team to the OCM to get inducted into the hall of fame.

“Meeting again as a team after more than 30 years has reminded us of the unbreakable bond we share,” she said.

Lim scored a hattrick in the 3-0 win over Hong Kong and scored one goal in the 2-1 defeat of Japan.

While big, loud, heart-rending and back-arching sobs followed the women’s swaggering run at the Asian Games 42 years ago, the sisterhood, forged through blood, sweat and tears, is also another of their legacy.