Eye-opening Experience In Para Sports For 90 School Kids

By R.Vikneswaran

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 9 (Bernama) -- Playing football blindfolded and basketball in a wheelchair is undeniably a life-changing moment for someone not well-versed in para sports and movements.

For Zuri Kryin Zain Azrain, 16, what began as casual exposure to sports for persons with disabilities underwent a complete transformation that taught her about empathy, allowing her to appreciate and better understand the challenges faced by para athletes.

The SMK Convent Kajang student, who experienced playing blind football, wheelchair basketball, seated table tennis, goalball, sitting volleyball and running blindfolded for the first time, instantly developed an emotional bond with the sports and the athletes.

"When I put on the blindfold, all my senses seemed to shut off and I found myself imagining being one of the players. 

“I felt the pride and pressure they must face in competitions. Deep down, I felt a kind of sadness, too," she told Bernama during the Allez Les Champions (Let’s Go, Champions) programme at the Malaysia Paralympic Sports Excellence Centre here.

Zuri added that wheelchair basketball was the most challenging as it required her to manoeuvre the wheelchair while holding the ball and attempting to score.

She was among 90 French-learning pupils from several national schools who participated in the Allez Les Champions event, organised by the Embassy of France as part of promotions leading up to the July 26-Aug 11 Olympics and Aug 28-Sept 8 Paralympics in Paris.

During the day-long event, students aged 12 to 16 had the opportunity to enhance their French language skills related to sports, engage in knowledge-sharing sessions with national para athletes and experience first-hand the intricacies of six para sports.

They were briefed and given the chance to experience visually impaired sports such as blind football, goalball and running blindfolded, as well as physically challenged sports like seated table tennis, wheelchair basketball and sitting volleyball.

A volunteer from Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT), Soo Anne said the event was an eye-opening experience for her, though she has been a sports enthusiast since young.

"I have known about para sports since I was quite young, but I've never really seen or experienced them first-hand. I believe everyone should be more aware of para sports," she said.

Emmanuelle Marchand, Counsellor for Cooperation and Cultural Affairs at the French Embassy in Malaysia, said that apart from generating excitement leading up to the Paris Games, the event aimed to raise awareness and provide participants with insight into the values of the Paralympics.

"It's crucial for us to work on the inclusion of disabled people since many para sports are not well-known to the public, so this is a great opportunity to provide them with first-hand experience. We will continue the build-up for the Olympics and Paralympics with a range of events and activities, including organising French classes for the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) and Paralympic Council of Malaysia (PCM) staff, the annual French Festival and sports exhibitions.

“In addition, there will be a global event called Relay around the World, where all French embassies will take part through social media according to their time zones on March 14,” she said. 

Marchand said that around 15,000 students are learning French in about 120 public schools in Malaysia, while over 300 French companies are operating in the country. 

-- BERNAMA