Coaches too, face mental pressure

When it comes to sports medicine in Malaysia, one name stands out – Datuk Dr Ramlan Abd Aziz, a physician often described as a reformer and visionary leader.

Dr Ramlan has spent over three decades caring for generations of Malaysian athletes, accompanying them through six Olympic Games – Barcelona, Spain (1992); Atlanta, United States (1996); Sydney, Australia (2000); Athens, Greece (2004); Beijing, China (2008); and London, Britain (2012).

His dedication has not only elevated Malaysia’s sporting standards but also ensured that athletes’ wellbeing remains at the heart of performance.

Having shaped Malaysia’s approach to sport and sports science, Dr Ramlan will now share his expertise at the Mental Fitness Sports Conference 2025, which brings together experts in sports medicine, psychology, and coaching.

Themed ‘Championing Resilience: Stronger Minds, Stronger Athletes, Stronger Futures’, the conference will take place from Nov 21 to 22 at Bayview Hotel Georgetown, Penang, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s sports and wellness landscape.

“I have been involved in sports as a medical doctor and administrator. This event allows me to give something back to the community,” said Dr Ramlan, a former director general of the National Sports Council and chief executive officer of the National Sports Institute.

“Being an athlete is an intense and demanding experience. Mental strength plays a crucial role.

“Athletes need to be able, in the heat of the moment, to analyse their situation and come up with solutions on their own.”

An estimated 35 per cent of elite athletes face mental health concerns, with burnout, depression, and anxiety among the top issues affecting their wellbeing and performance. Another study found that only 22 per cent of athletes seek help for mental health – a reflection of the stigma and silence that still surround the topic.

The Mental Fitness Sports Conference aims to tackle this growing concern.

Dr Ramlan’s much-anticipated session, titled ‘Mental Strength for Optimum Performance: Making It Work’, will offer a frank and insightful exploration of mental resilience, accountability, and the psychology behind consistent excellence – drawing on his decades of experience guiding athletes at the highest levels of competition.

“I will share my experience of attending six Olympic Games and numerous other multi-sport events, and how athletes overcame their fears,” said Dr Ramlan, a member of the World Anti-Doping Agency Foundation Board and a pioneer of Malaysia’s anti-doping movement.

“Mental strength is also about finding the will to recover from injuries.

“While we often talk about athletes being under pressure, coaches too have their own challenges.”

As a member of the Road to Gold steering committee – a programme aimed at helping Malaysia win its first Olympic gold medal – Dr Ramlan said the Mental Fitness Sports Conference comes at the right time.

This year’s SEA Games in Thailand are just over a month away, while next year will see several major events, including the Malaysia Games (Sukma), Asian and Commonwealth Games, the 2027 SEA Games hosted by Malaysia, and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

The two-day conference will feature keynotes, expert panels, and a hands-on mental fitness clinic for athletes, offering evidence-based tools such as mindfulness, visualisation, and emotional regulation techniques to promote sustainable performance and wellbeing.

Among the distinguished speakers joining Dr Ramlan are Mike Way, head coach of squash at Harvard University; Bharati Suresh Chand, consultant pharmacist and certified mental health trainer; Dr Mahesh Appannan, director of the Digital Health Division at Malaysia’s Health Ministry; and Dr Rebecca Wong, who holds a PhD in Sports Psychology, an MSc in Sport Science, and a BSc in Nutrition and Community Health.

Other speakers include Emily Chai, head of training, education and advocacy for Southeast Asia (Blackmores Malaysia); Datuk Dr Jignyasu Prafulla Joshi, psychosocial health and organisational behaviour expert; and Sunil Prasad Eyamo, senior head coach at ActiveSG in Singapore and a former Malaysian hockey player.

The event is organised by Global Edge Pharma and Global Edge Consultancy, in partnership with the Penang Sports Council and supported by the Penang government.