Nurul qualified for the Paralympics last December, becoming the first para-athlete to represent Singapore in that sport.

Born with spinal muscular atrophy type 2 (SMA II), Nurul’s condition causes nerve cell loss in her spinal cord which in turn limits muscle movement.

So instead of tossing, players in Nurul’s BC3 category use assistive devices to launch the balls.

The para-athlete uses a head pointer to launch the ball from a ramp, after directing an assistant on the position of the ramp.

Nurul is ranked world number eight in her category, which includes those with cerebral palsy or other locomotor dysfunctions.

“I’ve never been able to walk. As a child, I used to be very fumbly — if someone pats me on my back, I’d just fall over,” says Nurul over lunch which can be a chore as her hands aren’t strong enough to grip cutlery.

“My muscle degeneration is gradual. I used to be able to raise my right forearm until I was 17. When I was 22, I lost the ability to point with my left index finger. I can’t perform certain daily tasks independently, such as showering and dressing up,” says the 28 year old who moves around in a motorised wheelchair.

Yet, where her muscles lack strength, Nurul’s mind fully makes up for it.

via Paralympics: Boccia player Nurul charts game and life with her mind – Channel NewsAsia.

The Thai contingent will arrive home today and join a welcome party hosted by the government.

They will join a parade from Victory Monument to the Grand Hyatt Erawan hotel where Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will preside over the government’s reception party for them.

Thailand won eight medals _ four golds, two silvers and two bronzes _ at the 2012 London Paralympics.

They were 31st in the medal standings and fifth among Asian nations behind China (95 golds), Iran (10), South Korea (nine) and Japan (five).

The Thai champions were boccia star Pattaya Tadtong, who won two golds in individual and team events, fencer Saysunee Jana and table tennis player Rungroj Thainiyom.

via Thai delegation back home to warm welcome today | Bangkok Post: news.

The 33-year-old comfortably beat Great Britain’s David Smith 7-0 in the mixed individual BC1 final at the ExCel Arena after he had won gold in the mixed team BC1-2.

Thailand’s other two gold medallists are table tennis star Rungroj Thainiyom and fencer Saysunee Jana.

At press time last night, Thailand have won seven medals _ four golds, one silver and two bronzes.

On Friday night, Saichon Konjen finished third in the 400m wheelchair racing T54. Unfortunately, he was later disqualified for stepping on a line.

Thai Paralympic chief Chutinant Bhirombhakdi yesterday took the rest of the team to a tour of Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge stadium.

Pattaya celebrates his win.

Chutinant is an executive at Singha Corporation which is a global partner of the English Premier League football club.

via Pattaya adds fourth gold to Thai medal haul | Bangkok Post: news.

The Republic’s boccia player Nurulasyiqah Mohammad Taha yesterday ended her Paralympic debut with a 7th place finish in the Mixed Individual BC3 competition.

The 27-year-old qualified for the quarter-finals after beating Johnny Cronin of Ireland 7-1 but was narrowly beaten by Kim Han Soo after the Korean won the tiebreaker following a 3-3 scoreline.

Nurulasyiqah then lost to Belgian Kirsten De Laender in the playoffs for 5th-8th place and settled for an overall 7th placing by beating Armando Costa of Portugal in a tiebreaker after their 2-2 draw.

She said: “I’m so relieved that the competition is over. I really enjoyed the whole experience and I’m glad I got to play with many competitors whom I’ve never encountered before.

Despite not winning a medal, Nurulasyiqah was upbeat with her performance as she said: “I’m really happy I managed to meet the target set which was a quarter-final place.”

Singapore swimmer Yip Pin Xiu was scheduled to take part in the 50m S3 freestyle heats yesterday but it was cancelled after Australia’s Esther Overton withdrew from the competition. Because there were only eight swimmers left, Yip automatically qualified for the finals earlier this morning.

All eight of Singapore’s Paralympians will be returning home next Tuesday from what has been dubbed the most successful Paralympic Games to date.

via TODAYonline | Sports | Nurul happy with Paralympic debut.

. It was the year she was born, as well as that of SINGAPORE: 1984 is a special year for the Paralympic sport she’ll be representing Singapore in, at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

The ball-tossing game of Boccia from Greece was introduced 28 years ago as a Paralympic sport specifically designed for athletes with a disability affecting locomotor functions.

The aim of the game is to toss a collection of balls as close as possible to a white ball known as the jack.

Nurul qualified for the Paralympics last December, becoming the first para-athlete to represent Singapore in that sport.

Born with spinal muscular atrophy type 2 (SMA II), Nurul’s condition causes nerve cell loss in her spinal cord which in turn limits muscle movement.

So instead of tossing, players in Nurul’s BC3 category use assistive devices to launch the balls.

The para-athlete uses a head pointer to launch the ball from a ramp, after directing an assistant on the position of the ramp.

Nurul is ranked world number eight in her category, which includes those with cerebral palsy or other locomotor dysfunctions.

via Paralympics: Boccia player Nurul charts game and life with her mind – Channel NewsAsia.