{
  "id": 1394771,
  "title": "Hope after heart problems: Munirah keeps on rowing",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/hope-after-heart-problems-munirah-keeps-on-rowing",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-17T01:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2026/08/17/hope-after-heart-problems-munirah-keeps-on-rowing"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Retired academic Sharifah Munirah Alatas discovered indoor rowing, or erging, and fell in love with it. Despite being 61 years old, she began competing and setting records. At the 2024 Asian Rowing Indoor Championships, she won gold in both the 500m and 2,000m categories. At the virtual World Rowing Indoor Championships in February, she placed fifth among women aged 60-64 and 109th overall. However, early last year, Munirah faced a devastating setback when she encountered heart problems. She initially dismissed it as fatigue, but it worsened, leading to her admission to the National Heart Institute. Her doctor advised her to avoid exertion for a while, causing fear to consume her. Shaken, Munirah spent months feeling lonely and uncertain about her future. She gradually realized that her worries should not dictate her life. She began walking regularly, staying hydrated, getting adequate sleep, and adjusting her diet. She also overhauled her exercise routine with the help of her coach, Shahrol Mat Saad, a former competitive rower. Her rigorous training now includes climbing the 272 steps of Batu Caves, which she completes five times per session, hoping to increase this number. Munirah is now a member of the international RowAlong team and is 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 was invited to join the executive committee of the Negeri Sembilan Rowing Association, where she has tried on-water training and completed the 272 steps of Batu Caves. Her latest victory was in the Negeri Sembilan Indoor Rowing Championships, marking her first win since overcoming her health setback. Munirah aspires to continue on-water rowing training and potentially join an Open or Masters national team. Her biggest challenge now lies in the World Rowing Indoor Championships in December, where she will compete against the best in the world. Despite the difficulty, she is determined to work hard and succeed. She hopes to inspire other seniors to take up indoor rowing, acknowledging its numerous benefits for both physical and mental well-being.",
  "summary": "Rethinking her lifestyle after a health setback, retired academic Sharifah Munirah Alatas has decided to beat her fears and return to the sport she loves.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}