For Syakila Binti Mohd Nasir, a Special Olympics Malaysia athlete, realising her full potential as an independent young woman came about by embracing community, sports and competitions.
Affectionately known as “Adik,” or younger sibling in Malay, by her mother Rosni, the 19-year-old is the youngest of four children.
From an early age, Syakila battled health issues and developmental delays. Rosni recalled that her daughter as a baby was frequently beset by fevers, necessitating monthly hospital visits.
Amidst these circumstances Syakila’s family fully believed in her potential, actively seeking ways to help her grow and cultivate her independence. Since Syakila was young, she has been independent and was always encouraged to be, said Rosni.
A pivotal moment in her journey arrived when Syakila was introduced to the sport of badminton when her schoolteacher brought her to Malacca to join a Special Olympics selection practice for badminton. It was there that she got to meet coach Kristil, who proved to be a transformative mentor and a second “mummy” in her life, as Syakila affectionately references her.
“Coach Kristil helped me hone my talent in badminton and she taught me to become a brave person. Win or lose, we have to be confident in ourselves,” she said.
Her successful selection to compete at the Berlin World Summer Games last year came at a pivotal moment just three days after she completed reconstructive surgery on her face. Syakila recalled the joy of being chosen for the competition, “I felt so happy because I got to represent Malaysia and play badminton in Berlin.”
Her experiences in Berlin marked a turning point, not just for her skills, but in her personality that grew more confident and outgoing. “Syakila’s biggest change was when she went to Berlin alone. She learned to be independent there. Whatever she wants, she can achieve herself. She even made friends with strangers,” coach Kristil reflected with pride.
Nevertheless, there were certainly nerves that came about when competing at such a large-scale event. “Before competing, I would cry first to release all the fear in me and compete well,” Syakila said explaining her coping mechanism.
It seemed to be a strategy that worked, Syakila went on to win one silver and two bronze medals. She said, “If there’s a chance I would like to compete in badminton again, represent Malaysia and make my parents proud again.”
Observing the growth in her daughter, Rosni added, “Syakila’s biggest change was when she went to Germany alone, she learned to be independent there. Whatever she wants, she can achieve it herself.”
That independent streak and passionate pursuit of her interests is certainly evident in the strong, confident person that Syakila is today. She passed her driving test on her first try and now drives around whenever she has the opportunity to.
She also enjoys baking and plans to take an exam to test her skills and competency in pastry making. Her dream? To become a well-regarded baker one day.
Syakila’s plea to communities is heartfelt, “Don’t bully us (people with intellectual disabilities) and discourage us. Don’t ever make us feel like we’re less able.” Coach Kristil added, “We should never look down on people with intellectual disabilities. Together, we should give them a chance, help them, motivate them, and one day, they can become greater than us all.”
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