Semret, a two-time SEA Games gold medallist – at the 1985 games in Bangkok and 1989 games in Kuala Lumpur – died in his home in the presence of family members.

He leaves his wife and four children.

His son, Amarraj Singh, told FMT: “At the moment, we do not know the cause of death but it was sudden.”

He said the family is lodging a report and arranging for a post-mortem examination.

Amarraj said once his father’s body is returned to the family, they would make arrangements for relatives, friends and members of the public to pay their last respects at the crematorium.

Semret, whose father Ghenda Singh was also a national hammer thrower, set a Malaysian record with a throw of 50.5m at the 1981 Australian Spring Championship in Perth.