National para-athlete body calls for more recognition, support for its members

SINGAPORE: Singapore’s para-athletes juggle disabilities and a rigorous training schedule to represent the nation at international competitions. 

As they prepare to hopefully bring home sporting glory at the Paris Games that begins on Wednesday (Aug 28), the national body that represents them has called for more recognition and support - similar to that given to Olympic athletes.

“They go through the sweat, they go through the tears, they go through the tiredness. We don't see that,” said Dr Teo-Koh Sock Miang, president of the Singapore National Paralympic Council.

“As (the) public, we only see them for those few seconds in competition, so I really need for everyone to understand and recognise that they really have put in so much hard work.”

Their tenacity and effort are opportunities for people to reflect on themselves, she added.

“Let's have them as our inspiration. Let's have them as a role model for what excellence can look like,” she said. 

In total, 10 Team Singapore para-athletes will compete in six sports at the Games: Boccia, archery, shooting, swimming, equestrian, and athletics (shot put).

SUPPORTING PARA ATHLETES

Dr Teo-Koh also called on Singaporeans to rally behind the para-athletes.

“We need to let them know that Singapore is behind them. We need to reassure them that all the work they put in has been worth the effort of flying the Singapore flag as high as possible,” she said.

She urged people to send the athletes encouragement on social media “to let them know that they have their backs, that we are so proud”.

Para-athletes also require financial support, she added.

"The specialised equipment that our para-athletes need in order to help them be able to compete … are not inexpensive,” she said, giving an example of horses that are used by equestrian riders.

While some financial support is available through scholarships, that is not enough, said Dr Teo-Koh.

Other needs include a dedicated team of sports psychologists, medical staff and nutrition, she said. 

“Our athletes need to eat well. Our athletes need to get the sort of proteins, the sort of vitamins that will enable them to also perform, to also train. So all of this, they do come at a cost,” she said.

“We would like to reach out to our potential (corporate) donors out there to walk alongside our athletes. Let us show you how we can utilise the funding to support different athletes with different needs,” she added.

The funding would also go towards public education on what persons with disabilities are capable of, she said. 

EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL HELP

Senior sports psychologist Harry Lim from the Singapore Sport Institute has been working with athletes like para-archer Nur Syahidah.

He said that for para-athletes who compete at such a high level, most of the preparation work involves making sure they remain mentally strong leading up to their events. This includes helping them with emotional and psychological aspects. 

“We help them put in place strategies to perform during competitions, and then we work through various scenarios, particularly under pressure,” he said.

While it is not unlike what able-bodied athletes require, para-athletes need some additional support, said Dr Lim. 

“With some of the conditions that they have, they might be more prone to injury, so we have got to take special care or put in place special plans to be able to strengthen certain body parts so that they can go through their exercises or the conditioning regime without getting injured,” he said.

For those who have cognitive or visual impairments, support will have to be tailored to their abilities, he added.

While the job comes with its challenges, Dr Lim said it has several rewarding moments as well that are not limited to a win.

“We see the growth in them - the psychological growth, the maturity, the way they handle difficult situations. I think that matters a lot more to me than the outcome,” he said.

“I'm a firm believer (that) if these things are in place, then the outcome takes care of itself.”