Diroy brings Paralympics contingent to 13
Track and field's Muhd Diroy Noordin is the latest para-athlete to join Team Singapore for the Rio Paralympics from Sept 7 to 18.
In a release yesterday, the Singapore National Paralympic Council announced the nomination of the 24-year-old after the Republic was awarded an additional slot for a male athlete in athletics.
Diroy, who suffers from dwarfism, will compete in the men's shot put F40, and javelin F41 in Rio.
"It had always been my dream to participate in the Paralympics, and I'm glad to be given the opportunity to represent Singapore," said Diroy. "I'm elated to be part of Team Singapore and will do my best to make everyone proud."
Diroy joins Norsilawati Sa'at and Suhairi Suhani in Singapore's athletics team in Rio, with the contingent now a record 13-strong, across six sports - archery, athletics, boccia, equestrian, sailing and swimming.
Among them, equestrian and swimming are seen as strong medal hopes - para-equestrienne Laurentia Tan clinched a silver in the individual freestyle test grade Ia in London 2012, while swimmer Yip Pin Xiu is the current world-record holder in the women's S2 50m and 100m backstroke events.
Also, boccia pair Nurulasyiqah Mohd Taha and Toh Sze Ning are ranked seventh in the world in the BC3 category, while sailing pair Jovin Tan and Yap Qian Yin won a gold at the 2014 Incheon Asian Para Games. - LIM SAY HENG
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