'I need to represent Singapore even though my father couldn’t': The para-athlete who chases her dreams and the dreams of others. By Matthew Mohan
SINGAPORE: When the crack of the starter's pistol reverberates, it is just Siti Nurhayati Ali Askar Khan and the track. Arms pumping, legs churning, heart pounding, the 16-year-old blitzes down the lane. No distractions, no worries, no stress. ...Siti runs fast and she has to - she's part of Team Singapore's contingent of 30 athletes who will participate at the Special Olympics World Games 2019 from Mar 14 – 21. Held in Abu Dhabi, the event is for athletes with intellectual disabilities, and this year marks Singapore’s tenth year participating.
Singapore's athletics team has eight members and Siti is arguably the most experienced of the lot.
Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/sport/para-athlete-special-olympics-team-singapore-11322330
Sports can bring life to people in different circumstances and the para Olympics and other para Meets are occasions that give the para athletes a chance to show their prowess in their sports. I wish Siti and her team mates all the best and bring back more medals to do Singapore proud.
3-5 May 19, Singapore would be holding the first South East Asia cum Singapore Masters Athletics Meet here. The importance of this inaugural Meet can be seen by where it is being held. It was initially to be held at Toa Payoh Stadium, then Gombak Stadium, and finally Bishan Stadium. At one stage it was supposed to be held at the open practice track next the National Stadium. This is how important this Meet is, and how important the masters athletes are to the people in charge of sports.
I bet they would not even report about it when the event is being held, right here in Singapore.
And there is a bigger Meet in December, the Asian Masters in Kuching, Malaysia. Singapore or is it the Singapore Masters Athletics Association, will be sending a contingent of seniors to compete in this Meet. Would the sports officials be interested in them? Would the media be bothered to cover the events and the athletes like they covered the para athletes? The seniors, the masters athletes, not important, no point covering or reporting about them?
When would they gain recognition and support from the govt and be treated at least as important as the para athletes?