Zainal Abidin ruled the squash courts of Singapore for 10 years and was Singapore's undisputed squash champion from 1977 to 1986. The Singapore's squash supremo had won the East Asia title six times (lost to compatriot Peter Hill in '84), the national title 5 times and the Japan Open title for two consecutive years, 1985 and 1986. That figure added up to 13 titles to his name since 1980, and while some may consider it less than fortuitous a number, for Zainal Abidin it deservedly won for him the Sportsman of the Year award for 1986 Zainal's selection and eventual win of the award was a result of his retaining the East Asia and Japan Open titles in 1986. Additionally, he was also the Malaysian Guinness Circuit champion while at the Asian Team Championship (1986) he led the Republic to second-placing at the tournament. Zainal Abidin not only put Singapore squash on the Asian map, his extraordinary skills also extended the Republic's reputation on the world squash map as well. Zainal's triumphs and achievements also helped develop a large following and participation in the game throughout Singapore - squash was being played at all levels, from pre-teens to young adults to senior citizens. Such was the appeal of squash in the 1980's - a development that was made possible due to the exploits of the games hero's, the likes of Zainal Abidin, Peter Hill, Lim Seok Hui and Mah Li Lian. Zainal started playing squash in 1977, when as a 19 year-old, he was serving his national service with the Police Force. It was a considerably late age to begin but his natural talent, instinct and abilities for the game soon ensured his meteoric rise. His abilities were duly rewarded when the Singapore Squash Rackets Association invited him to join the national squad in 1979. That same year, Zainal was on the Singapore team that won the East Asian championships. The following year, 1980, Zainal became the East Asian individual champion. And, as they say, the rest is history... his resounding victories at national and international meets were constant and remarkable, attributes of his enduring authority within the field of squash. It was, however, Zainal's successive wins of the East Asia title and his back-to-back win of the Japan Open title that made the panel of selectors take notice of Zainal's stellar exploits. Over the last two decades, 1967 to 1986, when the Sportsman of the Year awards was dominated by swimming, Zainal Abidin gave the local squash fraternity some well-deserved cheer by winning the Sportsman of the Year trophy for 1986.