You are here: Home > News & media >
Monthly archives
Jason Oh Boon Keng, who has Duchene’s muscular dystrophy, once felt ‘weak and useless’, as he constantly required assistance in going about his daily life. However, the discovery of sport has led him to a whole new realization of his real potential and has propelled him to great heights.
"Sports is beyond just its physical challenge. Rather, it is a whole new discipline for us to discover." – Jason Oh.
“Sporting is a great motivation in my life. Being able to participate in international level competitions has boosted my morale and confidence, especially since it’s an opportunity that not everyone gets,” says Jason. Jason started off in sailing but later found Boccia to be a more suitable sport. At the age of 15, he participated in the 1st Asia and South Pacific Boccia Championships. One year later, in 2006, he was selected to compete in the Far East and South Pacific Games. In the former event, Jason could not compete as he was under-aged. But he did not want to lose out on the rare opportunity of competition exposure, especially for severely-challenged athletes like himself, and continued to partake in the exhibition match. This initiative reflects the determined individual that Jason is.
His impressive score of 8 points for the 2006 GCE ‘O’ Level examinations was also a testament of that. When inquired on how he juggles Boccia and studies, Jason replied, “The most important thing is to do your best and focus on whatever you are currently doing at that time. You have to know when to switch to your ‘study mood’ and ‘sporting mood’.”
Academic and sporting excellences were not the only fruits from Jason’s involvement in Boccia. He gained a greater gift - that is, the friendships he has forged with bosom friends, Lim Kay Choong and Kevin Lee, whom he meets weekly. Kay Choong is also Jason’s partner in the BC4 category pair training. Working together during matches and bonding during training breaks have helped to forge a strong friendship between the trio, who are seldom found apart during training breaks.
Another aspect of Boccia and sports that Jason adores is that it strengthens him beyond the physical. For example, he cited how, through learning the art of concentration, he has been making more efficient links between his mind and limbs to perfect his game.
There are many other athletes who have given testimonials on how sports have given them the similar enlightenment and strengths, like what Boccia did for Jason. The benefits of sports are open for all, if one could take the first step to engage in them. SDSC’s Learn-To-Play programmes could be the first steps to help you or someone you love into becoming someone who can achieve and inspire, enabling you or them to become stronger in more ways than one. Find out more at a simple click away: http://www.sdsc.org.sg/learntoplay