Everyone's a winner at the Special Olympics Singapore National Games. (Photo: Special Olympics Singapore)
Over the weekend in Singapore, 640 sportspersons and nearly 1,400 volunteer coaches, officials and helpers turned out for the Special Olympics Singapore National Games.
The record number of volunteers, drawn from secondary schools, ITE
colleges, polytechnics and corporate outfits, signals the fast-growing
support and awareness of people with intellectual disabilities.
They are in fact children and adults alike with abilities that far
exceed expectations from those around them, as proved by the eighth
installment of the multisport event, which is organised every four
years.
Salihin Bin Sinai was one such individual, flying the Singapore flag in a field that included representatives from Philippines and Malaysia.
The 26-year-old powered his way to victory in the 400m track event at the National University of Singapore’s sport complex.
“I always want to improve my timing,” said the dental technician, when Yahoo! Singapore asked for his thoughts on the gold medal around his neck.
Salihin Bin Sinai bursting clear of his competitors en route to first place.
Minutes before lining up at the start point, Salihin had joked about being unaccustomed to the sweltering midday heat, with most of his training carried out after working hours and in the cool of the night.
But the soft-spoken youth also sheepishly confessed to not being in the least nervous about his race.
No surprises there: Salihin has competed in the Special Olympics since 1995, despite being a sickly seven-year-old boy diagnosed with asthma then.
From 1999 to 2003, he bagged a clutch of medals in swimming and
badminton at international editions held in New Zealand and Ireland.
In 2011, he went on to make headlines by being the first Asian with
intellectual disability to conquer Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak
in Africa.
Salihin has
also clocked mileage in marathons and triathlons over the last few
years, and intends to keep up his pursuit of sporting challenges.
At least until his lean and rugged physique is, as he declared,
“tired and cannot (continue) already” – and even then Salihin is keen on
volunteering to coach budding Special Olympics Singapore athletes.
Young Lee Zheng Lok, exhausted after the effort she put into her race.
Count Singaporean Lee Zheng Lok, 17, among this group of hopefuls.
The Association for Persons with Special Needs (APSN) Delta Senior School
student may not be as seasoned, and was a whole lot less assured than
Salihin, but that didn’t stop her from collecting bronze in the 400m and
a top placing in the 4x400m relay races.
Lee’s secret is no secret – a simple “never give up” decree issued by
her coach, along with an appreciation for hard work and endurance
drilled into her through hours of training.
These qualities helped overcome the self-doubt she experienced at the onset of the Special Olympics. “I had no confidence in myself,” she admitted. “I felt that the others might be stronger than me.”
Luckily, Lee managed to “relax (her) body and mind” by tapping on her
plain love for sport. Smiling broadly, she said: “Sports is my hobby.
It keeps me awake, cheerful and fit.”
A sombre moment passed when the otherwise spirited teen reflected, “My studies are not good… so I should play sports well.”
But Lee brightened when the topic shifted to her family. “They’re
very happy and proud (of her involvement in athletics) and tell my
(extended) family about me,” she enthused. “Also my grandma always
taught me… to challenge myself.”
Just one of many relevant lessons fleshed out by these athletes with
intellectual disabilities, and witnessed by the thousands in attendance
at the Special Olympics Singapore.
A participant at the Special Olympics Singapore National Games prepares to take off.
Source : Yahoo Sports , 4th June 2013
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