Singapore’s Medal Haul at Paralympics

Two bronzes, a silver and a gold. All thanks to Laurentia Tan (Equestrian) and Yip Pin Xiu (Swimming).

After so much fanfare, crowd support, media coverage, financial support for the Olympics team, the performances from the lesser known disabled sportsmen, is truly something to be admired.

There were no tears like cry baby ping pong player Gao Ning who blamed his coach for not being court side to help him defeat his opponent.

Indeed, Yip Pin Xiu’s coach, Ang Peng Siong barely said anything to her before her gold medal swim. With her mind clear, the swimmer had all the mental strength to overcome her physical disabilities, shrug off her opponents and win the race convincingly, with a new under-60 second record for the 50m backstroke.

At this level, it’s all about wanting it, the mental spirit, the toughness, the patience. You can see it in the eyes of the player. Just observe how Li Jia Wei gets impatient and loses on important points.

But there’s more to be learnt from this showing at the Paralympics, aside from the mental tenacity that propels the weak to suceed.

I think that the disabled in Singapore don’t really have the kind of programmes for sport therapy that more developed countries have. Few opportunities exist. I know that the Polo Club offers rides to the disabled. But this doesn’t seem to be done frequently. Laurentia Tan, for example had her opportunities in the U.K.

Putting money into sports programmes for the disabled does more than for abled-bodied sportsmen, because for the disabled, it is therapy. It really helps them even if none of them are going to be sportsmen. Making them healthy, their muscles stronger and more able, gives the disabled more freedom to move independently. To be more self-reliant.

Furthermore, a new-found ability in sport, can motivate the disabled, give them more confidence to try and push themselves. To try something they might have thought impossible.

I don’t know how much money the Singapore Sports Disability Council spends in comparison to the Singapore Sports Council supporting these sportsmen. But I’m willing to bet, after this medal haul, that the ROI on the disabled is higher. And therefore, we should put more money behind them.