Singapore para swimmers are all geared up and ready to roll for the World Para Swimming (WPS) World Series Singapore leg which will take place in May at the OCBC Aquatic Centre.
This will be the first time that our para swimmers are participating in a major event since the 2015 Asean Para Games.
Singapore is the fifth stop of the seven-leg series, which began in Melbourne in February and is set to end in Berlin in June.
More than 150 para swimmers from around the world are expecting to take part in the event from 10-12 May at the Sports Hub’s OCBC Aquatic Centre.
Kelly Fan, executive director of the Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC), said in a media release on Tuesday (2 April): “One of the key reasons for us to host this series is to promote the understanding of disability sports and para athletes.
“Our para swimmers have been adding to this awareness with their achievements, so this is a rare opportunity for Singapore to witness their hard work up close.”
Among the 15 Singaporean swimmers participating at the event is Eugene Png, who is currently being trained by Olympian Ang Peng Siong at Farrer Park Swimming Complex along with Yip Pin Xiu, Theresa Goh and Toh Wei Soong.
The quartet will be swimming together in the mixed relay event.
He said in Facebook post: “So much has happened since the morning that Jose Raymond brought Coach Ang Peng Siong to Potong Pasir to have breakfast with me.
“I’ve returned to the pool, trained under Coach Ang and Coach Jun Han and soon I will be swimming at the World Para Swimming Championship Series in Singapore.
“I want to thank all my family and friends for your support and faith in me. I will do my very best come May at the games.”
The Kenn Foundation, sponsors of the event, will be selling 3,000 plush bears at $20 each at the World Series with all proceeds going to the Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC).
The 15 Singapore para swimmers have each been given a plush bear to design an outfit for.
The bears will be auctioned off for fundraising efforts for SDSC’s programmes from 3 April onwards.
Entry to the event from 10 to 12 May is free for the morning heats and at $2 for the evening finals for the three-day meet.
Special schools and social-service organisations will receive complimentary tickets for the event.