Singapore, 11 November 2020 – The first half of 2020 was supposed to be Moi Yan Ting Danielle’s last stretch to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, as she set her sights on clearing seconds to meet the Games’ Minimum Qualification Standard (MQS). Without a warning, COVID-19 threw the global swimming competition calendar into disarray, and the 21-year-old, who fights against intellectual impairment, found herself in flux. She had to quickly adjust to new home-based training sets to keep herself fit for competition, and seek her family’s extended support to continue her dream. In recognition of her drive to succeed against the odds, the Haw Par Para Sports Bursary Award selected Moi as one of its 36 recipients this year.
“I have been training very hard and my family has made a lot of sacrifices for me to chase this dream. I am very happy to receive the Haw Par Para Sports Bursary Award that would allow me to continue training, upgrade my equipment and offset the cost of competing overseas. I want to earn the right to represent Singapore at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games,” said Moi, who has now resumed her routine of at least eight pool sessions a week.
Supporting Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) who additionally face financial challenges to continue their sporting dreams, the Haw Par Para Sports Bursary Award was launched in 2018 under a partnership between the Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC) and Haw Par Corporation Limited. Factors such as occupation, household income, support needs, current performance and reasons for application were taken into account by the selection committee.
This year’s awards saw an increase in recipients from 31 to 36 across 11 para sports, bringing Haw Par Corporation’s support for the bursaries to a total of $131,500 over three years. The youngest recipient was, 20, while the oldest recipient was Aisah Binte Ibrahim, 74.
In line with COVID-19 safe distancing measures, this year’s awards did not see a gathering of award recipients and their loved ones. Instead, awards and ‘Back to Sport’ care packages, comprising sports accessories and handwritten messages by Haw Par Corporation employees, were presented to the recipients individually.
“In such challenging times, our para athletes and the community have demonstrated an indomitable spirit to continue training hard. The Haw Par Para Sports Bursary allows us to support and be a part of our para athletes’ journeys. Our para athletes are sources of inspiration for all Singaporeans and we are proud of all they have achieved,” said Mr Wee Ee Lim, President & CEO, Haw Par Corporation Limited.
SDSC hopes the Haw Par Para Sports Bursary will encourage more PWDs to pursue sports. “We are very thankful to Haw Par Corporation for their great support in empowering our para athletes to continue pursuing sport and chasing their dreams. COVID-19 has dealt a great blow to all members of society, including our para athletes. SDSC’s mission of transforming the lives of PWDs through sport would not be possible without partners like Haw Par Corporation. With additional resources for our programmes and to introduce sport to more PWDs, we are hopeful of seeing more PWDs lead active, healthy lives,” said Dr Teo-Koh Sock Miang, SDSC President.
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