At only 14 years old, wearing tattered slippers and home clothes, Rajamani joined her family at a nearby Chinese school in her hometown of Tapah to celebrate Malaya’s independence from British rule.
“We were asked to shout ‘Merdeka, Merdeka, Merdeka’ three times. I didn’t even know what Merdeka was then,” she candidly shared with FMT Lifestyle.
But over the years, Merdeka became more than just a historical event for this multi-gold medallist—it became deeply personal. So much so that whenever this grandmother of four hears the “Negaraku,” she tears up.
“Automatically, tears flow down from my eyes because I value the freedom we have,” she said. “Would we be having the freedom we have today? Would we be living in luxurious homes? With cars and all the facilities we have?” Rajamani mused about how far the country had come since Merdeka.
When training as a national runner, she said she would always stop as a sign of respect when she heard the national anthem being played. “If I have to repeat the run, I will, but I will abide by the rules.”
Rajamani made history as the first Malaysian female Olympian at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and the first Malaysian woman to win a gold medal for the 400 metres at the 1966 Asian Games in Bangkok.
“Within six months, I qualified for the Tokyo Olympics,” she said, crediting her success to Perak track master Suppiah Ramalingam.
Her dedication and contributions to our nation’s sports scene earned her the National Sportswoman award in 1966, a first for a female athlete, and again in 1967 when she received the honour from the very man whose cry of ‘Merdeka!’ still echoes across the nation today, the late Tunku Abdul Rahman himself.
“He was a very nice person,” Rajamani said fondly of the country’s first prime minister. “He even made an attempt to come for one of the Malaysian Athletic Union runs in Alor Setar, mainly to see me and Jegathesan run.”
Rajamani and Tunku nearly crossed paths again when she was hospitalised after being struck by lightning during training. Initially placed in a Grade 3 ward, she was moved to a Grade 1 ward when it was confirmed that the Tunku would visit her.
Although the accident ended her 1968 Olympic dreams, she still remembers the bouquet of flowers the Tunku, ever the gentleman, sent her when he couldn’t make the visit.
Rajamani went on to dominate the Southeast Asian Peninsular (SEAP) Games, winning seven gold medals.
Her success on the track is rooted in her childhood, in which her father played a pivotal role. After losing her mother at age five, he became both her protector and motivator, making sure she pursued her passion for running. He even had a local cobbler make her a pair of spikes as he could not afford to buy her a new pair of shoes.
“He was a beautiful person. To get a father like him, I was blessed. He was a marvellous father. I achieved everything in sports because of him,” said Rajamani, who still keeps fit with daily hour-long walks.
Beyond uplifting the name of a nascent nation at the world stage with her athletic prowess, Rajamani played a significant role in training future Malaysian sports stars.
These include former national sportswoman Marina Chin, and three badminton players – Razif and Jalani Sidek, who clinched the 1992 Thomas Cup, and a teenage Lee Chong Wei, who still calls her “coach” whenever they meet.
“I am very satisfied with what I did. I did my best. You do not only contribute to those at the top. If we don’t develop the grassroots, they will not reach the top,” she pointed out.
“I was, and still am, prepared to give my life for the country. I love Malaysia,” Rajamani said.
The support she has received from fellow Malaysians has made her sporting career even more rewarding, she said, adding that unity and mutual respect were the true essence of the Merdeka spirit.
“Irrespective of race, or religion, we all should live as Malaysians. I am for you, you are for me. That is the biggest dream I have. Irrespective of whether you are a drain sweeper or a minister, we are all human. Let us live as one.”