Football may save lives…
But it could, as the following instance shows, take lives as well.
33YO SDP Youth Leader, Manimaran Ashukumar, Dies After Collapsing During a Football Game
Earlier yesterday (30 July 2023), Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) vice-chairman Bryan Lim Boon Heng took to Facebook with some grave news:
SDP Assistant Treasurer Manimaran Ashukumar, who also serves as the leader of the Young Democrats, has unfortunately passed away at 33.
He purportedly collapsed while participating in a social football game. While unconfirmed, it’s speculated that he had suffered a heart issue, as the paramedics and doctor could not get his heart pumping again.
The incident shocked Mr Lim, who professed that he felt grief and heart-wrenching pain at the news.
“I was looking forward to seeing Mani next weekend for our Party’s upcoming public forum,” he wrote.
According to Mr Lim, the late Mr Manimaran was a polite, deep-thinking individual who never failed to help when needed.
Joined as a Tertiary Student
Apparently, Mr Manimaran first joined the Party as a tertiary student.
He volunteered with the SDP and became one of the leaders in the youth wing, the Young Democrats. He would go on to achieve more and eventually broke into the ranks in April last year, having been elected to SDP’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) as an Assistant Treasurer.
Earlier this year, he was assigned to organise a futsal tournament for the Party. It’s unclear whether this futsal tournament was the one that Mr Manimaran had collapsed at.
Had Mr Manimaran made it through, he would have likely been one of the SDP’s potential candidates for the next General Elections.
He was considered for the SDP Sembawang GRC due to his immense knowledge of the area.
“Not only did we lose a quality candidate,” Mr Lim wrote. “We also lost a dear comrade & an even dearer friend.”
“I still cannot believe I am writing this mournful post on you, bro.”
You can view the heartfelt Facebook post down below:
Condolences
Netizens have since left heartfelt wishes for Mr Manimaran.
Fellow SDP member Abdul Salim Harun has since paid tribute to Mr Manimaran, stating that the latter was a very “friendly and understanding person, someone who you can be comfortable and at ease with.”
“Brother, you have gone too soon,” Mr Abdul wrote in a Facebook post.
“You have work(ed) hard all this while and it’s now time for you to have a good rest.”
SDP treasurer Surayah Akbar also expressed her condolences and said that Mr Manimaran was a valuable member who would “leave a void” within the organisation.
“Beyond his exceptional skills,” she wrote. “Manimaran brought a sense of warmth, positivity, and camaraderie to our work environment.”
“His friendly disposition and willingness to go above and beyond to help others will forever be remembered.”
According to Mr Manimaran’s Linkedin profile, he has worked as a Grants and Contracts Senior Coordinator at Conservation International Asia-Pacific since August 2022.
Prior to that, he was a Deputy Manager (Research Senior Associate) at Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) from August 2021 to August 2022, an Executive at Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore from January 2019 to July 2021 and a Grants Officer at the National Heritage Board from February 2018 to October 2018.
He also served as Finance Executive at Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA) and Saint Andrew’s Mission Hospital.
Mr Manimaran went to Victoria School and, subsequently, Tampines Junior College. He graduated from the University of Newcastle in 2015 with a Bachelor of Commerce and Accounting.
Mr Manimaran got married in 2020. His wedding was attended by Mr Lim and SDP Secretary-General Dr Chee Soon Juan.
Mr Manimaran’s father has also served SDP for an extended period of time, with his most recent posting being Head of Logistics.
Mr Manimaran was his only son.