This followed speedy action by the youth and sports ministry to reopen the 200m tartan track at Perak’s department of youth and sports complex to the public.
The three-lane track had been closed for renovations at the complex.
Last Saturday, the ministry’s secretary-general, Jana Santhiran Muniyan, gave the go-ahead to open the course after assessing safety measures at the facility.
Jana said the track, which will be opened daily between 7am and 10.30am and 4.30pm-6.30pm, was not just for club athletes but for use by everyone.
A jumping pit for long jump and triple jump will be built later.
“We will continue to work with the stakeholders to develop activities that support local clubs and athletes, and promote health and wellbeing for all,” he said.
Jana’s visit to the complex followed an appeal by Panthers to use the facilities and an FMT report in June on the absence of proper running courses for athletes.
It was reported that running clubs were not allowed to utilise the track at the Perak stadium for training even when it was not in use.
Athletes also risked injury by running on rugged grounds at the Polo Ground and Ipoh Padang while the facilities at sports schools were out of bounds to clubs.
An elated Panthers chief coach, K Jayabalan, said the track was a boost to his trainees, especially to the six athletes, including a girl, who will represent Perak in the Kuala Lumpur Sukma Games in September.
Jayabalan said the six athletes were potential medal winners in the 400m, 4×400 men’s relay and 5000m and that they were grateful to the ministry for allowing them to train at the complex.
He said current coaches S Manogaran, Josephine Mary, Kalai Selvam and M Latchumanan were also highly motivated to develop more national athletes.
He thanked youth and sports minister Ahmad Faizal Azumu for his confidence in Panthers being a steady conveyor belt that kept rolling out future stars.
Faizal had in March provided financial assistance of RM50,000 to the 44-year-old grassroots club that has shaped many top athletes, including Olympians.
The club has 139 members, 55 of whom are aged between 12 and 16, with Jayabalan as its president since 1980.