KUALA LUMPUR: Former national cyclist Ng Joo Pong, who represented Malaysia at two Olympic Games and won Asian Games gold, has died at the age of 80.
His death was confirmed by his younger brother, former national cyclist Datuk Ng Joo Ngan, on Wednesday.
Known as 'The King of the Road', Joo Pong made history by becoming Malaysia's first cycling representative at the Olympics when he competed at the 1964 Tokyo Games.
He returned to the Olympic stage four years later at the 1968 Mexico City Games, cementing his place among the pioneers of Malaysian cycling.
Joo Pong also won bronze at 1970 Asian Games, one of the highlights of a career that saw him represent the country at the highest level of international competition.
He retired after the 1970 Asian Games in Bangkok, where he and Joo Ngan both represented Malaysia.
Joo Pong had suffered a second stroke seven years ago. In April this year, he was admitted to Universiti Malaya Medical Centre after his blood pressure dropped dangerously low, placing him in the red zone.
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