TEAM Singapore’s 13-strong contingent from the 2016 Para-lympics were honoured in a parliamentary motion yesterday as the country’s leaders hailed their achievements at the Rio de Janeiro Games.
However, only nine of the athletes – Maximillian Tan, Gemma Rose Foo, Nur Syahidah Alim, Theresa Goh, Yip Pin Xiu, Toh Sze Ning, Nurulasyiqah Mohammad Taha, Suhairi Suhani and Muhammad Diroy Noordin – were present for the occasion, which saw them receive a standing ovation in the Chamber.
Missing were Norsilawati Sa’at, Laurentia Tan, Jovin Tan and Yap Qian Yin.
Yip’s two golds (50m backstroke S2, 100m backstroke S2) and Goh’s bronze (100m breaststroke SB4) made it Singapore’s best showing at the quadrennial meet.
The class of 2016 was also the country’s largest Paralympics contingent, a clear sign of how far disability sport has progressed.
In a speech, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu said: “Our Pa- ralympians, with their incredible feats in Rio, have uplifted the nation.
“Adding to an already impressive haul of one gold, two silvers and three bronzes from past Games, our Paralympians brought home another two gold and one bronze medals.
“This year, we had 13 athletes qualifying and representing Singapore across six sports and 21 events – almost double the contingent of eight athletes at the 1988 and 2012 Paralympic Games.
“My heartiest congratulations to all of you. Beyond medals, each Paralympian has shown us what it means to be a champion – to be counted among the world’s best, and fly our flag high at the world’s biggest stage for para sports.”
siangyee@sph.com.sg
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