‘Disability is not a hindrance’. Let’s talk with a Thammasat student who won medals from the swimming competitions in the 12th ASEAN Para Games in Cambodia.

Friday 16 June 2023

     The 12th ASEAN Para Games, "Cambodia 2023" held on 3-9 June 2023 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. This year, a student from Thammasat University participated in the competition and was able to win medals back.

     Let’s talk with the only athlete from Thammasat University, Pachara Singmanon, a student from Sports Management Major, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Thammasat University who represents Thailand in swimming competitions at the 12th ASEAN Para Games. He was able to win a total of 4 medals, divided into 2 silver medals from 100m freestyle and 4x100m freestyle relay swimming, and 2 bronze medals from swimming 100m backstroke and 50 m freestyle swimming.

The Success Story

     Pachara shared his feeling that he was so glad to be able to receive the medals. Even if it's not the goal that was set to win the gold medal. In the past, there has been continuous practice and that swimming is a sport which requires technical training, using the legs, arms and torso, so I must be trained to have the technique to swim as vigorously  and efficiently as possible. This includes defeating myself and defeating my opponents, as the sport of swimming is scored by the duration, therefore the shorter the period of time taken, the closer you get to victory.

     “This success may not have been accomplished by me alone, there are both coaches who helped with the training and Thammasat University that understandably supports learning. I'm glad that I've endured all the hard times. Being an athlete takes time and having to sacrifice free time for practices. I'm glad that I was able to endure the tiredness. For my future goals, I aim to continue to be a professional swimmer and wish to develop myself to be able to reach the ultimate goal, which is to compete in the Paralympic Games.” Pachara said.

Disability is not a hindrance

     Like nondisabled sports competition, sports competition for athletes with disabilities is nothing different, requiring skill training in which people with disabilities themselves, if they have enough discipline, diligence and training, they can become capable athletes. Sometimes, some people with disabilities may swim or play some sports even better than those nondisabled.

     “Some people, but not everyone, look at athletes with disabilities often focus on disability over ability. I would like to say that we do not use disabilities in competition, but we use competitiveness. I want everyone to try to open their minds and see a disabled person as a person who, like everyone else, has some limitations. But if we work diligently, keep practicing and don't give up, you can be good at that as well. I want to see people with disabilities as equal people,” Pachara said.

Perspective on disability sports in Thailand

     Pachara commented that athletes with disabilities in Thailand are still rarely seen by society. Funding may not be equal to nondisabled athletes, even in the same sport. So I think there should be equality and I hope that there will be more communication about disability sports by presenting abilities rather than focusing on disability. I would like to see more efforts behind the scenes to advance the success of each athlete with disabilities.

     “As for sports sponsorships, athletes with disabilities are not equal to that of the non-disabled athletes in the same sport. For example, on communication, many people in society have never heard of disability sports, what is the ASEAN Para Games, or what is the Paralympics, despite the fact of being the same sport as the SEA Games and Olympic games. I do not want more than anyone else, but I want all of us to receive everything equally, foreseeing the effort and costs required for people with disabilities to develop themselves to become quality athletes.”      

Message to all friends

     I would like to tell my senions, juniors and friends with disabilities who are interested in becoming athletes that “Do not rely on limiting yourself from your body or disability, because disability is not a hindrance to being an athlete. If we have goals, don't give up, put great effort, maintain diligent practice, we can be as good as anyone else. Don't rely on limiting yourself, try giving yourself a chance and start taking actions.