James dreams of reaching the Commonwealth Games
Para swimmer James Wong is resigned to the fact that he will see no action this year with the Asean Para Games struck off the calendar due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The 24-year-old, who was born without part of his left arm, will now set his sights on qualifying for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.
Asean Para Games hosts, the Philippines, have cancelled the 10th edition of the Games because of uncertainties due to the virus.
Vietnam will instead host the 10th edition of the Games next year.
“I more or less expected that the Games will not take place because it has been postponed a few times.
“It will be hard to host any events this year unless a vaccine is found.
“I will take a mental break now and start afresh next year to get into the Commonwealth Games squad.
“I missed out on making the squad for the last Games in Gold Coast in 2018. It would be a dream come true to get in as the Games is probably the biggest competition where able-bodied and para athletes swim at the same meet.
“That does not happen at the Olympics,” added James, who bagged a bronze in the 200m individual medley S8 (for a swimmer with one limb) at the Asian Para Games in Indonesia in 2018.
At the last Asean Para Games in Kuala Lumpur in 2017, James made a big splash by setting a new meet record en route to winning the 100m butterfly race.
James also bagged a silver in the 200m individual medley and a bronze in the 100m breaststroke.