Table tennis competition to be held for special needs people
SIBU: A table tennis competition specifically for people with spinal cord injury ( SCI) will be held at Star Mega Mall here on April 20.
The competition called ‘Sibu Spinal Cord Injury Association Para Table Tennis Invitation Cup 2019’, to run from 10.15am- 5pm, is the first of its kind organised here by the Sibu Spinal Cord Injury Association ( SSCIA) in collaboration with Sibu Table Tennis Association ( STTA) and Sarawak Para Ping Pong Association.
SSCIA chairman Liu Bee Sang said here recently the main objective is to encourage people with disabilities (wheelchair users) to take up para table tennis.
“It’s not just for people with SCI. Those who are wheelchairbound are eligible to take part also where two categories are available namely the OKU wheelchair ( TT1-TT5) Competition and the Wheelchair Challenge Competition.
“The second category is open to those with disabilities and those without disabilities. The latter are to sit on wheelchair to compete with those who are wheelchairbound,” he explained.
Liu said the first category will be further categorised based on the participants’ level of disabilities.
The champion in the first category will take home RM200 while the first runner-up will get RM100, the second runner-up RM75 and the third runner-up RM50.
Contestants in the other category will only receive gifts for their participation. Those interested can contact Liu ( 011-10586778) or coach Desmond Ling (019-8262288) for registration, which must be done by April 12 at the latest. Participation is free of charge.
Meanwhile, in conjunction with the competition, a booth will be set up at the competition venue to enable the disabled to register with the Welfare Department.
“SSCIA formed its Sibu Spinal Cord Injury Association Ping Pong Club in March last year after some of our members expressed interest in playing ping pong,” Liu said.
The club now has eight members with Goh Kuong Tiong as chairman and Liu, treasurer.
“We have training sessions every Wednesday and Thursday from 6.30pm-9pm at SSCIA Centre in Permai. We’ve assigned STTA Sibu Division secretary Desmond Ling as our coach,” Liu said, extending his invitation to all those who are interested to join them.
According to him, two of the club’s members competed in the Para Table Tennis Tournament in Kuala Lumpur on April 20 last year.