SITI SAFURA AIMS TO EXCEL IN STUDIES AND CHESS
Siti aims to excel in studies and chess
NATIONAL chess player Siti Safura Jaafar was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) when she was just three years old.
SMA is a genetic disease affecting the part of the nervous system that controls voluntary muscle movement.
Her condition slowly deteriorated and by the time she was 15, she could no longer walk.
She uses a motorised wheelchair to get around.
But the plucky Siti has never let her disability hinder her from excelling in studies – and chess.
Having just completed her Master of Science in Phytochemistry from Universiti Putra Malaysia two years ago, the 34-year-old from Seremban is pursuing a PhD in Bioinformatics at the Perdana University in Serdang.
It’s her desire to further understand SMA that’s spurring her on to continue with her education.
“No doctor could give me a satisfactory answer to my disease. So I decided to find out more on my own when I completed my Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examinations,” said Siti.
“My ambition is to become either an academician or a scientist. That’s why I’m pursuing a PhD in Bioinformatics. It’s a field that is related to my disease as it involves the science of collecting and analys- ing complex biological data such as genetic codes.
“I wish to understand SMA further. Hopefully, one day I’ll find the answer I’ve been seeking all this while.”
For now, Siti’s shifting her focus to winning gold when she makes her appearance at the Asean Para Games here from Sept 17-23.
“I’ve waited long enough and I can’t wait to get started. I was supposed to make my debut in Myanmar in 2014, but I had to skip it due to logistical issues.
“I then missed out on Singapore 2015 due to health problems.”
Siti will head into the Asean Para Games buoyed by her victory in the Goldis Malaysia Chess Challenge 2017 in Kuala Lumpur, where she overcame some of the able-bodied contestants to clinch the 1,200 rating and below category title.
At the Asean Para Games, she will compete in four events – rapid and standard individual and teams.
I’ve waited long enough and I can’t wait to get started.
Siti Safura Jaafar