Back from 4th Asean Para Games
A whole lot of pictures and experiences make the trip worthwhile. Besides looking from behind the camera, I found myself putting it down and witness the show of determination from the athletes. It causes a sort of emotional upheaval in me, as I took it all in. I tried to be careful while shooting, such that not too much emphasis is placed on the disabilities of the athletes, but rather on their extraordinary abilities despite the odds against them. Not an easy task at all.
Behind every faces lay a tragedy of the past which makes them stronger, strong enough to expose their disabilities to everyone and compete like a true sportsman.
The colour of the medal does not matter in such circumstances. Many of the events have only one competitor, but the race goes on, and the spectators cheered for the lone figure running on the track and facing the head wind. Visually-hadicapped runners have their partners running alongside them, with a string tying both their arms together. Being a runner myself, I imagine how it is like to run a 400m or 800m without knowing how much longer I have to push myself as lactic acid sets in. It can be daunting and punishing to run without seeing. The bond between the athlete and his partner will touch anyone who witness how they went through the distance together and how the partner hands him the shoes and sets his starting block. The partner is always behind the athlete on the track, encouraging him and telling him the distance left. Even after crossing the finishing line, the partner hand him the shoes and guide him off the track.
I am glad to have made the trip, with the support of my wife.
Thai 100m runner Pansanae Suphadee at the finals with her partner.
A Thai swimmer at the 4x100m Medley Relay final.
Vietnam's Vu Van Soan in the Men's Doubles Table Tennis final.
Thailand's Nantaruck Matawadee (blue) being pinned down by her counterpart Aimthaisong Kannika in the Women's Under 70kg Judo match.
Behind every faces lay a tragedy of the past which makes them stronger, strong enough to expose their disabilities to everyone and compete like a true sportsman.
The colour of the medal does not matter in such circumstances. Many of the events have only one competitor, but the race goes on, and the spectators cheered for the lone figure running on the track and facing the head wind. Visually-hadicapped runners have their partners running alongside them, with a string tying both their arms together. Being a runner myself, I imagine how it is like to run a 400m or 800m without knowing how much longer I have to push myself as lactic acid sets in. It can be daunting and punishing to run without seeing. The bond between the athlete and his partner will touch anyone who witness how they went through the distance together and how the partner hands him the shoes and sets his starting block. The partner is always behind the athlete on the track, encouraging him and telling him the distance left. Even after crossing the finishing line, the partner hand him the shoes and guide him off the track.
I am glad to have made the trip, with the support of my wife.
Thai 100m runner Pansanae Suphadee at the finals with her partner.
A Thai swimmer at the 4x100m Medley Relay final.
Vietnam's Vu Van Soan in the Men's Doubles Table Tennis final.
Thailand's Nantaruck Matawadee (blue) being pinned down by her counterpart Aimthaisong Kannika in the Women's Under 70kg Judo match.
posted by Kwang Peng at 6:01 AM
1 Comments:
nice nice photos :)
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