Para archer Nur Syahidah Alim: “ I hope to see more high-performance sports open up to inclusivity”

As the countdown to the Paris Olympics and Paralympics 2024 begins, we speak to some of the top female athletes in Team Singapore’s contingent. Representing a diverse array of sporting disciplines including track and field, fencing, archery, and equestrian, these exceptional women epitomise the spirit of determination, skill, and perseverance. They tell us a little bit more about their sport, learning from setbacks, and how it feels to represent the nation in Paris.

Nur Syahidah Alim first discovered her passion for archery at the age of 18 during the Singapore Disability Sports Expo. Among all the para sports available, para archery resonated with her the most.

She has since shattered records, notably becoming the first female archer to represent Singapore at the Rio Paralympic Games in 2016. Reflecting on nine years of competition and representation for her country, she credits the sport for fostering personal growth.

Archery has taught her valuable lessons in remaining calm, grounded, and emotionally resilient. It has also empowered her to be more open-minded and confident in navigating various situations and interactions.

What motivated you to pursue your dreams?

As a high-performance athlete, my journey is filled with ups and downs. I experienced several sports injuries and slumps that made me question my value as a sportsperson.

I’m grateful for my coach and my team at Singapore Sports Institute (SSI) for working closely with me towards my physical and mental recovery.

What motivates me to continue in my sport is one goal – to inspire Singaporeans and everyone through my extraordinary feats, and in competitions and major games.

Your participation in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games is highly anticipated. What does it mean to you to represent Singapore, and how do you prepare mentally and physically for such a significant event?

I feel honoured to be able to represent Singapore in the Paris 2024 Paralympics Games. This will be my third paralympic games, and I look forward to bringing my A-game to the shooting line.. 

I trained 5 days a week (i.e. 2 sessions a day), along with twice a week strength and conditioning sessions at SSI gym. I also have frequent follow ups with the sport scientists to discuss strategies that will improve my performance in training and competitions. 

I also go for more competitions leading up to the Paralympics. This allows me to apply the strategies and gain learning experiences to further improve on my archery skills and mental confidence.

As someone who has been actively involved in advocating for inclusivity in sports, can you share your thoughts on the progress made towards creating a more inclusive sporting culture, both in Singapore and globally?

The progress towards creating a more inclusive sporting culture, especially for athletes with disabilities, has been notable in Singapore and globally. 

In Singapore, initiatives like the annual Pesta Sukan and Inclusive Sports Festival have helped to support para athletes to participate in sports, promote sports inclusivity, and encourage volunteerism. 

Globally, events like the Paralympic Games have played a key role in showcasing the talents and abilities of para athletes on the world stage.

However, I feel that there is still much work to be done especially in the context of high performance sports in Singapore, in terms of having more opportunities for para athletes to compete alongside abled athletes in major games, as well as, equal recognition, games media coverage and athletes monetary rewards.

What changes would you suggest to make sports more inclusive?

As a para archer, having dedicated sports pathways, such as the Spexscholarship programme, which includes both financial and programmatic support to prepare athletes to excel at major Games such as the Olympics and Paralympics, has provided me with the opportunity to progress in my sport and pursue my passion. The support received, such as nutrition, sport psychology and biomechanics, is a game changer in my sporting performance.

In the future, I hope to see more high-performance sports like archery open up to inclusivity by allowing more opportunities for para athletes to train and compete with able athletes as a team.

How do you hope to continue challenging perceptions of disability in sports?

I think I was fortunate to have done archery in the first place. Archery is the most adaptive sport that allows para athletes like myself to compete in open competitions.

Not only does it allow me to showcase my level of adaptiveness in my sport, the achievements made as a team help to challenge public perceptions of disability in sports, that having a disability does not define one’s abilities or limit one’s potential for success.

I aim to continue breaking down barriers by actively promoting inclusivity and accessibility in sports at all levels through any extraordinary feats for Singapore in major games. This includes advocating for equal opportunities, raising awareness about the capabilities of para athletes, and encouraging greater representation and support for athletes with disabilities in the sporting community.

Reflecting on your journey so far, what has been the most memorable moment of your career, and why does it hold such significance for you?

I have experienced many highs and lows in my sporting journey as a Paralympic archer. 

I think the most memorable moment was definitely the Rio Paralympics in 2016. It was a great achievement being the first para archer to represent Singapore in para archery at the world stage. I also did well and reached top 8 in the games. It gave me the sense of confidence that archery is what I truly love to do and took the leap to be a full-time athlete as a spexScholar.