G. Saravanan, the celebrated Indian race walker who clinched the gold medal in the 50km walk at the 1998 Commonwealth Games and brought glory to the nation at multiple Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, is now facing one of the toughest battles of his life—against motor neurone disease (MND).
Once known for his endurance and determination on the track, Saravanan is now grappling with this rare and debilitating neurodegenerative disorder that gradually attacks the nerve cells responsible for controlling voluntary muscles. Affecting the brain and spinal cord, MND robs individuals of their ability to move, speak, and even breathe over time, while the mind remains painfully alert.
Motor neurone disease causes a gradual weakening of the muscles, eventually leading to a severe decline in physical abilities. Currently, there is no known cure for this devastating condition.
One of the most well-known cases in the region was that of football icon Mokhtar Dahari, who fought a three-year battle with MND before passing away in 1991 at the age of just 39.
G. Saravanan, now 55, received the life-altering diagnosis in 2021 while he was serving as a coach for young race walkers in Penang—a role he had embraced passionately after retiring from competitive athletics.
Saravanan decided to seek medical attention after he began noticing troubling symptoms—his speech became slurred, he struggled to swallow food, and he was tormented by frequent cramps in his right foot during the night.
The diagnosis that followed was devastating. Doctors informed him that his condition was terminal, and that his life expectancy was unlikely to exceed five years.
Saravanan has been swiftly stripped of his strength, movement, and speech. His muscles continue to deteriorate, his once powerful legs can no longer support him, and the strong, authoritative voice that once commanded attention has faded into a slur.
Back in 2020, Saravanan weighed a healthy 79 kilograms. Today, his weight has plummeted to just 53 kilograms. It’s a heartbreaking twist of fate for a man who was once the embodiment of endurance and discipline. But the physical toll is only part of the pain.
Emotionally, Saravanan is enduring an agonizing internal struggle, faced with the grim reality of a disease he knows cannot be defeated. Though once celebrated as a national hero, he now finds himself largely forgotten by the very system that once honored him—left without adequate support in his greatest time of need.
More than just sympathy and well wishes, Saravanan is in urgent need of public assistance to help cover the growing costs of his medical care—treatment, medication, therapy, and essential support services that are critical to his quality of life.
Saravanan’s wife, Sasikala, told FMT that after his diagnosis, doctors at Seberang Jaya Hospital informed the family that MND has no cure and a life expectancy of two to five years. He then sought homeopathy, allopathy, and Ayurveda treatments in Kerala, India, to slow the disease’s progression.
“We spent RM100,000 and ran out of money. Now, we’re struggling to continue his care locally. This is his fifth year with MND, and he needs regular physiotherapy to prevent further decline,” Sasikala said.
Saravanan believes his intense training may have increased his risk of developing the disease. Saravanan shared that during his peak years, he would walk more than 5,000 kilometers annually, at times covering up to 55 kilometers in a single day while training for competitions.
Remarkably, Saravanan’s national record in the 50km race walk has stood unbroken for 26 years. He also holds the distinction of being the only Malaysian athlete to win a gold medal in athletics at the Commonwealth Games.
In 2013, he donated his gold medal along with his race vest, shorts, and bib number 1499 to the Olympic Council of Malaysia’s sports museum. Saravanan began his race walking career in 1985 and retired at the age of 31. From 2001 to 2009, he coached junior race walkers in Perak, guiding them to win nine gold medals at the Malaysia Games (Sukma).
Saravanan’s 27-year-old son, Prasad, works as an information technology executive, while his daughters, Lavannea, 25, and Manishah, 19, are both still pursuing their studies.
A public fundraising effort is currently underway to help cover Saravanan’s mounting medical expenses. The limited assistance available through the National Athletes Welfare Foundation (Yakeb) falls far short of meeting the substantial costs of ongoing treatment, medication, and therapy required for a chronic illness like MND.
Prasad, now the family’s sole breadwinner, bears the heavy burden of supporting the household while coping with his father’s worsening condition. Sasikala, Saravanan’s wife, has left her job to care for him full-time.
To make a contribution, please transfer your donation to Saravanan’s wife, Sassikala Muniandy (Maybank account 1070 9526 7317), or to the Yayasan Pemerkasaan Pendidikan dan Kemahiran, Maybank Islamic account (5622 0962 7619) with the reference “Saravanan Aid.”
G. Saravanan’s journey from national hero to a man courageously battling a relentless disease is a stark reminder of how quickly life can change—even for those who once stood at the pinnacle of sporting achievement. His story is not just one of personal struggle, but also a call for compassion, support, and reform in how we care for our national athletes beyond their glory days.
As Saravanan fights to preserve his dignity and quality of life, he and his family are relying on the kindness of the public to carry them through this unimaginable ordeal.
Every contribution, no matter how small, can help ease the burden of his medical needs and offer hope in the face of overwhelming odds. Let us stand by a man who once walked for the pride of a nation—and now needs the nation to walk with him.
Source: Free Malaysia Today
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