The students at the Redemptorist Vocational School for People with Disabilities held their annual in-house sports competition recently. The students, divided into four colour coded teams, participated in ten different sports; athletics, ta-kraw, table-tennis, wheelchair basketball, two types of volleyball, futsal, boccia, swimming and wheelchair tennis, and all the athletes were hoping to win points for their respective teams.
Prior to arriving to study at the school, many students had never taken part in any type of sport or physical activity. Not only does sport keep the students fit and healthy, but it also builds confidence and self esteem and gives them a sense of achievement, and the school has a long tradition of producing champion sportsmen and women.
All out effort in the race to the finish line.
Many students travelled to Myanmar earlier this year in January to represent Thailand at the South East Asia Para-Games, while the majority of athletes representing Chonburi at the National Games for People with Disabilities in February were from the school.
The Asian Para-Games will be taking place in the South Korean city of Incheon later this year, and several students are likely to be selected to represent the Kingdom.
The ladies 100m dash.
But back in Pattaya, and the competition was fierce amongst the students, but as soon as the final whistle was blown or they crossed the finish line, rivals went back to being friends.
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A 2-time winner in the swimming pool.
A proud athlete holds the winning trophy.
Wheelchair tennis – not as easy as it looks.
The pre-tournament parade of athletes.
Ta-kraw, one of Thailand’s most popular sports.
