Name: Nurul Humaira binti Kamarulzaman
Book Title: “Never, Ever Give Up”
Author: Foo Kok Keong
Publisher: VP Media Publishing
Publication Year: 2015
Book Language: English
Hardcover: 165 pages
Book Synopsis:
“It’s all or nothing. I started late, so age was certainly not on my side. Moreover, during my time, the Sidek brothers—both older and younger than me—were dominating Malaysia’s badminton scene from all angles. Add to that the daily challenges of making a living, and I had no choice but to overcome these difficulties and barriers.”
How did a dropout from the National Team make a remarkable comeback to become a world champion?
What drove this former World No 1 Singles Player to achieve greatness, defeating Indonesia’s Olympic Gold Medallist, Alan Budi, in straight sets to help Malaysia secure the coveted Thomas Cup in 1992?
What lessons can we learn from this living legend, who reached the pinnacle of success in an era when support and resources were far less abundant than they are today?
Comments:
“Never, Ever Give Up” is an exceptional book in which the author shares his personal experiences, passion, and unwavering determination to achieve his dreams. The honesty and depth with which he recounts his journey make this book both relatable and inspiring. This book is also filled with memorable quotes and reflections that stay with the reader long after they’ve finished reading. For instance, the emphasis on setting meaningful goals and breaking them into smaller, manageable steps is a practical takeaway for anyone striving for success.
What makes this book particularly interesting are the additional features, including newspaper clippings and a collection of personal photographs. These elements provide readers with a vivid insight into the author’s life as a professional badminton player, showcasing the challenges and triumphs that shaped his career.
In conclusion, this book teaches a valuable lesson: no matter what we choose to pursue in life, we must never give up. The road may be challenging, but with perseverance, resilience, and a clear sense of purpose, success is within reach. Setting meaningful goals and refusing to let obstacles or circumstances stand in your way is key to overcoming adversity. As the author beautifully shows, every cloud has a silver lining if you remain steadfast and determined.
I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking inspiration, whether in sports, career, or personal growth. It is a powerful reminder that with passion and hard work, “where there’s a will, there’s a way,” and even the toughest journeys can lead to great success.
Excerpts:
“My interest in badminton grew over time, partly due to a very supportive coach. One of the reasons I gained his support might have been my passion and the hard work I put into training. I seldom went home after school. Instead, I stayed and trained in a hall somewhere near Jalan Pekeliling, only returning home after completing the training sessions.” (Chapter 1: Those were the days, page 22).
“I was dropped from the team once due to poor performance. How did I make a comeback? I was forced to play at the state level at the age of 27 and 28, essentially being ‘exiled’ from the national team. At that age, I was considered ‘too old’ to be in the team. I competed in many state-level open challenges and won several of them. I fought hard, and with the support of my friends and family, I even bought air tickets on my own to participate in international open competitions.” (Chapter 2, The Journey, page 35).
“I firmly believed that achieving the best result was the most important thing. That was my life during that period. Playing badminton and honing my skills became my daily routine. What else should I do? FOCUS—follow one course until success. The more you practise, the better player you become.” (Chapter 2, The Journey, page 43).
“The whole of Malaysia celebrated as one nation when we won. We had finally won the most prestigious trophy in badminton after a long time. The euphoria was unbelievable. The players and officials stormed the court, crying uncontrollably.” (Chapter 3, The Peak – Thomas Cup Champion, page 124).
“While we may have many top players in other sports, such as squash, diving, wushu, cycling, and hockey, my opinion is that we are still performing best in badminton among all sports. We have the largest number of players, teams, world-class coaches, and resources to support this industry. We may have good golf players as well, but we still need to fight hard to reach the top in that sport.” (Chapter 6, Where is the Future (of Badminton Malaysia), page 153))
This book is available at the Perdana Library. If you are interested in reading or borrowing the book, please visit our Library in Putrajaya, or contact us at 03-8885 8961 (Library Counter).
