With over a decade’s worth of experience and strong work ethic, it’s no wonder that Tay Wei Ming is one of Singapore’s best para badminton players.
Wei Ming has Erb’s palsy, which has resulted in paralysis in his right arm. He acquired the disability during a difficult birth. Over the years, Wei Ming has trained diligently to master the sport of badminton using only his left arm. One way he ensures that he reaches his best potential is by sparring with other able-bodied athletes.
“Badminton is a sport that requires a lot of sparring, so when I spar with able-bodied athletes who are better players, I get to improve.”
His passion for the sport developed when he was 10 years old. When he was in secondary school, his school employed a full-time coach, and that was when Wei Ming truly honed his skills to be the successful athlete he is today. His coach devised different tactics for Wei Ming so that he can play to his strengths on the court. “Due to my disability, [my coach] implemented a different set of footwork so that I will not have to use my backhand,” Wei Ming explains.
On Wei Ming’s part, he is certainly dedicated to his craft as well. He trains 6 days a week – on the weekdays he trains professionally with his coach, and self-trains on Sundays. This undeniable diligence and work ethic that Wei Ming demonstrates has definitely strengthened his abilities as a force to be reckoned with on the badminton court.
The road to his success has not always been smooth-sailing. Wei Ming admits a period of self-doubt. His parents also expressed concerns over him pursuing badminton.
“There was a period when I doubted if I should continue my passion. My parents were worried and suggested that I get a proper job instead.”
However, these worries were all negated, as Wei Ming’s hard work did pay off. Wei Ming recently received a sponsorship from Chinese sporting brand Li Ning. On top of that, he has also acquired a Sports Excellence Scholarship, which offers him financial and programmatic support. “This scholarship is definitely great news as it allows me to focus on my training, support my family as well as create a portfolio for myself as a purely local, born and bred para badminton athlete in Singapore,” he shares.
Badminton has certainly given Wei Ming an avenue to build on his self-confidence and excel. As for the role sports plays in the lives of people with disabilities, Wei Ming has nothing but praise toward it.
“I hope that the parents of disabled children are able to understand that there is no harm in pushing their children out of their comfort zones. As a disabled person myself, I believe that one of the best ways to fight low self-confidence is for parents to expose their disabled children to experiences and sports from a very young age.”
And one can be like Wei Ming, too, excelling in sports by working with your disability.
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