It is impossible not to like 14-year-old Benson Tan. The adorable and extremely active boy greets you with a firm handshake and gamely swims a few laps of the butterfly, freestyle and breastroke to exhibit his talent. He gleefully yells "Freestyle!" when asked about his favourite stroke then runs back to the kids' pool to play with his friends. He looks at ease interacting with other kids in the Special Olympics swimming programme and is very at home in the water.
"Benson is a natural. Of all the swimmers, he's the most gifted," says Su Lin, one of the swimming coaches. Both she and Benson's dad, Mr K.A. Tan, attest to his quick learning ability. For example, many of the swimmers have encountered difficulties with plunging into the water, but Benson mastered it after two or three tries. Mr Tan also adds that Benson, who has been swimming for five years, picks up football and basketball skills, amongst others, by watching the sports on television.
Benson's most recent triumph was at the SO New Zealand National & Asia Pacific Invitation Games. Though he was the smallest-built among his competitors, Benson completed the 200m freestyle event in 03:11:92 minutes to win the gold medal. Despite being intellectually disabled, the student at Towner Gardens School knows the meaning and importance of competitions. "He is very serious during competitions and will even flex his muscles to get ready," says Benson's dad.
Apart from being an SO swimmer, Benson represents his school in sports like floor hockey and basketball. Ever since he started taking sports more seriously, and especially after his trip to New Zealand, the boy has learnt to become more independent, disciplined and organised. In fact, he was even made a school prefect this year. It seems Benson understands the responsibilities that come with this position and is setting a good example as a leader. Mr Tan comments that Benson "used to arrive home dirty and untidy, as if he had just come from a football match" but now displays a marked difference - he looks neat at the end of the day, with his prefect's tie intact. According to dad, Benson gets upset if anyone tries to take his tie away.
Getting involved in sports has also allowed the naturally outgoing boy to come out of his shell. While he still has some difficulty expressing himself linguistically, Benson has learnt to interact with people of all ages. "[When Benson first joined us],he wouldn't talk, wouldn't look you in the eye and was not comfortable with strangers," says Kim Lau, SO's sports manager. Now he gets along not just with his school mates, but the SO volunteers and other kids as well. He plays sports with the kids in his neighbourhood and fits right in with them. These kids also look him up often to get him to join in their games. Well, with his ability to excel at any sport, it is only natural for kids to want Benson on their team.
Just when you think Benson's destined to be a sportsman, though, you are hit with the revelation that the boy is talented in other ways. Like most kids, he is not too interested in studying, but would willingly while his time away sketching and painting. "Benson could draw since young," says his dad. "He would draw [what was on] CD covers and after the first time, he would be able to draw the same thing without reference.
"Benson has taken part in drawing competitions and his art pieces have been exhibited at Very Special Arts (a charity that provides the disabled with opportunities to access the arts) events. He also attends drawing and drama classes on Saturdays and has performed in dance and drama concerts both in school and beyond, by choice. Benson actually enjoys what he does and has talent to boot.
Words he has not, but his drawings and sporting excellence are already great forms of self expression.
With long, braided hair reaching down to her hips, a shy smile and fair skin, Ang Poh Hua looks like a character - one of those fragile, wide-eyed damsels in distress - plucked right out of a Japanese comic. However, the soft looks of the 24-year-old girl belies a true sportswoman, one that's expecially gritty on the badminton court.
"So far, she's the best female badminton player we have," says Elangovan s/o Muthoo, head coach of the Special Olympics badminton programme. The girl got hooked on the sport while in school 12 years ago and has since progressed tremendously. She is constantly part of the elite division in the SO National Games and has also competed in the 2003 SO World Summer Games in Ireland, where she won a bronze and a silver medal for her events.
Poh Hua takes a while to warm up to strangers. She is shy by nature and utters no more than a few words at a time. "It took me two years to talk to her," says Elangovan, who relates that Poh Hua used to keep quiet whenever he tried to strike conversations with her.
However, time spent with her peers and volunteers has opened up the soft-spoken Poh Hua. In fact, once she loses her reticence, she gets chatty and happily starts relating her experiences at work, at home and at competitions. Memories of her last World Games remain vivid and it's apparent she had enjoyed herself and got along well with the athletes there.
Once on court, Poh Hua throws all shyness to the wind. The assembly assistant at Motorola is a picture of confidence, smacking the shuttlecock with a ferocity that can match most mainstream competitive players. She admits to a preference to play at the back for doubles matches "so [she] can trick people." Her stamina is also admirable - she can play continuously for a couple of hours and not show a hint of fatigue. It is this stamina that has got her roped in to the SO running programme. She took part in her first half marathon in 2004 and completed the whole run without stopping. "I was tired but I still carried on. I didn't want to give up," relates Poh Hua.
It takes more than a couple of hours to know a person, especially the demure Poh Hua, but this much comes through. She is a responsible girl and a good cook who helps around the house and takes good care of her younger siblings. She is intelligent and a fast learner who, apart from being fluent in both English and Mandarin, speaks a few dialects and some Malay. She is a good artist who designs birthday cards for friends and enjoys drawing portraits of people around her - she once drew an interesting caricature of Elangovan.
Oh, and she patiently braids her own hair. This girl is certainly no damsel in distress.
Hanako Sawayama was selected as as one of 12 members of the 2004 class of Sargent Shriver International Global Messengers who will serve as spokespersons for Special Olympics, the global sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Representing Special Olympics Singapore in the Asia-Pacific region and promoting the worldwide Special Olympic movement, Hanako will serve a two-year term as a Global Messenger, in addition to maintaining her regular sports training and competition schedule.
Although a Japanese national, Hanako, aged 27, has been living in Singapore for more than 20 years with her parents both of whom are permanent residents. She received her education here, attending the Japanese School and Dover Court Preparatory School. She is a very determined young lady and has achieved for herself 1 Gold and 2 Silver medals in Bowling during the 2003 World Summer Games in Ireland.
Prior to the World Games, she had participated in two Special Olympics Singapore National Games in 1997 and 2001. Her first experience with overseas competition was in 2000 when she was selected to be part of the Singapore Team sent to Sarawak to compete in the 2nd Invitational Ten-Pin Bowling Competition (Asian Zone). Once a shy girl, she has matured into an independent and thriving athlete since joining Special Olympics 12 years ago.
Based on her experience with Special Olympics and maturity, Hanako was selected to represent Special Olympics Singapore at the First Regional Athlete Leadership Programmes (ALPs) Congress held in Kuala Lumpur from 3-6 May 2004. Her performance at the Congress so impressed the judges that she was appointed as the Shargent Shriver International Global Messenger from the Asia-Pacific region. Since her appointment, Hanako has been preparing herself by giving welcoming speeches, leading in oath taking and sharing her experience at various sporting events. Currently she is attending a public speaking course and has just completed an International Global Messenger training course conducted by Special Olympics International in North Carolina, U.S.A.
As a Global Messenger, Hanako is amongst a selected group of special athletes who will be expected to appear at major global events such as World Games, speak at national or international conferences and meetings, and represent the attitudes and opinions of the majority of the 1.4 million Special Olympics athletes throughout the world. “These athlete ambassadors will help us show the world the amazing abilities of our athletes and they will help us continue to bring together people of all differences” said Timothy Shriver, Chairman and CEO of Special Olympics.
Tan Too Sheng , aged 24, was first introduced to the sporting opportunities provided by Special Olympics Singapore at Yio Chu Kang Gardens School, a special school for the intellectually disabled. Through sports participation, Too Sheng, who is also hearing impaired, found self-confidence, experience the joy of winning, learnt self-discipline and perseverance to pursue dreams of being a true sportsman. He is good at a number of sports including swimming, badminton, bowling and running and had won numerous gold medals in swimming and badminton competitions organised by Special Olympics Singapore.
He was one of the athletes selected to represent SO Singapore at the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games held in Dublin, Ireland, where he won a Division 1 Bronze Medal in Badminton.
Apart from Special Olympics, Too Sheng also participates in mainstream events. He bowls with his friends regularly in mainstream leagues, averaging 200 to 220 pinfalls. He took up running in 2003 and since then has been participating regularly in organised events such as the Osim Triathlon Relay, Singapore-Johor 2nd Link Bridge Run, Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon and Nike Real Run. Too Sheng became the first special athlete in Singapore to complete a triathlon when he took part in the NUS Triathlon Tri-Lite event this year. Currently he is training actively thrice a week to prepare for the Swissotel Vertifcal Marathon in November and the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon in December when he will be attempting to be the first local Special Olympian to run a full marathon.
Too Sheng has also taken the initiative to guide and coach the beginners during our weekly badminton training programme. He cited that he is grateful for the opportunities and experiences provided by Special Olympics Singapore, and we are also glad that he has grown into a confident and responsible adult.
The positive impact of sports participation had definitely helped Too Sheng to realize his potential, gain knowledge of proper and systematic training, social independence, and most important of all, the opportunity to integrate into mainstream society. Too Sheng’s outstanding sports performance serves as a very good example to fellow Special Olympians, to inspire them to pursue their dreams too.
By Teo Hwee Nak, The New Paper On Sunday April 13, 2003
Soccer team flanked by their two coaches
The boys paused for three seconds, their brows wrinkled in deep thought. Then they chanted together, loudly: "Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt."
"The eight boys donning their blue and orange Special Olympics Singapore soccer jerseys, had been asked by their coach if they remembered the oath. Not only did they remember, they take the oath seriously. In fact, they chant it before all their matches. That's how, despite their intellectual disability and an Intelligence Quotient (IQ) of only 50 to 70, they have beaten soccer teams of a much higher IQ in friendly games, including a team which clinched the champion trophy in a national league.
And, come June the team will take part in the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Dublin, Ireland in five-a-side field soccer. The boys were selected from their various schools, and only came together to form the team in October last year. Six of them are in special schools and two in the Association for Persons with Special Needs (APSN) Centre For Adults.
Miss Lau Kim Lan, 33, Sports Development Executive, and one of the team's two coaches, said: "Being special athletes, they do need a little more time in reading the game and deciding on the next move, whether to pass the ball or who to pass to. And, being in special schools and institutions, they are conscious about themselves being different from mainstream students." Which is why every time they play against mainstream students, they are especially anxious and tense before the game. "They seem quite dazzled by the other boys, and take more time to settle in. Especially in the first five minutes of the game, their moves are obviously more hesitant. But their confidence picks up after some time, especially during the second half.
That's when they see that, hey, we're not that different after all," said Miss Lau. In the past six months, they have beaten at least five teams made up of boys from mainstream schools. In the match with the league champion early this year, they walked away with a 2-0 win. The team's coach, Mr John Soh, 40, has to use a different method when coaching the team. "With them, motivation and encouragement is very important. I also have to be very detailed in my instruction, use simple language, and show instead of just talk," said Mr Soh, who works as a senior manager in the day.
When The New Paper on Sunday spent an hour with the team during their recent training, the boys were very disciplined, and obviously had a lot of fun with one another. When asked why they love playing the game, they all shouted names of well-known international soccer stars like David Beckham and Michael Owan. Recalling the wins against other mainstream students, defender Sanjeev Kumar, 18, said: "I feel happy. We must play more and get used to it." Six of them had never left Singapore nor travelled in a jet, so they are very excited about flying to Dublin. Asked what they would like to achieve there, team captain Md Nasrul Yusop, 18, said: "Must win! Number one, two or three never mind. But must at least win something." And then they started laughing again. This time, about meeting "angmoh" girls.
When it comes to bowling, intellectually disbled Foo can hold his own
By Adam Hashidy, Streats, 20 February 2003
Foo centre front row with coach and teammates
Eric Foo is not your usual schoolkid.
The 15-year-old studies at Tanglin Special School, is intellectually disabled and has some difficulty in doing everyday things that we take for granted. He is academically slow, cannot read the newspapers on his own and finds it hard to keep up with conversations. But put him in a bowling alley and the bespectacled 15-year-old is in his element. He goes by the nickname "Ferarri" and is known for the thunderbolts that he unleashes down the alley.
Yesterday, the teenager was busy training at Victor's Superbowl for the World Summer Games for the intellectually disabled in Ireland in June. "I don't play any other sport," he said. "I only like bowling and practise almost every day." Even football and Manchester United do not interest him. He added: "I don't like football and hate falling down. I broke my spectacles twice before while playing football and my father had to waste money replacing them."
Though Foo was first introduced to the game of ball and pins four years ago by his father, it is only in the last three months that his game has improved rapidly, thanks to the intensive training for the World Games. Just two months ago, he averaged 137 pinfalls. Yesterday, he was disappointed with his 172 and 151 scores, which were a far cry from his personal best of 249. Said Foo, a hook bowler: "My coach says I have to take my time. I play too fast.
"Intellectually disabled or not, Foo knows his equipment well. Asked if he has a personal ball, he replied: "I have two. I use the 12-pound ball when I am going for a strike and the 14-pounder when I am aiming for a spare. I am excited about going to Ireland and proud to represent Singapore.
"Foo has shown that he can hold his own against the average Singapore bowler. At his best, "Ferarri" can zoom past them - even though he may have trouble spelling the name of the famous Italian racing car.
When Minaachi Sundram said he took only 12 seconds to run the 100m, I was embarrassed to say the least.
My fastest timing over that distance was about 13 seconds - and that was when I was at the peak of my physical fitness, mind you. Now, somewhere closer to 15 seconds would sound about right. And here was this man, whom people label as "handicapped" running faster than me.
When I told Sundram I was impressed with his timing, he grinned shyly at me and said: "Just running. No need brain." He then pointed to my notebook in which I was scribbling in and said: "I admire you. You smart, can write story about me."
Sundram, 21, has been running competitively as a intellectually disabled athlete for the past seven years. He has also taken part in the 1997 Special Olympics National Games and won the gold medal in the 500m. And what keeps the full-time storage-keeper at Cold Storage Supermarket going is a steely determination which seems to come from deep down in his heart.
And although Sundram's IQ stands only at 70, it is his heart which seems to be making him the person he is.
He quit school, admittedly because his grades were not good enough. But talking to him, one can't help but get the feeling he quit so he could start working and earn money to support his mother who is in her 50s. Sundram himself admitted: "I work so my mother don't have to work so hard." Such simple words, yet words which many mothers out there nowadays would love to hear coming from their children - children who are intellectually sounder than Sundram, but yet seem to lack the heart that this youth displays. Dedicated as he is to his mother, Sundram also shows much determination when it comes to his athletics training. He goes to the gym at the National Stadium three times a week and then spends three other days building up his fitness by running around the track.
But doesn't Sundram get tired out by all these tough trainings? Sundram gave a weary smile and said: "Yeah, morning work, afternoon study, at night training. Very tiring!"
But that worn-out look soon broke into a smile. "At least I am doing something good with my life," he said. "Running makes me fit and makes me feel good."
Not to mention the fact that being involved in the Special Olympics has also brought him to places like the United States, Thailand and Malaysia - places he admits he probably would not have been able to go to otherwise. With such achievements in the sporting arena of the intellectually disabled, Sundram must have somebody, or something, which inspires him. But he surprisingly said, with pride evident in his voice, "No one. I encourage myself."
Did someone say he lacks the intellectual ability?
One claims to be Michael Owen, the other, David Beckham. And come June, these two world-famous soccer players, in the form of their two greatest fans from Singapore, will come face to face when their respective teams battle each other in the Floor Hockey event of the Special Olympics Singapore National Games. Lee Kong Chian Garden School's Jumaat, who is a big fan of Manchester United's Beckham, said philosophically: "Sometimes I am on form, sometimes I am off form. But I always try my best to win."
And although Jumaat and his team mates are taking part in their first National Games, he is confident his team will do well. "We are all friends and we train very hard each time. Sure we win!" he exclaimed.
Their team trains once every week and their spirit and camaraderie seems to be good enough for them to do well in the championships.
But Jumaat knows that winning in real life does not come as easily as winning championships on his play-station at home. "It won't be easy. Other teams will also be trying hard to win."
One of the teams anxious to spoil Jumaat and company's party is the team from Tanglin Special School.
Tanglin is also deteremined to clinch the championships, and one of its key players, Sophian, is also confident of doing well.
"We can win because we have practised everything we need to play the game. From passing, tackling, defending and attacking, we have trained hard in all these aspects," the 14-year-old who supports Liverpool's Owen, said. The determination in the youth can be seen by the fact that he evens go running outside his team's normal training schedule, to ensure that he reaches a satisfactory standard of fitness before the games.
But win or lose, what was really nice to note from both of these teams is the fact that all of them seem to really enjoy the game.
At Lee Kong Chian Garden School, Jumaat and his team mates were eagerly waiting for their coaches to turn up even 15 minutes before training was due to start.
And despite looking tired after a few exercises, the youths pushed themselves during the trainings.
The same was true over at Tanglin Special School, where the youths returned to the courts and started practising on their own even though their coach had given them a water break.
Perhaps Jumaat sums it up best with this exclamation: "I love this game!"
