Emma competed in the 50m breaststroke event under the SB8 classification and successfully set a new Asian record by clocking a timing of 00:59:52. She also scored with her personal best in the 50m freestyle event.

Together with Theresa Goh and James Leow, they represented Singapore at the 24th German International Swimming Championships, where Theresa claimed a gold medal in the 50m breaststroke and was ranked 7th position among all classes in the finals while James claimed all seasonal best records for the events of 50m and 100m freestyle.

For details on the asian records of the 50m breaststroke event:
http://www.ipc-swimming.org/records/records.html?SW_RECORDS_TYPE=ASR&SW_RECORDS_COURSE=LC&SW_RECORDS_GENDER=W&SW_RECORDS_EVENT=LCWBR0

For more information about the 24th German International Swimming Championship, please visit the official website at http://www.idm-schwimmen.de


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About Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC)

SDSC is the only organisation in Singapore that caters sports for persons across all kinds of disabilities. It aims to help the disabled lead full and independent lives through sports. Besides providing sporting opportunities for them to realise their potential, SDSC trains talents to represent Singapore and pursue excellence at regional and international competitions. Visit more information at http://www.sdsc.org.sg

For media queries, please contact:

Chin Siew Hui
Corporate Communications Executive
Singapore Disability Sports Council
Office: (65) 6342 3564 HP: (65) 8328 3916 Fax: 6342 0961
Email: siew.hui@sdsc.org.sg

Noelle Yeo
Communications & International Relations Manager
Singapore Disability Sports Council
Office: (65) 6342 3503 HP: (65) 8328 3917 Fax: 6342 0961
Email: noelle.yeo@sdsc.org.sg

SINGAPORE, AUG 15, 2010 – SINGAPORE is abuzz with sporting action as the world’s first-ever Youth Olympic Games kicks off on Singaporean shores. And global sports giant Li-Ning is living out its new slogan – “Make the Change” – by donating $200,000 to the Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC)’s badminton programme to inspire and motivate the shuttlers to continue pursuing their sporting ambitions. The donation will take the form apparel, footwear, accessories and equipment.

At the presentation event today, Li-Ning also unveiled its new corporate logo, which is designed to represent a focus on people, who are the heart and soul of sports, and to encourage these individuals to seek out their dreams through sporting endeavours.

SDSC has nearly 200 athletes under their badminton programme, and they comprise of athletes with cerebral palsy, polio and intellectual disability. They have shown strong performance both at the local National Disability League and overseas competitions such as last year’s International Wheelchair & Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS) Games and ASEAN Para Games.

General Manager for South-east Asia, Li-Ning Group, Ms Vivien Lim hopes the donation will inspire the athletes to keep training hard and seeking glory on the international stage. “All athletes need support and encouragement as they push to achieve their dreams and ambitions. At Li-Ning, our company motto is ‘Make the Change’, and we believe in helping as many people as possible to achieve that, regardless of whether they are able-bodied, physically or intellectually challenged. The athletes at SDSC are an inspiration to all of us, and we sincerely hope that our support will help them continue to reach their sporting goals.”

To add to the excitement at the event, YOG Ambassador and Li-Ning athlete Yelena Isinbayeva was on hand and she was thrilled to have the opportunity to work with SDSC athletes. The multiple world and Olympic champion from Russia said: “It is one of the big passions of my life to work with the less privileged and disabled. It is fantastic to see what a comprehensive and focused programme they have here. It is comparable to some of the best systems in Europe and indeed the world. I am honoured to be able to spend time with the athletes here and hopefully inspire them to keep up the good work.”

SDSC’s advisor, Mr Michael Palmer, MP for Pasir Ris - Punggol GRC was also present for the occasion and was happy that all members of the local sporting fraternity were given a chance to experience the excitement of the YOG. “Our vision for a sporting Singapore requires all members of our fraternity to join in and share the passion and our drive. We can certainly achieve our dream of becoming a sporting powerhouse and it is great to see partners like Li-Ning coming forward to share some of the YOG excitement with our SDSC athletes, and also to provide tangible and generous support for the badminton programme.”

For more information, please contact:

Merliza Lim
MNC Promotions and Publicity Group
(representing Li-Ning Group)
Mobile: +65 9735 1538
Email: merlizalim.mnc@gmail.com

Noelle Yeo
Manager, Communications & International Relations
Singapore Disability Sports Council
Mobile: +65 8328 3917
Email: noelle.yeo@sdsc.org.sg

Chin Siew Hui
Executive, Corporate Communications
Singapore Disability Sports Council
Mobile: +65 8328 3916
Email: siew.hui@sdsc.org.sg

About Li-Ning
Established in 1990 by legendary Chinese gymnast Li Ning, LI-NING is an international sports brand from the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

Li Ning Company Limited, through its subsidiaries, engages in the brand development, design, manufacture, sale, and distribution of sport-related footwear, apparel, equipment, and accessories for sport and leisure uses. It offers outdoor sports, casual apparel, and footwear products; and table tennis, badminton, and other sports equipment. The company’s brand portfolio includes LI-NING, AIGLE, Z-DO, Kason, Double Happiness, and Lotto.

Since the company’s successful listing in Hong Kong in 2004, it has achieved steady growth. From a turnover of 1.88 billion yuan in 2004, Li Ning posted a 2.45 billion yuan turnover in 2005 and 3.18 billion yuan in 2006.  In 2009, its turnover reached an impressive 8.39 billion yuan.

In 2009, Li-Ning established its first presence in Southeast Asia with its flagship store in Singapore, located at shopping destination ION Orchard. In Asia, Li-Ning has expanded its brand supremacy in regional markets such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, and India, achieving more than 300 channels distributing Li-Ning badminton products.

About Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC)
Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC) is the only organisation in Singapore that caters sports for persons across all kinds of disabilities. It aims to help people with disability lead full and independent lives through sports. Besides providing sporting opportunities for them to realise their potential, SDSC trains talents to represent Singapore and pursue excellence at regional and international competitions. Find out more at http://www.sdsc.org.sg

A total of 659 athletes from 55 different countries will be participating in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, competing for the gold, silver and bronze medal in their respective event. The number of participating athletes and countries in Eindhoven will be one of the largest of any previous Swimming World Championships.

The World Championships are organised with the help of the NPC, the Netherlands, the Foundation WC Swimming 2010, Disabled Sports the Netherlands, the city of Eindhoven, and the Dutch Swimming Federation (KNZB).

For more information about the 2010 IPC Swimming World Championships and to purchase tickets to the event, please visit http://www.wcswimming2010.com.

For more information about IPC Swimming, please visit the official website at http://www.ipc-swimming.org.

Yip Pin Xiu Set for London Paralympics 2012
Singapore’s first Paralympic gold medalist, Yip Pin Xiu, has qualified for 2012 London Paralympics after picking up a gold medal in the 50m freestyle at the 2010 IPC Swimming World Championships, Eindhoven in the Netherlands.

The first day of the championship saw Yip compete in the 50m freestyle event under the S3 classification, clocking a timing of 01:00:87 in the heats. During the finals, she beat Fran Williamson from Britain, with a timing of 01:03:17. German Annke Conradi of Germany came in third.

The 18 yr old swimmer earned double medals to her name during the Beijing 2008 Paralympics with a gold in 50m backstroke and a silver in 50m freestyle. Yip will be competing in her pet event, 50m backstroke (S3 class), on Tuesday.
The Singapore team also comprises of Paralympian Theresa Goh, Benson Tan Eng Kiong, Chew Zi Ling and Lawrence Tay Wei Siang who will taking part in their events for the rest of the championships till 21 August. The contingent will be returning on Wednesday, 25 August 2010, 0605 hours.

Note to Editor
About 2010 IPC Swimming World Championships
Taking place from 15-21 August, more than 640 athletes from 53 different countries will be participating at the 2010 IPC Swimming World Championships in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. Competing inside the Pieter van den Hoogenband Swimming Stadium for the gold, silver and bronze medal in their respective event, the number of participating athletes and countries will be one of the largest of any previous Swimming World Championships.

Watch the 2010 IPC Swimming World Championships live on http://www.ParalympicSport.TV, every day of the Championships from 9-12 CET (heats) and 17-21 CET (finals). For more information, take a look at the ParalympicSport.TV Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/ParalympicSport.TV

For more information about the 2010 IPC Swimming World Championships, please visit http://www.wcswimming2010.com

_______________________________________________________________________________

About Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC)

SDSC is the only organisation in Singapore that caters sports for persons across all kinds of disabilities. It aims to help the disabled lead full and independent lives through sports. Besides providing sporting opportunities for them to realise their potential, SDSC trains talents to represent Singapore and pursue excellence at regional and international competitions. Visit more information at http://www.sdsc.org.sg

For media queries, please contact:

Chin Siew Hui
Corporate Communications Executive
Singapore Disability Sports Council
Office: (65) 6342 3564 HP: (65) 8328 3916 Fax: 6342 0961
Email: siew.hui@sdsc.org.sg

Noelle Yeo
Communications & International Relations Manager
Singapore Disability Sports Council
Office: (65) 6342 3503 HP: (65) 8328 3917 Fax: 6342 0961
Email: noelle.yeo@sdsc.org.sg

SDSC Selection Committee had decided on 6 sports with 24 athletes to be recommended to the SNPC Selection Committee to participate at the Asian Para Games 2010, Guangzhou – China.  The athletes from the nominated list will be representing Singapore in Athletics, Badminton, Boccia, Handcycling, Swimming and Tenpin Bowling.

Please find the list of the athletes recommended here.

Appeals may be submitted for those athletes who were not selected. All appeals must be lodged in writing to SDSC via email/post to Ms Stefanie Ang by 20 August 2010, 4pm. Any appeals received later than the said date and time will not be entertained.

The decision of the SDSC Selection Committee and SDSC Appeal Committee is final.

For more information about the Asian Para Games 2010, please refer to the website at http://www.gzapg2010.cn/

Watch the video now at http://voxsports.net/sports-on-air-disability-must-never-disqualify

Some screenshots of the video:

(A production by Voxsports)

SDSC’s athletes unveiled as torchbearers for the first-ever Youth Olympic Games

As the nation counts down to the final days before the start of the first Youth Olympic Games (YOG), four of Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC)’s athletes will have the honour of carrying the first Youth Olympic Flame, which represents the Olympic Values of Excellence, Friendship and Respect.

After making its way across five cities of Berlin, Darkar, Mexico City, Auckland and Seoul, the Journey of the Youth Olympic Flame (JYOF) will reach Singapore for the six-day traditional torch relay run.

Our athletes include Firdaus Bin Nordin, who won three gold medals at the Athletics German Open Championship held in mid June this year. His journey will be on 7 August at 9.50am along Toa Payoh Lorong 6, lamp post 44a.

On the very same day, Eric Ting, our Paralympian wheelchair racer, will take over the torch at 5.45pm along Ang Mo Kio Ave 4, lamp post 54.

Paralympian sailor Jovin Tan, who recently qualified to compete at the London 2012 Paralympics, is scheduled to carry the torch on the 8 August, 7pm at ITE College East.

Boccia player Nurulasyiqah Binte Mohammad Taha, who was ranked third during the recent World Boccia Championships in Portugal, will be having her turn on 12 August along West Coast Road, lamp post 77. Her journey will start at 4.55pm for about 100m before handing over the 1kg aluminium torch over to the next participant.

The torch relay will weave through the five community districts and end in the heart of the city.

About 2,400 Singaporeans have been selected as torchbearers for the torch relay before the Youth Olympic Flame is lit at the Singapore 2010 Opening Ceremony at The Float@Marina Bay to mark the start of the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games.

According to the Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (Syogoc), the participants were chosen after a three-month search.

Other torch bearers include familiar names such as 77th Street founder Elim Chew, adventurer Khoo Swee Chiow and nine-time South-east Asia Games champion thrower James Wong, who is also the chef de mission for the Singapore YOG contingent.

_______________________________________________________________________________

About Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC)

SDSC is the only organisation in Singapore that caters sports for persons across all kinds of disabilities. It aims to help the disabled lead full and independent lives through sports. Besides providing sporting opportunities for them to realise their potential, SDSC trains talents to represent Singapore and pursue excellence at regional and international competitions. Visit more information at http://www.sdsc.org.sg

For media queries, please contact:

Chin Siew Hui
Corporate Communications Executive
Singapore Disability Sports Council
Office: (65) 6342 3564 HP: (65) 8328 3916 Fax: 6342 0961
Email: siew.hui@sdsc.org.sg

Noelle Yeo
Communications & International Relations Manager
Singapore Disability Sports Council
Office: (65) 6342 3503 HP: (65) 8328 3917 Fax: 6342 0961
Email: noelle.yeo@sdsc.org.sg

Sailors Qualify for Paralympics 2012

Home team Paralympic sailors Jovin Tan and Desiree Lim, are assured of a slot in the London Paralympics 2012 after securing an overall ranking in the sixth place at the International Association for Disabled Sailing (IFDS) World Championship, Netherlands.

Only the top six countries will qualify for the Paralympics.

Taking place from July 6-14, the championship saw 10 countries compete in the SKUD18 event. The SKUD 18 is the two-person equipment for the 2008 and 2012 Paralympic sailing competition. The largest, fastest and most spectacular of the Access Classes, the SKUD is a feature of the event and is regularly sailed at international championships.

Led by Mr Foo Say Juan, the team manager cum coach from the Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC), the Singapore contingent also included Sulaiman bin Pungot who competed in the 2.4mR event.

The Singapore duo who also represented Singapore during the 2008 Beijing Paralympics will be returning on the July 16. 

_______________________________________________________________________________

About Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC)

SDSC is the only organisation in Singapore that caters sports for persons across all kinds of disabilities. It aims to help the disabled lead full and independent lives through sports. Besides providing sporting opportunities for them to realise their potential, SDSC trains talents to represent Singapore and pursue excellence at regional and international competitions. Visit more information at http://www.sdsc.org.sg

For media queries, please contact:

Chin Siew Hui
Corporate Communications Executive
Singapore Disability Sports Council
Office: (65) 6342 3564 HP: (65) 8328 3916 Fax: 6342 0961
Email: siew.hui@sdsc.org.sg

Noelle Yeo
Communications & International Relations Manager
Singapore Disability Sports Council
Office: (65) 6342 3503 HP: (65) 8328 3917 Fax: 6342 0961
Email: noelle.yeo@sdsc.org.sg

2010 has been a bumper crop year for Singapore Disability Sports Council with athletes returning victorious at international championships leading up to the Commonwealth Games in Delhi and Guangzhou Asian Games later this year.

The trio of SDSC swimmers, including Theresa Goh whose latest feat is a gold medal in the 50m breaststroke, has just set new seasonal and personal best timings at the recent 24th German International Swimming Championships held in Berlin, Germany.

Taking place from June 17 - 20, this prestigious event had 630 athletes from 47 countries all over Europe, Asia and Africa. Also representing Singapore were James Leow, 31, and Emma Dione Schick, 14.

Both James and Theresa’s timings have eased them into qualifying for the Asian Paralympic Games in Guangzhou later this year. James claimed all seasonal best records in the 100m butterfly, 100m freestyle, 50m butterfly and 50m freestyle. Theresa claimed all seasonal best records and ranked 7th position among all classes in the finals.

Emma scored with her personal best in the 50m freestyle and the seasonal best in the 50m backstroke, warming her up well ahead of SDSC’s annual National Swimming Championship on July 3.

Despite juggling a hectic study schedule, the 23 year-old sports science student still managed to shine in this championship. Training five times a week, Theresa is already looking forward to her next overseas meet. She said, “I have always enjoyed going for the German Open and this recent one was no exception. It was a good competitive meet and it served as a reminder that the World Championships in Netherlands is just around the corner.”

The swimmers will now go on to compete at the upcoming 2010 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Swimming World Championships in Eindhoven, the Netherlands this August. Singapore’s first Paralympic gold medalist, Yip Pin Xiu will also compete at this meet.

The 2010 German International Swimming Championships are organised by the Paralympic Sport Club Berlin (PSC), a club dedicated to encourage athletes with and without a disability in competitive sport.

For more information about the 24th German International Swimming Championship, please visit the official website at http://www.idm-schwimmen.de.

For more information about the upcoming 2010 IPC Swimming World Championships in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, please visit the official website at http://www.wcswimming.com
_______________________________________________________________________________
About Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC)

SDSC is the only organisation in Singapore that caters sports for persons across all kinds of disabilities. It aims to help the disabled lead full and independent lives through sports. Besides providing sporting opportunities for them to realise their potential, SDSC trains talents to represent Singapore and pursue excellence at regional and international competitions. Visit more information at http://www.sdsc.org.sg

For media queries, please contact:

Chin Siew Hui
Corporate Communications Executive
Singapore Disability Sports Council
Office: (65) 6342 3503 Handphone: (65) 8328 3916 Fax: 6342 0961
Email: siew.hui@sdsc.org.sg

Noelle Yeo
Communications & International Relations Manager
Singapore Disability Sports Council
Office: (65) 6342 3508 Handphone: (65) 8328 3917 Fax: 6342 0961
Email: noelle.yeo@sdsc.org.sg

Just two months back in training but Firdaus Bin Nordin looks set to revive his triumphant wheelchair racing career by sweeping 3 gold medals and topping the seasonal best records at the International German Open Championships for Track and Field.

Taking place from 11 – 13 June, the Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC) also sent two other athletes, Adam Kamis and Choo Leng Hin to compete in the championships leading up to the Delhi Commonwealth Games and Guangzhou Asian Games later this year. 

Coach Jacter Singh, who has been the athletics coach for SDSC for the past four years, said, “I expected the boys to do well given how intense their trainings had been.”

He also revealed that Firdaus, 22, has been training four times weekly and was able to make his comeback easily given his robust foundation in the sport. Firdaus’s wins in all three of his events showed the kind of stellar performance that bodes well for the upcoming games. 

Leng Hin, came in first, second and third for his 100m, 200m and 400m events respectively. The 16 year old who has cerebral palsy, also bagged two gold medals in last year’s Asian Youth Para Games in Tokyo.

Adam, 30, who is a right arm amputee with brachial injury in his right arm, a type of nerve damage, chalked up his personal best timings in all three of his running events. The avid runner, in the month of May alone, also competed in the Passion Run 25km, scaled the 63 storeys of One Raffles Place during the National Vertical Marathon and completed the Adidas Sundown Marathon. 

___________________________________________________________________________

About Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC)

SDSC is the only organisation in Singapore that caters sports for persons across all kinds of disabilities. It aims to help the disabled lead full and independent lives through sports. Besides providing sporting opportunities for them to realise their potential, SDSC trains talents to represent Singapore and pursue excellence at regional and international competitions. Visit more information at http://www.sdsc.org.sg

For media queries, please contact:

Chin Siew Hui
Corporate Communications Executive
Singapore Disability Sports Council
Office: (65) 6342 3503 Handphone: (65) 8328 3916 Fax: 6342 0961
Email: siew.hui@sdsc.org.sg

Noelle Yeo
Communications & International Relations Manager
Singapore Disability Sports Council
Office: (65) 6342 3508 Handphone: (65) 8328 3917 Fax: 6342 0961
Email: noelle.yeo@sdsc.org.sg