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“You’re only 19?” A wave of commotion broke out among the group of secondary school students, who sat on the floor staring at the buff speaker before them – namely, Muhammad Firdaus Bin Nordin, Singapore’s first wheelchair racer to qualify for the Beijing 2008 Paralympics.
“Wow!” A second wave of commotion scattered as Jovin Tan, lean as he was, showed that he was made of much stronger stuff when he lifted his sleeve to let the students sneak a peek at his bulging biceps.
Yes, 13 March 2007 was a day of many commotions and excitement at CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’ School.
Aimed at promoting understanding, recognition and respect for disabled athletes among youths, a team from the Singapore Management University’s School of Economics - conducted a one-day workshop at the secondary school, with the help of the Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC).
Alvin, head-coordinator of the SMU team – ‘8ight’, and six other facilitators set out to introduce the students to various kinds of sports available for the disabled community, as well as to inspire them to appreciate and recognise the sportsmanship, passion and determination disabled athletes displayed.
Participants of the workshop comprised of students from Raffles Institution, Nanyang Girls’ High School and CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’ School. Divided into small groups, the students played games that demanded them to overcome challenges that were faced by the disabled.
One of the games which confused many students was Boccia. Luckily, Lim Kay Choong, who had been playing Boccia for some years, was on hand to clarify the rules of the sport. Boccia, well-known to demand accuracy and patience from its players, caught Kay Choong’s interest when he was 14. He has since taken part in several competitions and hopes to participate in more in the future.
Despite being only 18 years of age, Kay Choong displayed techniques much like a professional athlete. Christy Lee, who was amazed by the young athlete’s skills, said, “I’m awed by his precision and his focus. It is an eye-opener for people out there to realize the wonders that many people cannot do unlike the physically challenged who can. It is not always about the ability but the determination. And I’m sure Kay Choong has it.”
Besides Boccia, the students also played many others that were purposefully planned to provide them with experiences as close as possible as that of a disabled individual. For example, they were instructed to play soccer without any speech, so that they could experience how the hearing impaired played in a soundless world. Then, the students completed an obstacle course blindfolded, emulating the sightless disorientation the visually impaired frequently had to overcome.
After a morning of exciting and refreshing games, the students nevertheless welcomed the noon-break, during which they applauded the arrival of Jovin Tan and Muhammad Firdaus Bin Nordin, who had arrived to share their sporting experiences.
“Blood, sweat, tears” was the mantra Jovin imparted to the young students. Jovin’s sailing coach had once taught him that through blood and sweat, one would eventually reach tears. Would they be tears of defeat, or tears of triumph? Jovin said that he could not tell yet, but would be waiting for the day to come. Although cerebral palsy had left him with little mobility from the neck down, Jovin had worked very hard to overcome his physical limitations and a water phobia to pursue sailing as a passion. He was one of the first Singaporean sailors to participate in the Paralympics, when he went to Athens in 2004.
“Being disabled does not stop us from doing certain things. We should be treated equally. If you keep on trying and working hard, you will reach there one day.” Jovin said.
Jovin will again be contending for a Beijing 2008 Paralympics slot in this year’s qualifiers.
Firdaus, too, had a three-word mantra to share. Pointing to a girl’s sneakers, he said: “Look at that. I think you believe in the same thing that I do. ‘Nothing is impossible’, right?”
An easy laugh and a trendy hairstyle won Firdaus popularity among the young students. But it was the demeanour he used to speak of his devotion to wheelchair racing that left many enchanted. The students ‘oohed’ and ‘aahed’ as they listened to how Firdaus won a silver medal in last year’s International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletics World Championships, which earned him an entry slot to the Beijing 2008 Paralympics. But the surprise could not have been greater than when they learnt that Firdaus was barely four to five years older than them, and yet, already achieving a dream which they hardly thought possible.
From the personal insights from the three disabled athletes and the experiences gained from the games, the students went home highly inspired and motivated. Chia Chen Wei from Raffles Institution said, “I am going to tell whoever I can that these people deserve equal credit and respect for their achievements. Moreover, I will volunteer proactively and donate money as these athletes do not have much recognition.”
The workshop had undoubtedly delivered its aims. Not only that, it brought home an important message to many that ‘Disability Does Not Disqualify’. Like what Jovin said, “We can do any sport, only that we do it in a different way.”