KUALA LUMPUR: Times have changed significantly, but to former national track cyclist Rosman Alwi, the memories of representing the country in international sporting events will forever be cherished.
The son of the late national cycling coach, Alwi Ahmad, Rosman is no longer involved in the cycling world due to his commitment to his family.
He is looking after his mother, who is suffering from stage four bladder cancer. Although he is no longer involved in cycling , Rosman said his camaraderie with fellow athletes remains strong, especially among his students and other athlete friends.
Reflecting on memories during the month of Ramadan, the former cyclist who had competed in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games said he once fasted alone in Germany.
"I was sent by the National Sports Council to Germany in 1982 and 1983 for the preparation of the LA Olympics. I spent a month in Germany, including fasting and celebrating Aidilfitri there.
"When you are alone in a foreign country, you will inevitably feel a sense of loneliness. It's lonely."
However, Rosman said the memories of fasting and celebrating Aidilfitri were not bitter but rather very sweet.
He said among the unforgettable moments was when he served as a coach and lived in Australia with elite cyclists such as Rizal Tisin, Fairoz Izni, Junaidi Nasir and several others.
"I was the first group sent to Australia before John Beasley became the coach. When there are many of us, the atmosphere is a bit different than being all alone.
"I remember my time in Australia. It was during Aidilfitri. We created the festive atmosphere, helped each other, and I cooked rendang. Some made ketupat, yellow rice, and so on.
"At night, we performed takbir. On Eid morning, we invited our Australian neighbours to come to our house. They really enjoyed it because it was a different atmosphere," said Rosman, who was given the nickname 'The Turtle Head.'
Rosman admitted that he was happy to have experienced it all, despite the sacrifices he had to make by leaving his family behind.
He said that, at the age of 62, it was his duty to take care of his sick mother.
He said after losing his four siblings, much of his time is now spent with his mother.
This year is no exception for Rosman, and it will be a simple do.
"I think about my children and my mother. My mother is already 80 years old, so it's important that I take good care of her," he said.
Once, Rosman's name was prominently featured on the international cycling scene.
However, he was embroiled in controversy when he faced a drug scandal following a failed urine screening test at the 1981 SEA Games in Manila. It then led to a two-year suspension.
Later, he returned to the international stage by winning a silver medal at the Asian Cycling Championships in Bangkok in 1983.
The peak of Rosman's career was in 1985 and 1987, when he won two gold medals and set two SEA Games records, thus redeeming himself from the disappointment of 1981.
At the age of 40, Rosman competed in his last SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur in 2001 before announcing his retirement from the sport he loved so much a year later.