Aishah’s big day touches S’pore hearts

SINGAPORE — The void deck of a Bedok North flat was the scene of tears, and unbridled joy, as national para shooter Aishah Samad got married to her beau, Abd Aziz Jantan in a wedding ceremony this morning (Jan 30).

The solemnisation ceremony was an emotional one for the couple, who were surrounded by family and friends — including ASEAN Para Games team-mate and paddler Jason Chee — as they exchanged their vows.

The tears flowed freely for Aishah and Aziz, who have had to overcome many challenges together since their first meeting at the prawn fishing ­facility at East Coast in February 2014. 

While sparks did not fly initially, the duo became closer as Aishah, a former SEA Games shooter and mother of two — who lost all her limbs to amputation after suffering a bacterial infection in 2012 — stood by Aziz through a rough patch in his personal life. Romance blossomed soon after, and Aziz proposed at the end of 2014.

The lovebirds had initially wanted a simple wedding at home but, at the suggestion of friends and family, they eventually decided to host the celebrations at the void deck of Aishah’s home in Bedok. 

Over 400 guests turned out for the wedding party to celebrate the couple’s union, and share their joy.

The two divorcees’ story of love, and second chances, has clearly also touched many Singaporeans. 

Since TODAY published videos of the couple talking about their marriage, and of their wedding, on social media platform Facebook last week, they have garnered 63,000 views in total, and drawn many congratulatory messages from readers.

More importantly, Aziz is hopeful that Aishah’s story will inspire many more like her. 

“We want to show people out there, especially people like Aishah, that there’s always life after what you’ve gone though,” the 49-year-old had told TODAY. 

“She is giving me hope, and a second chance, as I am for her.”