AGNES Tiong has a big dream.
Born with intellectual disability and hearing impairment, the 14-year-old aims to bring glory to Malaysia at the Special Olympics World Games 2023 in Berlin, Germany.
The table-tennis player will compete in the singles, doubles and mixed doubles events.
Her coach Mary Chung said Agnes recently won one gold medal in the women’s doubles category and a silver each for the singles and mixed doubles categories at the national-level Special Olympics.
The Special Olympics World Games 2023 will take place from June 17 to 25.
Agnes will be accompanied by her mother, Chua Hong Bing who is herself a former Malaysia Games (Sukma) athlete.
Special Olympics Sarawak (SO) Sibu chapter secretary Chew Siok Cheng said table tennis was a new sport in the Special Olympics and Sarawak started training players for the sport last year.
“We think our chances (of winning) in this are quite high.”
Chew said Chung had initially let Agnes try playing badminton when the teenager was a pupil at SJK (C) Uk Daik in Sibu.
But Chung, who is the school’s senior assistant for special education, switched Agnes to table tennis after seeing the latter’s prowess in the sport.
Her primary school had 38 special needs pupils and another six in preschool.
Agnes is now a student at SMK Sungai Merah.
“In preparation for the World Games, we have been training her for one-and-half hours daily.
“When we first started the rigorous training programme, she became very tired but she is alright now,” said Chung, who is assisted by the school’s table tennis coach, Bong Pei Li.
SO Sibu chapter chairman Datuk Jason Tai wished Agnes success at the World Games.
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