Kuda Ditta

Bala Ditta (born Kuda Ditta, 4 February 1937 – 17 June 2003) is a Malaysian athlete who competed for Malaysia at the 1964 Summer Olympics. He has also represented the then Crown Colony of Sarawak at the Commonwealth and Asian Games.

Kuda Ditta
Personal information
Full nameBala Ditta
Nickname(s)Kuda
NationalityMalaysian
Born(1937-02-04)4 February 1937[1]
Bario, Miri, Kingdom of Sarawak (now Malaysia)
Died17 June 2003(2003-06-17) (aged 66)
Miri, Malaysia[2]
Sport
Country Sarawak (c. 1962)
 Malaysia
SportAthletics
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  Malaysia
Southeast Asian Peninsular Games
Silver medal – second place1973 SingaporeMen's 110 m
Bronze medal – third place1971 Kuala LumpurMen's 110 m

Career

Kuda was selected to compete for the then British Crown Colony of Sarawak at the 1962 Commonwealth Games in Perth, Western Australia. He also competed for Sarawak at the 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia where he qualified for the semifinals of his event.[3]

He became the first Malaysian from Sarawak to participate in the Summer Olympics, competing at the 1964 edition.[2]

Kuda won the a bronze at the 1971 Southeast Asian Peninsular Games and a silver at the 1973 edition of the Games. Both medals were won at the 110 meter event.[3]

Later life

After his retirement from competitive sports, Kuda served with the Police Field Force and coached recruits. He retired in December 1988 from the police.

Death

He died due to stomach cancer at his residence in Padang Kerbau in Miri, Sarawak in 17 June 2003.[2]

Personal life

Kuda is an Evangelical Christian from the Bario town in Sarawak.[3] He was married to Ubung Taie Riwat with whom he had five children. Kuda changed his name to Bala Ditta following the birth of his first child.[2]

References
  1. "Kuda Ditta". SR/Olympic Sports. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  2. "Sarawak's first Olympian Ditta dies of cancer". The Star Online. 19 June 2003. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  3. Ritchie, James (3 October 2016). "S'wak's forgotten Olympian". New Sarawak Tribune. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
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