Courtesy: Bernama


Stair-Climbing In The Dark, Futsal In Silence

November 12, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 12 (Bernama) -- Two groups of different impairments -- vision and hearing -- showed true grit today and yesterday, one climbing more than 2,000 stairs "in the dark" and the other, playing futsal "in silence", proving their ability beyond disability.

In the national capital Saturday, 60 people with vision impairment climbed 2,058 stairs up KL Tower, a feat even those with no physical disabilities would find challenging.

The group, comprised members between the ages of 18 and 64, took only 45 minutes to complete the climb -- an event organised by the Malaysian Association for the Blind (MAB) and KL Tower in conjunction with the association's 60th anniversary.

MAB president Prof Datuk Dr Abdullah Malim Baginda said the event was to showcase the ability of vision-impaired people.

"The society should be made aware of the their ability so that they can change their perceptions towards this group," he said when closing the ceremony.

Yusaini Yusof, 33, was the first to complete the climb in 20 minutes followed by Tan Tok Shiong, 53, and Lee Teik Koon, 49.

Yusaini said he was happy with the achievement and expressed the hope that it would open the eyes of normal people that they too were able to do what others could.

The oldest participant, Goh Kaw Kia, 64, said he felt great about today's event.

"I managed to complete the climb in 30 minutes. I had initially thought that it would take me much longer to complete," he said.

In KUALA TERENGGANU, 10 teams comprising players with hearing impairment competed in a futsal championship for the hearing-impaired organised by the Terengganu Association for the Vision-Impaired.

It was futsal in silence as none of the players were able to call out the names of their teammates or hear the call, but the play was fluid, the passes accurate and the score was spectacular.

To facilitate communications, they used hand signals to "speak" to their teammates. A flag was used to start the play instead of a whistle.

They seemed to be able to read the movements of their teammates and opponents and moved the game like it was played by "normal" people.

The one-day event was held at the Uptown futsal arena in Jalan Kamaruddin, here, yesterday.

Speaking through an interpreter, the association's president Tengku Arman Harris Tengku Ismail said he was proud at commitment shown by the players and the support of family members and friends.




Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com