U. K. Shyam

Umaglia Kancanangai Shyam Dhuleep, (born 1 July 1976) commonly known as U. K. Shyam, is a retired Singaporean track and field athlete and former national 100m record holder of Singapore.

U. K. Shyam
Personal information
Full nameUmaglia Kancanangai Shyam Dhuleep
Born (1976-07-01) 1 July 1976
Years active1992 - 2005
Sport
SportTrack and field
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  Singapore
Southeast Asian Games
Silver medal – second place2001 Kuala Lumpur100 m
Silver medal – second place2003 Vietnam4x100 m relay
Bronze medal – third place1997 Jakarta4x100 m relay
Bronze medal – third place2005 Manila4x100 m relay

He attended St. Andrew's Secondary School and Raffles Junior College, and went on to do a double degree in Philosophy and Political Science at the National University of Singapore.

He held the Singaporean national record over the 100m with a timing of 10.37s for 22 years.[1][2] He broke the 33-year-old record of 10.38s (set by C. Kunalan) at the World University Games in Beijing in 2001.[3] He equalled his own national record soon after at the 2001 Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur.[3][4]

Athletics career

Shyam joined the national track and field team in 1992.[5]

At the 1997 Southeast Asian Games, Shyam won the bronze medal in the 4×100 metres relay.[6]

In 2000, he quit the national team after a dispute over his education funding but rejoined the team in 2001. He went on to win the Hong Kong Open with 10.45s and qualified for the 2001 Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur. He clinched the silver medal in the 100m race with 10.37s, equalling the national record he created earlier in the year.

In 2003, Shyam took part in the 2003 Southeast Asian Games and won the silver medal in the 4×100 metres relay with Lin Jingze, Hamkah Afik and Poh Seng Song.[6]

At the 2005 Southeast Asian Games, Shyam won the bronze medal in the 4×100 metres relay.[6]

He retired from athletics in 2005.[5]

Post athletics career

After retirement from sprinting, Shyam went on to teach philosophy at a junior college.[5] He subsequently became an English teacher at Raffles Institution.

In 2018, Shyam released a book, written by former national sprinter Kenneth Khoo, Running On Empty: The Story Behind 0.01s, detailing his athletics career.[7] Shyam and Khoo donated their royalties from the book to the Chiam See Tong Sports Fund.[7]

Personal life

Shyam is married to Chia Hui Ping.[8]

Achievements
  • Obtained IAAF world ranking in Men's 100m in 2001
  • Qualified for Athens Olympics 2004 – B qualifier
  • Ranked 2nd in Southeast Asia for the 100m Men's Sprint event in 2001
  • Asian Games 2002 (Korea, Busan) 100m Men's sprint event Semi-finalist
  • 23rd SEA Games (Manila, 2005) – 100m Men's sprint event Finalist
  • 1st athlete to be placed on Singapore Sports Council's inaugural Athlete Career Training Programme (ACT Scheme) Programme was launched and conferred by then Deputy Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong.
  • Ranked 1st in Singapore for the 100m Men's Sprint event from 2001 to 2003
  • Singapore Sports Council Awards Meritorious Award winner (Senior) 2001
  • Individual Award Recipient for Sporting Singapore Inspiration Awards 2006.
  • Winner of the Public Sports Medal 2011
  • Holland Village Celebrity Silver Medal Winner 2011 "Poser Fun Award Category"
  • Singapore 100m record holder

Ambassadorships and scholarships
  • Recipient of International Olympic Council (IOC) Olympic Solidarity Fund Scholarship 2002
  • Tag Heuer Ambassador for Singapore (2001–2003)
  • NIKE Ambassador for Singapore (1994, 1995, 2001 – present)
  • Anti-Smoking Campaign Ambassador for Singapore (2002)
  • One of the Ambassadors for Singapore Sports School

Bibliography
  • Shyam, U. K.; Khoo, Kenneth (2018). Running on Empty: The Story Behind 0.01s. Ethos Books. ISBN 978-981-11-7001-0.

References
  1. "Singapore National Records As of November 2011" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  2. "Singapore sprinter Marc Brian Louis smashes UK Shyam's 22-year 100m national record at Asian Games". CNA. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  3. "How world's fastest Singaporean stays in shape into his 40s: UK Shyam talks about diet and the importance of strength training". sg.news.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on 27 October 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  4. "Thai athletes dominate". Archived from the original on 3 August 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  5. Kasim, Ali (21 February 2015). "SEA Games silver medallist Shyam can't get sprinting out of his blood". The New Paper. Archived from the original on 3 August 2022. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  6. "SEA Games Singapore medal tally history" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  7. Aziz, Sazali Abdul (15 September 2018). "Athletics: Former Singapore sprinter U. K. Shyam launches book of his journey to 100m record". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  8. Pung, Neo Yee (9 April 2020). "National athletes step up to get tech help for kids during circuit breaker period". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Archived from the original on 18 October 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
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