Left to right: Local para-athletes Toh Sze Ning, Syahidah Alim, Eric Ting and Muhammad Dinie Asyraf Bin Huzaini.
(Photos courtesy of Singapore National Paralympic Council)
For para-athletes in Singapore, competing in their chosen sport can sometimes be a tough pursuit. Not because of physical limitations, but because of challenges such as finding access to suitable coaching and training facilities and searching out competitions where they can test their skills at the highest level.
In recent years, however, Team Singapore’s para-athletes – led by champion swimmers and Paralympics medallists Theresa Goh and Yip Pin Xiu – have raised greater awareness of para-sports. Many more, too, have found success in their sports and are celebrated by the nation for their outstanding achievements.
Four members of Team Singapore, who took home medals at the 11th ASEAN Para Games 2022 in Solo, Indonesia, share with Here to Play their sporting journeys and how, with the right support, they can conquer the seemingly impossible.
Toh Sze Ning is proud to represent Singapore in boccia, a target ball sport that belongs to the same family as pétanque and bowls.
TOH SZE NING, 29, BOCCIA
From playing boccia as a co-curricular activity during her schooling days at Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore, Toh Sze Ning has grown into a seasoned athlete representing Singapore on the world stage
“It’s incredibly fantastic to get people with disabilities to participate in sports so that they can get the opportunity to push through their limits, and to show others that they have far more potential than they may have thought possible,” she says.
At the 11th ASEAN Para Games 2022, Sze Ning took home the silver medal in the Boccia BC3 Individual Female category, along with the gold in the Boccia BC3 Mixed Pair. She competed alongside teammate Aloysius Gan in the latter category and was accompanied throughout the Games by her coach and athlete competition partner, Chew Zi Qun.
“The chemistry between a coach and athlete is very important, and it helps that we are both aligned towards one common goal,” she says of full-time coach Zi Qun. “It also helps to have a dedicated coach who is there throughout the journey, at every training session and at every competition, so that we can continuously improve together,” adds Sze Ning who trains at Singapore Sports Hub.
Besides universal challenges such as securing funding for training and competitions, para-athletes like Sze Ning often face other unique obstacles. “Because some of us use a ramp in competitions, transporting the equipment can be logistically challenging,” she explains. “I’m grateful that we have sponsors and donors who support us, along with Sport Singapore and the Singapore Disability Sports Council.”
Reflecting on her sporting journey thus far, Sze Ning is glad that she has never let her disability keep her from participating in boccia. “I stay motivated and work towards my goals by doing what I enjoy and taking pleasure in each step of the process,” she says. “I find boccia very rewarding because I can challenge myself to do something in my own ability — to represent our country as an international boccia player overseas and to bring glory back for Singapore with pride.”
Among the different sports that Syahidah Alim has tried, archery is the one that she has grown to enjoy and excel at.
SYAHIDAH ALIM, 36, ARCHERY
From badminton to sailing, Syahidah Alim has tried them all. But archery was the sport she fell in love with. “During a sports demonstration, I shot all my arrows and they hit the centre of the target,” recalls the sportswoman, who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair when long walks are expected. “It was my first time holding a bow, so I felt a sense of achievement.”
Ever since her first encounter with archery at the Sport Disability Expo when she was 18, Syahidah has garnered an impressive array of medals and achievements, including her third straight gold in the Women’s Individual Compound Open category at the 11th ASEAN Para Games 2022. “After seven years of being a national athlete, I see myself growing to become a better archer and person,” she says. “Archery has taught me life skills, such as gaining self-confidence, having better control of my emotions and embracing the unknown.”
As a para-athlete, Syahidah faces similar challenges as other sportspeople. “Archery competitions are held outdoors, so we are subjected to different weather conditions,” she explains. “Like all archers, we are not allowed to train in rainy conditions for safety reasons. This can disrupt the frequency of our outdoor training sessions, especially in a country like Singapore with two monsoon seasons.”
However, Syahidah takes such challenges in her stride, thanks to solid support from her coach, Pang Qing Liang: “He keeps reminding me that it’s very important to give my best effort, and to always enjoy the process. I’m lucky to have a good support system from my family, friends, coach and the team at Singapore Sport Institute.”
Having celebrated her 11th ASEAN Para Games 2022 win with a Nintendo Switch party and feast with her teammates, Syahidah is now busy preparing for the Asian Para Games 2023 and the Paralympics in 2024.
She encourages persons with disabilities to give sports a chance. “The benefits go far beyond the sports. Growing the para-sport scene in Singapore will allow more opportunities for persons with disabilities to pursue self-wellness, independence and integration into society,” she says.
Muhammad Dinie Asyraf Bin firmly believes that sports can provide persons with disabilities the opportunities to shine and build confidence in life.
MUHAMMAD DINIE ASYRAF BIN HUZAINI, 33, AND ERIC TING, 49, TABLE TENNIS
Muhammad Dinie Asyraf Bin Huzaini discovered table tennis through a friend. That chance introduction to the game would eventually win him a place on Team Singapore, as well as a bronze medal in the Men Singles TT3 category of the 11th ASEAN Para Games 2022.
“I decided to compete as a para-athlete because my coach saw the potential in me and motivated me,” says Dinie, who had a spinal injury and now uses a wheelchair. “Though I find it challenging to travel overseas for competitions and stay committed, I have help from my coaches and teammates. Table tennis has also taught me to be more responsible.”
Eric Ting’s strong mentality and positive mindset have kept him at the top of his game.
His fellow teammate, Eric Ting, who also suffered a spinal injury and uses a wheelchair, agrees that staying committed to the sport can be a major challenge. “Travelling can be tough, especially for longer distances and places with a time difference; there are routines to adjust due to my spinal cord injury,” he explains. “But discipline and commitment are key – without them, nothing will work. Having a strong mentality and a positive mindset helps.” These qualities won Mr Ting a bronze in the Table Tennis Men Singles TT1-2 category of the 11th ASEAN Para Games 2022.
At 49 years old, Mr Ting – who says that table tennis appealed to him as the game emphasises on strategy and skill – plans to compete and perfect his game until his body tells him otherwise.
Mr Dinie, too, plans to double down on his training and win more medals for Singapore. He believes that sports can offer a spotlight on the vast potential of persons with disabilities: “Sports provide an opportunity for para-athletes to shine and build confidence in life.”
Reflecting on his years as a para-athlete, Mr Ting says, “It has kept my mind active and my physical health in check. There is so much you can benefit from doing sports; so much you can learn. There are some things in life that seem impossible. But if you do not give them a go, you would never know if they can be done or not.”
