It’s not everyday you meet an Olympian like Syed Abdul Kadir

In 1972 Syed Abdul Kadir became the first boxer from the country of Singapore to qualify for the Olympics.  An injury in Munich cost him a chance at a medal but between 1969 and 1976 he won several international medals, including gold in the South East Asian Peninsular Games. After retiring from competition he coached Singapore’s national boxing team to considerable success.

He received offers to turn professional but preferred representing his country.

Coaching
After retiring from competition he became coach of the national team and continued to serve on SABA’s management committee, including many years as secretary. In 1984 he stopped working full-time to devote more attention to the team, then left accounting altogether once the Sports Council started paying coaches.

The high point of his coaching career was 1985, when the national squad garnered several international medals including its first SEA gold in twelve years. That year he became the only boxing coach to be named Coach of the Year, making him the second person after bowler Henry Tan to receive the Sportsman and Coach of the Year honours.

Kadir has also qualified as a referee and  oversees matches around the world. Despite Singapore boxing’s decline, culminating in its de-affiliation by the SNOC, Kadir stayed committed to fostering new talent. In 2003 he departed as national coach to start his own school and coaches at St Andrew’s School. He was inducted into the Sports Councils Hall of Fame and in 1999 was named one of Singapore’s fifty greatest athletes of the twentieth century…it was a real honor to meet him at the last Martial Combat event.