(Team Singapore at the 2107 KL Para Games. Photo Credit : SNPC)
The Singapore National Paralympic Council (SNPC) has selected thirty seven (37) Team Singapore para athletes to represent Singapore at the upcoming 11th ASEAN Para Games (APG), taking place from 30 July to 6 August 2022 in Solo, Indonesia. The last edition of the biennial event was the 9th APG in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2017. The APG was cancelled twice in a row, in early 2020 (Philippines) and in 2021 (Vietnam), due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Seventeen (17) para athletes will make their APG debut. Paralympians who competed at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games Nur Syahidah Alim (Para Archery), Muhammad Diroy Noordin (Para Athletics), and Sophie Soon (Para Swimming) will lend their major games experience to the Team Singapore contingent. Athletes who have yet to meet the qualifying criteria have until end June to meet the selection criteria for the Games.
The oldest athlete competing at the APG is 57 year old Tan Kok Leong (Para Table Tennis), while the youngest athlete at 14 years old is Janelle Tong (Swimming). Eight athletes will represent Singapore in the sport of Table Tennis, the largest team out of the nine sports.
“I had been looking forward to represent Singapore alongside my sister, Joan, at the APG that was due to be hosted by the Philippines. Unfortunately, the Games were cancelled. While I was disappointed, the women’s goalball team saw this as an opportunity to improve our physical strength, skills and technique. We have prepared well for the Solo 2022 APG and we are raring to go,” said Inez Hung (Goalball), APG debutante.
The contingent will be led by Chef de Mission Mr Low See Lien, Honorary Treasurer of SNPC.
“We are thoroughly excited that the ASEAN Para Games will be staged and we thank Indonesia for stepping up to the plate to host the games. Our para athletes have trained hard and have risen above many challenges over the last few years. Crucially, they have had to manage the disappointment of experiencing two consecutive postponements of the games. Despite the challenging circumstances, our para athletes have remained dedicated to their sports and continued to train hard. I am confident that the team is ready to compete and represent Singapore to the best of their abilities. We thank all stakeholders, such as the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, Sport Singapore, Singapore Disability Sports Council, and many government agencies, who have supported us on this journey. I appeal to all Singaporeans to rally behind our athletes and to give us that extra lift through their support,” said Chef de Mission Mr Low See Lien.
“I congratulate all para athletes on their selection for the Solo 2022 ASEAN Para Games. We are especially proud to see many debutants achieving an important milestone in their para sports journey. We are confident that our para athletes and officials will fly the Singapore flag high at the Solo 2022 ASEAN Para Games. We wish them all the best in the final phase of preparation for the Games,” said Dr Teo-Koh Sock Miang, President, SNPC.
For the 9th APG in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Singapore sent a contingent of 90 athletes, its largest away contingent. The team went on to deliver Singapore’s largest away APG medal haul of 50 medals (9 gold, 17 silver and 24 bronze).
2022 APG organisers are expecting more than 1,600 para athletes from across Southeast Asia to compete in 14 sports across 8 days of action.