Sports equipment icon Tan Sri G. S. Gill dies at age 92
NST
KUALA LUMPUR: Local sports equipment icon Tan Sri G. S. Gill has died at the age of 92 this morning.
Family members, in confirming this, told the New Straits Times that Gill had taken ill and was admitted to hospital several days ago.
A funeral will be held at the Cheras Crematorium, Jalan Kuari at 3pm tomorrow.
Gill’s brother-in-law, Jeswant Singh described Gill as a humble, cheerful and an inspiring figure who motivates others to do better.
"He will be missed by everyone." he said.
Gill, was born in Kampung Benggali, Brickfields, on Feb 4, 1924.
It was reported that in 1946, he took all of his savings and opened a small shop at No.108 Batu Road (now Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman), selling everything from jam to cigarettes and textiles.
His lifelong association with sporting goods began at the suggestion of a friend and he started off by selling shuttlecocks. Years later, he secured the franchise for the German sportswear brand, Adidas.
Gill's name became synonymous with sports equipment and sport development in the nation since in 1957, when he supplied sportswear and equipment to the national football team free of charge.
In August 1983, G.S. Gill Sdn Bhd moved from their No 108 premises, to its new building at Wisma Harwant, named after his wife.
He is survived by his wife, Harwant, two daughters; Ranjit and Premjit Kaur, three grandchildren and a great grandchild.
