02/06/2026

TUESDAY | JUNE 2, 2026

6

Hidden cost of recreational sports

o More Malaysians are embracing active lifestyles, but many push beyond safe limits and pay the price with preventable injuries, says expert

Hadafi said many

enthusiastically dive into sports like pickleball without the baseline strength, mobility or recovery habits required. – BERNAMAPIC

Ű BY KIRTINEE RAMESH newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: The rapid rise of recreational sports such as pickleball, padel and futsal, as well as fitness competitions like HYROX, is encouraging more Malaysians to lead active lifestyles. However, a sports expert warns that many recreational athletes are suffering preventable injuries by pushing their bodies beyond safe limits too quickly. Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Sports Science senior lecturer Dr Hadafi Fitri Mohd Latip said sports medicine practitioners are observing a clear surge in injuries locally and globally as high-intensity, fast-paced sports gain popularity. “Many people enter these sports enthusiastically but without adequate conditioning, mobility, strength foundation or recovery preparation.” He explained that such sports involve explosive movements, rapid changes of direction, repetitive loading and high cardiovascular demands. While the body’s musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems – including muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage and the heart – require time to gradually adapt to new training loads, problems arise when individuals abruptly transition from a sedentary lifestyle to high-intensity competition several times a week. He said the most common injuries seen today include ankle sprains, ACL (torn ligament) and meniscus (knee) tears, Achilles tendinopathy, hamstring strains, rotator cuff irritation, lower back pain, plantar fasciitis and wrist or elbow overuse injuries. He added that HYROX and similar functional fitness events present an even greater challenge by combining In the era of artificial intelligence (AI), visual manipulation and the flood of information on social media, the role of media photojournalists has become increasingly important as chroniclers of reality and witnesses of truth on the ground. In conjunction with the National Journalists’ Day (Hawana) 2026 themed ‘Media Integrity Strengthens Credibility’, the sacrifices and challenges faced by this group deserve to be recognised as they are among those closest to tragedies, conflicts, disasters and the realities of everyday life. Although their faces are seldom known to the public, their captured images often serve as powerful evidence in conveying emotions, suffering and the reality of unfolding events to society. For The Star assistant chief photographer Zulazhar Sheblee, more than 30 years of field experience have exposed him to numerous safety risks in pursuit of the best visuals for the public.

On the rise of AI, he acknowledged that the technology is helpful in editing and technical aspects. However, a photojournalist’s instinct and sensitivity in capturing authentic moments remain difficult to replicate with algorithms. “In news coverage, ethics and integrity are crucial to ensure that images reflect real situations without altering facts or using AI generated visuals that could mislead the public.” Meanwhile, freelance photojournalist Irwan Majid, who has over 15 years of experience, said AI is beginning to impact the industry as some opt to produce images and posters using technology instead of hiring professional photographers. However, the recipient of the Malaysian Press Institute Photojournalist Award 2018 stressed that the emotional value and authenticity of real photographs cannot be replaced by technology. He said assignments in Sabah come with unique challenges due to its vast geography and terrain, but the state offers some of the best opportunities for‘human interest’photography, thanks to the rich diversity of ethnicities and cultures in Borneo. The Hawana 2026 celebration, set to take place in Penang on June 20, serves as a key national platform to recognise the contributions, dedication and professionalism of media practitioners in Malaysia. – Bernama “Progressive overload must be gradual and individualised. What works for elite athletes is not suitable for beginners or those returning after long breaks.” Despite the rising number of injury cases, he said most recreational sports injuries are preventable with proper preparation. He recommends a 5 to 15-minute dynamic warm up before activity, followed by a gradual intensity build-up, proper hydration and suitable footwear. Post-exercise recovery is equally vital, he added, requiring cool-downs, flexibility work, targeted nutrition, hydration and sufficient sleep. As Malaysia’s sports participation continues to grow, Hadafi said the focus should not be on discouraging physical activity, but on building a more informed and sustainable sporting culture. “Exercise should improve quality of life, not create preventable long-term disability.”

“Ethics guide photojournalists to respect cultural and religious sensitivities, as well as the feelings of their subjects. This is especially crucial when covering tragedies, accidents, poverty or situations involving children, as children’s faces could not be shown,” he said. He added that photojournalists who uphold ethics and integrity earn greater respect, as images rooted in truth, honesty and responsibility are far more meaningful than those that are merely visually appealing. Throughout his career, Zulazhar, who is also deputy president of the Kuching Division Journalists Association (KDJA), has won the Canon Photomarathon 2015 representing Malaysia in Japan and received the Sarawak Premier Special Appreciation Award during Hawana 2023. Meanwhile, Bernama photojournalist Muhammad Naim Mohd Zamri said the profession demands a high level of professionalism, even though photojournalists are sometimes perceived or treated as not on equal footing with reporters. With nearly seven years of experience, he said each assignment teaches him to be prepared for unpredictable situations, especially in the fast paced social media era that demands both speed and accuracy. develop into chronic instability, untreated tendon inflammation can progress to long-term degeneration and small cartilage tears can accelerate the onset of osteoarthritis “Delayed treatment is particularly dangerous because the body automatically compensates for the injured area. This places extra stress on other structures, triggering a chain reaction of secondary injuries.” Hadafi also highlighted a common pitfall among Malaysians returning to exercise after years of inactivity. He said many assume their bodies can still perform at previous levels despite natural declines in strength, mobility, coordination and aerobic capacity. Frequent mistakes include doing too much too soon, skipping warm-ups, neglecting strength training, poor recovery habits, copying advanced athletes and ignoring pain. Using improper footwear and equipment further compounds this biomechanical stress.

In that daring assignment, he not only documented the conditions at the detention site and interviewed both local and foreign hostages, but also managed to arrange meetings between the victims and journalists after gaining the trust of the kidnappers. “Journalists write the story, but photojournalists freeze history in a single frame. Without images, much of the emotion and truth may not reach the public,” he said, adding that the exclusive report later won him the Kajai Award, one of the most meaningful milestones in his career. Now based in Sarawak, Zulazhar hopes recognition for media photojournalists will continue to grow, as they are also frontliners behind the scenes who ensure the public can witness reality through captured visuals. He pointed out that ethics and integrity are what distinguish media photojournalists from ordinary photographers, as in photojournalism, every image becomes a historical document, visual evidence and source of information for society. endurance activities with resistance exercises. Elaborating, Hadafi said when fatigue accumulates, movement mechanics deteriorate, increasing injury risk significantly. He attributed this trend to “load mismanagement“, where a sudden spike in training workload exceeds the body’s capacity to adapt. “Beyond physical strain, many recreational athletes also ignore early warning signs, often dismissing mild pain as normal soreness or associating it with mental toughness. “Commonly overlooked symptoms include joint instability, persistent stiffness, swelling, sharp pain, reduced range of motion, weakness during loading and clicking or locking sensations in joints.” Hadafi said while these symptoms may seem minor initially, untreated injuries worsen over time. For instance, he said a mild ankle sprain can

Celebrating unsung frontliners behind the lens KUALA LUMPUR: Not every image requires a thousand words. Sometimes, a single frame is enough for the public to feel fear, sorrow, hope and the pulse of life unfolding before the eyes of media photojournalists, individuals behind the lens who rarely receive recognition. During his time with Utusan Malaysia, he once tracked Abu Sayyaf hostages in Jolo, the Philippines, even entering detention areas and meeting kidnap victims to secure an exclusive story.