Good Game

Three Singapore Paralympians—a world champion and two first‑timers—heading to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, which takes places from August 28 to September 8, share how overcoming the mental barrier is the biggest challenge in their respective journeys to the pinnacle of sports

- Hashirin Nurin Hashimi

NUR SYAHIDAH ALIM
PARA-ARCHERY

When national para‑archer Nur Syahidah Alim made her major competition debut in 2015 at the Asean Para Games in Singapore, she won not one but two gold medals, for the women’s individual compound and the mixed team compound. That was also the first time that Singapore had won gold at the Games in archery.

“That was the start of my journey in para‑archery,” says Syahidah. The year after, she represented Singapore at the Rio 2016 Paralympics, reaching the quarter‑finals and taking the 7th spot. “I was happy and proud [to be] the first para‑archer to have represented Singapore in the sport—and setting a milestone for [the country], especially on a world stage like the Paralympics,” she says.

“It was exciting to shoot alongside the best archers from various countries. As an athlete, getting to participate and represent your country at the Olympics, or Paralympics, is a unique experience, and something that everyone wants to achieve,” shares Syahidah, who went on to participate in the Tokyo Games in 2021, but only made it to the 1/8 elimination round for the women’s individual compound. Last July, the two‑time Paralympian earned a spot at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, after finishing sixth at the World Archery Para Championships in Pilsen, Czech Republic.

Born with diplegia, a form of cerebral palsy that causes muscle stiffness in the lower extremities of the body, usually the legs, Syahidah has difficulty walking or standing for extended periods of time. “When I first started [competing], it was challenging for me because with my condition, I’m not able to stand or move around for too long,” she shares. “One of the challenges was definitely getting my core strength and being able to shoot while sitting on a stool.”