How a Singapore Dragon Boat Team Empowers Paddlers with Disabilities

Tags: Inclusive Sports, Disability Empowerment, Adaptive Sports, Dragon Boat Racing, Singapore Community

Achieving Together at the Singapore Regatta

At the Singapore Regatta Waterfest, the Different Dragons, a dragon boat team founded in 2019, competed in the adaptive open category, earning a hard-fought second place. Among their paddlers, nine have disabilities, ranging from intellectual to physical challenges.

Despite these hurdles, the team’s mantra revolves around inclusion, determination, and camaraderie. Their efforts are not just about winning but demonstrating that disabilities don’t define abilities.

Building a Supportive Team

The Different Dragons foster a culture of support, where no member feels judged or excluded. For members like Jarran Ng, who has Williams syndrome, joining the team meant overcoming physical challenges while being embraced by teammates.

The team’s volunteer coaches, like Rayson Oon, emphasize having fun alongside rigorous training. “We’re a chill team, but we work hard to prove that everyone’s abilities matter,” Oon said.

Overcoming Challenges with Patience and Positivity

Adapting the sport for paddlers with disabilities has been a journey of trial and error. Volunteer Tan Cher Hui shared her experience supporting her twin brother, who has autism. Challenges like schedule disruptions during the pandemic tested her resolve, but the team’s encouragement motivated her to continue.

Through this process, Tan learned to connect with others with disabilities and even picked up sign language. Her brother also thrived, forming new friendships and finding joy in dragon boating.

Fostering Inclusivity and Team Spirit

The team isn’t just about paddling; it’s a family. Deaf paddler Jimmy Chan shared how the inclusive environment helped him overcome feelings of isolation. He relies on vibrations from the drumbeats and the lead paddler’s strokes to stay in sync.

For others, like intellectual disability paddler Teng Der Shuin, the sport has been transformative. His mother noted how the activity keeps him engaged and gives him a sense of belonging.

The Bigger Picture for Disability Sports

Events like the Singapore Regatta Waterfest’s adaptive category provide essential opportunities for people with disabilities to compete on an equal playing field. According to Kelly Fan, executive director of the Singapore Disability Sports Council, inclusive sports promote mutual understanding and meaningful interactions.

Singapore’s upcoming Enabling Sports Fund aims to further support disability sports initiatives, with a goal to raise S$10 million by 2030. Yet, challenges like cost, accessibility, and awareness persist.

Breaking Barriers Through Unity

Different Dragons demonstrate that disabilities don’t limit potential. Volunteer coach Hamza Lu reflected on the team’s ability to inspire and break stereotypes.

Paddler Lee Wei Kiong, who has an intellectual disability, summed it up best: “People used to say I wouldn’t be able to do anything, but I’ve learned that if others can do it, so can I. Normal people can dragon boat, so can I.”

Through their efforts, the Different Dragons continue to raise awareness and send a powerful message of resilience, inclusion, and unity.