Hope after heart problems: Munirah keeps on rowing

Retired academic Sharifah Munirah Alatas discovered indoor rowing and fell in love with it. Despite being 61 years old, she started competing and setting records. She won gold in the 500m and 2,000m categories at multiple championships. In February 2023, she placed fifth among women aged 60-64 globally at the World Rowing Indoor Championships.

However, Munirah faced a significant setback when she developed heart problems last year. Initially dismissing it as fatigue, her condition worsened, forcing her to be admitted to the National Heart Institute. Doctors advised her to rest for a while, but the fear of a recurrence loomed over her. She spent months feeling lonely and uncertain, fearing the sport she once cherished could now pose a risk.

Undeterred, Munirah altered her lifestyle, making regular walks, staying hydrated, getting adequate sleep, and changing her diet to manage her cholesterol levels. She continued rowing under Shahrol Mat Saad, a former competitive rower now coaching with the Malaysian Rowing Association. Her rigorous training, including climbing the 272 steps of Batu Caves multiple times, helped her regain her strength.

Munirah is now part of the international RowAlong team and sponsored by Allianz Malaysia. She is currently ranked No. 1 in the world in the 60-64 age category for the 2000m indoor rowing category. Recently, she joined the executive committee of the Negeri Sembilan Rowing Association and participated in on-water training. Despite the challenges, Munirah aims to continue her on-water rowing training and potentially join an Open or Masters national team.

She is set to face her biggest test at the World Rowing Indoor Championships in December, competing against the best in the world. Munirah hopes her journey will inspire more people her age to take up indoor rowing, benefiting from its numerous advantages.