A sportsman through and through
KUALA LUMPUR: Timor Leste para shuttler-cum-coach Anibal G. Pereira came to the Kuala Lumpur Asean Para Games all ready to compete in the men’s SL3 (standing category – impairment in lower limb).
He was confident he could do a good job. After all, he is a two-time national champion back home.
Imagine his shock when he found out that he had been entered for the WH2 (wheelchair) category – and he has never used a wheelchair before.
Being the good sport that he is, the jovial Anibal borrowed a wheelchair from Malaysian para shuttler Chew Jit Thye and rolled himself onto the court.
He was clearly out of his depth and went down 2-21, 4-21 to Indonesian Wiwin Andri Wiwin Andri in 16 minutes at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil on Wednesday.
He did not last more than 20 minutes in all his other Group B matches and he also did not get more than 10 points in his two other group matches.
For anyone else, it would have been one of the worst-ever experiences. But the 42-year-old Anibal was just excited to be part of the Games. He is the sole representative from Timor Leste for badminton.
“I have never even sat in a wheelchair until today. My country wrongly listed me to play in the WH2 category.
Luckily, I was allowed to play. I borrowed the wheelchair from a Malaysian athlete.
“I’ve never used a wheelchair before because I don’t have the money to buy one,” said Anibal, who suffered a serious knee injury after falling from a tree while picking mangoes when he was eight years old.
“I landed on some rocks and my left knee was shattered. I walk with a limp now.
“I picked up badminton in 2007 when a group of coaches from Indonesia came over for a programme. I fell in love with the game,” said Anibal.
He has promised to groom more youngsters and come back with a bigger team at the next Games.
Anibal used to be a barber and owned the Andy Salon but it was destroyed in a fire on Christmas Eve last year.
“I’m jobless now but I’ve started coaching. In fact, I’m coaching four others in my country at a small twocourt badminton hall in Dili,” he said.