Sporting heroes: Ong (centre, seated) and coach Caleb French (left, seated) posing for a photo with athletes taking part in the World Deaf Karate Championship, including Yilamaran (second from right, standing).
JOHOR BARU: It has taken decades for physically impaired athletes to gain recognition, with Paralympians getting the same rewards as able-bodied Olympians only since 2016.
However, deaf athletes are still being left behind and getting lower incentives, said the Malaysian Deaf Sports Association (MSDeaf).
Its president, Dr Ong Shin Ruenn, said the payout under the National Sports Council incentive scheme for deaf athletes is significantly lower compared to what is paid to other athletes, including Paralympians.
“The incentive payout for a gold medal for the Asia Pacific Deaf Games is RM3,000. For the Deaflympics, it is RM180,000,” he told The Star through a sign language interpreter during the World Deaf Karate Championship here.
“The incentive for a gold medal for the Paralympics is RM1mil, which is significantly higher compared to the sports events involving deaf athletes.”
Like able-bodied athletes, Paralympians have received incentives of RM1mil for gold, RM300,000 for silver and RM100,000 for bronze in Rio 2016, Tokyo 2021 and Paris this year, although Malaysia has been taking part in the Paralympics since 1972.Ong said the unequal recognition is discouraging for many deaf athletes, who have also been training hard and making sacrifices to make the country proud.
“Malaysian deaf athletes are also bringing medals home and should be given similar recognition as other athletes.
“In fact, during the Asia Pacific Deaf Games, which was held in Kuala Lumpur earlier this month, we won four gold, four silver and 10 bronze medals, which was a significant achievement,” he said.
Ong said the move towards giving equal rewards is important to not only motivate existing athletes but also attract new athletes in the future.
“The unequal treatment may deter deaf people from taking part in sports,” he said, adding that he hopes the payout will be raised for the 25th Deaflympics in Japan next year.
Among the athletes who will be taking part in Japan is 24-year-old V. Yilamaran.
In 2022, the national karate athlete made history when he bagged the country’s first medal at the 24th Deaflympic Games in Caxias do Sul, Brazil.
“Two years ago, I got a silver medal in my first ever Deaflympics, and I hope to maintain the performance by bringing home at least one medal.
“I will try my best to make the country proud again,” Yilamaran said through an interpreter, adding that he has been training at least four times a week.
