Singapore National Paralympics Council Athletes’ Achievement Awards Ceremony

Dr Teo-Koh Sock Miang, President, Singapore National Paralympic Council,

Athletes, Parents, Partners,

Ladies and gentlemen,

1. Good evening.

2. I am honoured to join you this evening for the Singapore National Paralympic Council’s Athletes Achievement Awards. Tonight, we gather to celebrate the achievements of our athletes, and your extraordinary human spirit.

3. At both the 5th Asian Youth Para Games last December and the 13th ASEAN Para Games in January, our athletes demonstrated incredible strength, resilience, and determination, and you all did very well.

4. I know medals are not to count, but someone has to say it to share how well you have done. At the Asian Youth Para, our contingent of 12 athletes won 12 medals - 2 gold, 6 silver, and 4 bronze.

5. And at the ASEAN Para, our 37 athletes won 29 medals including 13 gold, 7 silver, and 9 bronze across nearly every discipline contested. Well done everyone!

6. I had the privilege of seeing many of you compete, and I am very proud of all of you.

Celebrating our Champions

7. Many of our youth athletes had a good outing at the Asian Youth Para Games.

   1. Moza Baihakki had a dream debut - she won two gold, one silver, and one bronze medal and broke her personal best in all her events. Well done Moza!

   2. Felix Hu, showcased remarkable grit and composure in Men's Badminton Singles, and won bronze in his first outing.

   3. In Boccia, Yan Yi had an exceptional run to the finals and won silver.

8. At the senior level, our athletes did well too.

   1. Team Singapore swimmer Toh Wei Soong completed a remarkable hat-trick of gold medals—his third consecutive triple-gold ASEAN Para Games performance, bringing his career total to 11 gold medals.

9. Two of our Paralympians also picked up new sports, they reinvented themselves and achieved great success.

10. After a storied career in para swimming, Theresa took up para shooting, trading speed for precision, and endurance for focus. On competition day, she upheld her champion's mindset, and clinched gold in the 10-metre Air Pistol.

11. Similarly, we have Jovin, who transitioned from para sailing to the Boccia. Mastering entirely new techniques and challenges, he competed in his first Major Games Boccia competition and brought home the gold.

The Journey Matters

12. And there are many more such stories in this room. Every one of our athlete is a champion, because you have overcome many challenges and made many sacrifices to be able to compete at the elite level. You push boundaries, break new ground and inspire all of us to become a better version of ourselves.

13. Ladies and gentlemen, can you join me in a big round of applause for all our athletes in the room please.

14. We will continue to support you in your journey to chase your dreams.

Building a More Inclusive Sporting Ecosystem

15. When I met you for the send-off for ASEAN Para Games earlier this year, I mentioned we had just amended the Singapore Sports Council Act to formally recognise the Singapore National Paralympic Council as SportSG's key partner, just like the Singapore National Olympic Council.

16. It is a small legislative change, but it states Singapore’s commitment to supporting and recognising the achievements of para sport and our athletes.

17. This builds on the refreshed Disability Sports Master Plan that was launched in 2024, which aims to create an inclusive sporting ecosystem where every Singaporean matters.

18. As part of it, we launched the Enabling Sports Fund last year, to support community-initiated projects that enable persons with disabilities to participate in sports and nurture their sporting aspirations.

19. I am glad to say we received many good proposals from a diverse range of applicants. This year, we will support 21 projects that involve more than 8,000 persons with different disability types over 20 different sports.

20. For our elite athletes, we will better support you through world-class infrastructure. The upcoming home of Team Singapore will also house the National Training Centre for para sport, featuring dedicated training facilities, so that our athletes can all train together as one Team Singapore.

21. And from 1st April – about a week’s time - our key sport entities—the High Performance Sport Institute, Singapore Sports School, and Unleash the Roar! — will be consolidated into Sport Excellence Singapore, or SpexSG.

22. This will create a more athlete-friendly, athlete-centric, whole-of-life support system for all our athletes through your sporting journey.

23. Collectively, all these initiatives will make for a more inclusive and a better Singapore. One that we will be even more proud of.

The Village Behind Every Champion

24. I want to also take this moment to thank a very special group of people. We always say it takes a village to raise an athlete. Tonight's accomplishments reflect the collective effort of everyone who believed in our athletes' potential and invested in their dreams.

25. To our coaches in the room: your technical guidance, mentorship, and unwavering belief have been instrumental in helping our athletes achieve their full potential.

26. To our staff— sports scientists, medical personnel, team managers, administrators and contingency staff — your dedicated work behind the scenes allows our athletes to perform better on the fields and arenas.

27. Most importantly, to all the parents, family members and loved ones. Your sacrifice, support, and countless hours spent travelling to training sessions and competitions are the bedrock of our athletes’ success. We want to thank you, and honour your sacrifice.

28. To Dr Teo-Koh and the SNPC team, your leadership and advocacy have transformed the landscape of para sport in Singapore. Your commitment to excellence and inclusion has created pathways for our athletes to flourish regionally and internationally.

29. To our corporate sponsors, donors, and partners, I want to thank you for your belief in the potential of our athletes, in breaking barriers, and in our shared belief in building a more inclusive society.

30. Tonight, we especially thank Tote Board Singapore and DBS for their generous co-sponsorship of the ASEAN Para Games Athletes Achievement Awards, and FairPrice Foundation for supporting our youth athletes.

31. Let all of us, continue to support our athletes, and demonstrate the true potential of what is possible when we – government, corporates and community - work together.

Conclusion

32. Once again, congratulations to all our athletes for your outstanding performance.

33. One Team, One Dream, One Singapore.

34. Thank you!