Para athletes carry on despite no incentive
KUCHING: Athletes with disabilities and officials who guide them at the paralympic Sports Excellence Centre in Kampung Pandan, Kuala Lumpur are only given a token amount for pocket money because there is presently no incentive from the state or country.
However, they have accepted and understood the present situation that their stint at any national tournament is to gauge their potential.
“They know they will get the incentives when they represent Sarawak in the biennial National Paralympic Games or when they play for the country and win medals,” said Minister of Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah when contacted yesterday.
One coach and 10 athletes were stationed at the centre from March 22 to 25.
Fatimah said these athletes are in fact very motivated to carry on with sports.
“They love to do well in life like normal people. Para sports have opened doors to them to prove they can do it despite the impairment to them. They feel included and accepted as an integral part of society. Many impaired athletes from Sarawak have donned national colours at high-level international competitions.
“They felt capable to compete and sports brings them health, exposure to more experiences and a way to livelihood with the attractive incentives,” she stressed.
Sarawak athletes gave a splendid performance in badminton when they obtained two gold, one silver and six bronze medals in the Circuit 1 Para Badminton of the Malaysian Sports Meet 2018 held at the centre in Kuala Lumpur.
The medals were secured by Nabilah Ahmat Sharif, Nursyazwani Shahrom, Chung Hong Hsin, Ashley Irenaeus Jack, Nik Ariffin Putit, Aziz Mulana Mohamad Daud, Hazery Sarbini and Mohd Aqilhazia Nong Chee.
“I am happy to note that newly discovered talents like Ashley from SMK Dalat had made a lot of progress and contributed medals to the Sarawak para team,” said Fatimah, who is Dalat assemblywoman.
Apart from Mukah, the other state para badminton athletes are from Kuching, Sibu, Kota Samarahan and Simunjan.
They know they will get the incentives when they represent Sarawak in the biennial National Paralympic Games or when they play for the country and win medals. Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, Minister of Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development