New chief for disability sports in S’pore

SINGAPORE — There is a new man in charge of disability sports in Singapore, after Teo-Koh Sock Miang, who served as chairman of the Singapore National Paralympic Council (SNPC) and president of the Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC) for the past two years, suffered a surprise elections defeat at a recent annual general meeting.

Former SDSC executive director (2005-2008), Kevin Wong, will take over Teo-Koh’s roles in the two organisations that govern para-sports in Singapore, after triumphing by just one vote.

Christian Stauffer, president of the Handcycling Association of Singapore, is also the new honorary secretary at SDSC after taking over the position from Mark Hon.

The change in leadership came after Teo-Koh had led the Republic’s para-athletes to a successful Paralympics last month, as well as to a record 63-medal haul at last December’s Asean Para Games held on home ground.

Specifically, national para-swimmers Yip Pin Xiu’s two-gold haul at the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro in the 50m and 100m backstroke S2 (new world record), and Theresa Goh’s bronze in the 100m breaststroke SB4, brought about heightened support and recognition for the para-athletes among the Singapore public.

But new president Wong, who owns a sports events and training company E3sports, is also no stranger to both the para-sports and able-bodied sports scene in Singapore and is poised to continue the work.

While he could not speak more yesterday as he was busy settling down into his new role, Wong said that he is glad to return to the disability sports scene.

“Charting a new path for the SDSC. (I am) glad to be back and (am) grateful for the support from member organisations to lead SDSC for the next two years,” he said on his Facebook page. “(I am) looking forward to working with the sporting fraternity, staff, athletes and partners to bring SDSC to the next level.”

The 40-year-old was the executive director at the disability classification and research centre for two years from 2008. He was also manager at the Singapore Sports Council — now called Sport Singapore — for four years back in 2001. He was most recently senior general manager at the Singapore Sports School (2010-2014).

SDSC vice-president Raja Singh — who was the coach of the national wheelchair racing team when Wong was executive director at SDSC —said he is excited with the increased support and recognition for para-sports and para-athletes in Singapore at the moment, and that he and the rest of the team members will help Wong get up to speed with matters.

“We will all have to work together to drive things forward, rather than just waiting for the new president’s cue,” said Singh. “We will discuss soon on what are the things we have already in the pipeline, what are feasible to take forward, and what are not.

“We may not have to reinvent the wheel, as an existing framework has been set in place, so we will see how we can tweak it to ride on this good high in the para-sports scene now.

“We have the APG coming up very soon (in Kuala Lumpur) next year, the Asian Games in 2018, and definitely the 2020 Paralympics (in Tokyo). We need to start planning now for the four-year cycle towards the next Paralympics because, if we don’t, then Pin Xiu and Theresa may be our only Paralympians with medal chance there.”

On the subject of pushing for equal prize money for para-athletes that has been a hot topic after Yip’s and Goh’s Paralympics feat, Singh said that it is one of the immediate tasks for the new president. He hopes a task force can be set up to decide on the amount, as it is now a subject of national interest.

“It can’t be decided by just SNPC, or SDSC, or any organisation alone. Maybe SportSG can be part of this task force, and ActiveSG, and even tote board,” he said.

Singapore’s veteran para-athlete, Goh, who knew Wong when he was previously working at SDSC, said she is looking forward to “the good things Kevin will bring to disability sports as our new president”.

The Rio Paralympics bronze medal-winning swimmer added: “Professor Teo-Koh has been a real influence in the disability sports community. Her passion and love for what she does is there for all to see, and I’m thankful for all she has done for SDSC.”