Around the world, the conversation about women in sport is gaining momentum. This progress creates a vital opportunity to ensure that women and girls with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are equally represented and empowered. Across communities, they are ready to engage more fully in sport as it is the catalyst to fuel confidence and discover pathways to leadership.
Across Asia-Pacific, women with IDD are emerging as mentors, advocates, and changemakers through Special Olympics programs. Their journeys show that leadership grows through opportunity, visibility, and belief.
Stories of Leadership
In India, Yashika Bhatt encourages others to speak up and be heard. In Thailand, Kaewalin “Pin” Thamnium mentors younger students through school programs. In Singapore, Jocelyn Sng advocates for greater inclusion through sport.
None of them started as leaders — they began simply by showing up.
What began as participation has evolved into leadership. Today, they are shaping more inclusive spaces and opening doors for others. Leadership does not begin with a title, but a first step and the support to continue.
Yashika Bhatt’s athlete leadership journey began with uncertainty. Through Special Olympics Bharat (India), she gradually grew from an athlete to a confident advocate for inclusion. Sport strengthened her self-belief and gave her the courage to speak up, share her experiences and support others.
Today, she encourages fellow athletes to participate, ask questions, and step forward. By supporting initiatives that promote leadership and inclusion, Yashika helps other athletes see possibilities they may not have imagined.
In Singapore, Jocelyn Sng found that sport opened doors not only to competition but to advocacy. Through Special Olympics Singapore, she embraced opportunities to champion inclusion and challenge stereotypes by advocating for greater inclusion and encouraging others to participate.
She strongly believes that women with intellectual disabilities should have the chance to lead, share their stories, and inspire others. Her leadership reflects resilience and determination, demonstrating how athletes can shift perceptions.
In Thailand, Kaewalin “Pin” Thamnium’s journey began with a simple desire to support others.
As a recipient of the Women Play Women Lead grant, she mentors younger athletes through school-based initiatives, promoting health awareness, hygiene education, and offering reassurance to those who feel unsure before an activity, while also guiding others through new experiences. Her leadership is rooted in empathy, highlighting how encouragement can empower the next generation and demonstrating the powerful impact women athlete leaders can have within their communities.
Though from different countries, Yashika, Pin, and Jocelyn share a common thread: leadership built through small but meaningful acts that create space for others to grow.
Women Play Women Lead
In the Asia Pacific region, there are 42.6% more male than female athlete leaders. The Women Play, Women Lead initiative, supported globally by Bank of America, addresses this gap by training women and girls in leadership and enabling them to take on meaningful roles.
By expanding opportunities for female athlete leaders, the initiative empowers women with IDD to step forward as athletes, mentors, and advocates—strengthening sport participation, confidence, representation, and community impact. Representation matters: when women see others like themselves leading, new possibilities emerge.
The road ahead
The journeys of Yashika, Pin, and Jocelyn are just the beginning. Across the region, women with IDD are challenging barriers, reshaping perceptions, and leading within their communities. Inclusion through sport is not just about participation — it is about creating opportunities for leadership, confidence, and personal growth.
When women lead, the impact extends beyond the playing field, reaching families, communities, and future generations—building a more inclusive world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
