Kunalan, C

Canagasabai Kunalan, popularly known as C Kunalan (b. 1942), is Singapore’s most decorated sprinter and was once dubbed “Singapore’s Fastest Man.” As an Olympian, he set a national record for the 100m sprint in 1968 – a record that stood unbroken for the next 33 years. He was renowned for both his outstanding athletic performances as well as his significant contributions to sports education.

Born in Johor, Malaysia, Kunalan moved to Singapore with family in 1944 during the Japanese Occupation. He showed early promise in sprinting from his primary school days. He attended Teachers’ Training College and taught various subjects, including physical education, at Tiong Bahru Primary School from 1961 to 1966. It was during this period that he began serious sprint training. 

Kunalan’s first breakthrough came in 1966, a pivotal year in his sports career. He held five national records -- three in individual events (100m, 200m, and 400m) and two in relays (4x100m and 4x400m). That same year, he narrowly missed becoming Asia’s fastest man at the 5th Asian Games, losing by a millisecond in a photo finish to Malaysia’s M. Jegathesan despite both athletes clocking the same time. Undeterred, Kunalan led the Singapore relay team to a new national record in the 4x400m later that day.

Between 1963 and 1974, Kunalan broke Singapore’s sprint records 19 times -- 11 in individual events and eight in relays. He participated in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, where he set the long-standing national record of 10.38 seconds in the 100 metres. Kunalan was named Sportsman of the Year in 1968 and 1969. Over his career, he earned 15 SEA Games medals and 5 Asian Games medals, a testament to his enduring excellence.

Kunalan retired from competitive athletics in 1979 at age 37, shifting his focus to mentoring future generations. In 1980, he was appointed Assistant Professor at the College of Physical Education, where he specialised in functional anatomy and exercise physiology and also taught fitness and conditioning. In 2005, he was appointed President of the Singapore Olympian Association, further cementing his commitment to local sports development.

Widely regarded as one of Singapore’s greatest track athletes, his many accolades include the Meritorious Service Medal, given by the government in 2015. In 2018, the Singapore Sports Hub paid tribute to his legacy by unveiling a unique artefact—a hand and foot cast of the then 76-year-old—at the Singapore Sports Museum. It was the first time a Singaporean sportsperson was honoured in such a manner. In 2022, he was inducted into the Singapore Sports Council’s Hall of Fame.

Kunalan’s legacy endures not just through his extraordinary achievements on the track but also through his lasting impact as an inspiring educator and mentor.



For More Information
Koh, Tommy, Timothy Auger and Jimmy Yap. Singapore: The Encyclopedia. Singapore: Editions Didier Millet, 2007.
Kunalan, C. Oral History Interview by Zarina bte Yusof, 22 November 2001. Transcript and MP3 audio, 08:29:20. National Archives of Singapore (accession no. 002572)
“For the long run.” Today, 1 April 2010, 72. (From Newspaper SG)
“Canagasabai Kunalan.” Singapore National Olympic Council. Accessed on 1 August 2025. https://www.singaporeolympics.com/olympians/canagasabai-kunalan/. 
“Mr Canagasabai Kunalan.” Physical Education & Sports Teacher Academy. Accessed on 1 August 2025. https://pesta.moe.edu.sg/pesta/be-connected-with-the-fraternity/our-pioneers/mr-canagasabai-kunalan/. 
Singapore Sports Hub. “Singapore Sports Hub Celebrates C. Kunalan’s Sporting Legacy.” Accessed on 1 August 2025. https://www.sportshub.com.sg/sites/default/files/2022-10/SINGAPORE%2BSPORTS%2BHUB%2BCELEBRATES%2BC.%2BKUNALAN’S%2BSPORTING%2BLEGACY.pdf. 

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The information in this article is valid as of August 2025 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. If you have any feedback on this article, please submit here.