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Thursday August 13, 2009

Momentous event

WHEEL POWER WITH ANTHONY THANASAYAN


More than a thousand disabled athletes will converge in Bukit Jalil this weekend for the Asean Para Games KL ’09.

AS you read this, preparations are fully under way for a notable sporting event for the disabled which will kick off this weekend at the National Sports Complex in Bukit Jalil, KL.

The Asean Para Games KL ’09, a five-day international event, will be participated by disabled sportsmen and sportswomen from Asean.

More than a thousand disabled athletes together with their able-bodied officials from as many as 11 nations will converge at Bukit Jalil. About 350 are from Malaysia.

This year’s competition – the fifth since 2001 – will be the second time that Malaysia is playing host. The first one was also held in the country.

The event which takes place once every two years features athletes with a variety of handicaps, including the blind, amputees and those with intellectual disabilities. Each of them will take part in almost a dozen sporting disciplines which include volleyball sitting, athletics, swimming and sailing.

However, none of the sporting events will be as exciting as wheelchair basketball, argues Chong Tuck Meng from Bentong, Pahang.

Gearing up for the challenge: National coach Ahmad Shahrom briefing the tennis participants of the Asean Para Games KL ’09.

The forty-something Chong is manager of the basketball team. He is also a wheelchair-user which makes him the only disabled manager in the team.

“My job is to take care of my team of 12 wheelchair players who include amputees, people with spinal cord injuries and those born with a disability,” explains Chong.

“Though it is my duty to motivate them, I must admit I get lots of inspiration from my boys, aged between 20 and 35, who come from all over Malaysia,” says Chong who became paralysed from the neck down following an accident almost 30 years ago.

According to Chong, wheelchair basketball is one of the most skilful and professional sports in the games.

“Those who haven’t seen a match before will think that the competitors move more slowly than their able-bodied counterparts. But the reverse is true: wheelchair athletes move at lightning speed.

“They have to dribble the basketball and manoeuvre their wheelchairs at the same time, and pass the ball to their team-mates.”

There are times when they get knocked off their wheelchair and have to get up in an instant and get on with the game.

According to Chong, the net is placed at the same height as the game for the able-bodied, making it harder to score from a wheelchair level.

“The interaction with sportsmen from other countries is another high point for the participants,” says Chong. “The opportunity to meet other athletes and share experiences keeps everyone in high spirits and believing in what they can achieve despite their various handicaps.”

Chong has not been able to take part in any sporting events because of his severe disability.

“People with conditions like mine pose a challenge for those working in disability sports to try and come up with sporting disciplines that can include people with profound handicaps,” says Chong.

He concludes that he would like to see disability sport in Malaysia being regarded as a professional sport like in overseas countries where disabled athletes can make it their full time career and be paid for their outstanding contributions.

■ For more information on the Asean Para Games KL ’09, please visit www.aseanparagameskl09.org.my/default.asp.

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