VETERAN singer Datuk Irwan Shah Abdullah, or better known as Datuk DJ Dave, will inject more excitement to the Asia Pacific Masters Games (APMG) 2018 badminton competition which begins tomorrow (Tuesday) at the Penang Badminton Association Hall in Bukit Dumbar.
His music fans can catch him in action in the 70 singles and doubles, beginning with the singles tomorrow at noon. His doubles partner is Foo Lai Hoon.
Switching to badminton after suffering a nose injury in a football match about 18 years ago, DJ Dave is hoping to make his mark in the racquet game.
“This is the first time I’m going to compete in the 70 age group and I hope to win a medal or two. Previously, I competed in the 65-69 age group,” said DJ Dave, who turned 70 on Valentine’s Day.
“Actually, age is no barrier to what one wants to achieve. I met a player from China who was 96 years old and he is an inspiration to me to continue playing badminton.”
In 2013, DJ Dave made a fairly successful international debut when he bagged two silvers in the singles and doubles of World Morning Cup Badminton Championships in Taipei.
In 2016, he went as far as the singles’ quarter-finals of the All England Open veteran’s category. Last year, he took part in the BWF World Senior Championships in Kochi, India but did not win any medal.
The APMG 2018 badminton competition has attracted 539 (men and women) participants from 19 countries, the second biggest after athletics. It has 10 age categories, starting from 35 years and above, to 80 years and above.
Over the past four decades, DJ Dave, whose birth name was Dhammi Jagjit Sukhdev, had released 41 albums.
His songs, like “Maafkanlah”, “Ku Tak Ingin Menangis Lagi,” and “Harum Bunga Kembang”, were a hit with the young and old.
Doing charity work is also part of DJ Dave’s contributions back to society. He still heads the Yayasan Artis 1Malaysia which he founded in 2012 to look after the welfare of local artistes.
It has been quite a challenging and exciting journey for the kampung boy from Kuala Kubu Baru singing Hindi songs as a pastime to be where he is today.
While he has been known for his singing talents, there is no doubt he is going to serve up a treat for badminton fans at the APMG 2018.
Photos courtesy of APMG 2018