New chapter: Zy posing in front of the Shanghai University of Sport. — Photo courtesy of Zy
Swimmer makes history at Chinese sports varsity
GEORGE TOWN: Despite missing the recent Paralympic Games in Paris, swimmer Zy Kher Lee has been accepted into the Shanghai University of Sport (SUS) in China.
He is the first disabled person to study in the varsity, where he will pursue a course in human kinesiology.
Founded in 1952, SUS is a public university invested in the development of sports-related disciplines in China – the first university of its kind.
Zy, 17, was born without three limbs. He only has a full left arm, half a right arm, no right leg and a left leg with only three toes.
He is also expected to continue his training with Chinese swimmers and start preparing for the next Paralympic Games in earnest.
Zy had expected to take part in the recent Paris Paralympics but was not selected.
“I have faced many different challenges throughout my life. Missing the Paris Paralympic Games was certainly painful.
“While I’m not sure if the wound (of being left out) has completely healed, I will persevere.”
Zy vows to emerge stronger and prove the naysayers wrong.
“I’m not done yet and I won’t give up on something I’ve worked for my entire life.
“I’ve set my mind and focus on new targets,” he said in an interview.
The swimmer’s immediate goal would be to compete in the next Paralympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028.
Despite his physical disability, Zy started swimming at the age of six and began competing globally by the time he was 13.
It was reported that he has won six international medals, including two bronze medals at last year’s Hangzhou Asian Para Games.
Zy is now based in Bangkok to train with the Thai team before heading to Shanghai at the end of the month.
His father, Walter Lee, 59, is still searching for answers from the Paralympic Council of Malaysia (PCM) and Malaysian Para Swimming Association (Prepma) regarding the selection process for the Paris Paralympic Games.
“I did what any parent would do and would continue to seek the truth for Zy.
“He asked me, ‘Papa, do you want me to train for four more years?’ and it broke my heart.
“It has been a tense past two years and a hectic two months. Now, we will take a break,” he said.
Lee, who is an executive member at Prepma, added that he would be waiting for the outcome of a post-mortem following the Paris Paralympics.
“I had asked why Zy was assigned a bipartite slot, which is a wildcard selection system, when his world ranking was seventh.
“The authorities ought to give answers,” he added.
Prepma had two slots to fill for the Paralympics. But Zy’s bipartite application was denied by World Para Swimming.
The Malaysian contingent of 30 members ended their campaign with a medal haul of 2-2-1 in Paris without meeting their four-gold medal target set by PCM, finishing in 42nd place overall among 85 countries.
In response to Lee’s earlier queries, PCM and Prepma said that they had selected Nur Syaiful Zul-kafli and Imaan Aiman Redzuan over Zy because the committee believed that the duo would have a higher chance of winning medals.
