TWO UUM DISABLED ATHLETES REPRESENT KEDAH IN TWO NATIONAL LEVEL SPORTS CHAMPIONSHIPS

UUM ONLINE: Two students with disabilities from Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) were selected to represent the state of Kedah in the 2022 Para National Archery Championship Circuit 2 and Para SUKMA XX MSN 2022.

The Para National Archery Tournament will take place from 29 September to 2 October, while the Para SUKMA will be held from 1 to 6 November.

The two disabled athletes are Bachelor of Law student, Nek Muhammad Sofwan Najim Nek Ali and Bachelor of Science in Economics student, Nurin Irdina Jasmine Jaafar who will represent the state in the archery event.

As a sign of support, UUM through the Student Support Services Division (SSSD), Student Affairs Department has donated wheelchairs and money amounting to RM2,000 each which was presented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs and Alumni), Prof. Dr. Ahmad Martadha Mohamed.

Nek Muhammad Sofwan said, he was grateful for the donation of the wheelchair and thus boosted his spirit to make the name of the state of Kedah and also UUM.

"I was surprised by this donation and at the same time I am grateful to the university and Student Affairs Department who gave me support and encouragement.

"I will give my best at the sports games later even though this is my first participation in the archery event with the help of SSSD under the Kedah State Ministry of Youth and Sports," he said.

He added that there were other students who were very good during the selection process, but he tried hard and the best of his ability in order to bring the name of UUM and the state of Kedah to a higher level.

Nek Muhammad Sofwan also hopes that this new beginning will be the starting point for other disabled students in the university to seize every available opportunities and not just give 1,001 reasons to succeed.

Meanwhile, Nurin Irdina also expressed her appreciation to the university for donating the wheelchair and at the same time was grateful for receiving strong support to represent the state of Kedah in two sports tournaments which are considered prestigious for her.

"I will do my best after going through solid training. I also hope to make the name of UUM and the state of Kedah proud. Thank you to the Vice-Chancellor who also provided this support, besides Prof. Dr. Ahmad Martadha and all UUM residents," he said.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Martadha said the university is raising its efforts to find disabled students to participate in any sports event so that the momentum of sportsmanship can be developed continuously for the future.

"I hope and pray that these paralympic athletes will bring good names for UUM," he said.