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FOR most people, getting into a serious traffic accident and losing strength in one arm permanently is enough to break one's spirit.
FOR most people, getting into a serious traffic accident and losing strength in one arm permanently is enough to break one's spirit. Especially if he is a national athlete who depends on his hands a lot in his sport. But for sailor Koh Seng Leong, his passion for the sport and the immense support from his loved ones and officials have spurred him on to continue sailing after a horrific accident. Three years ago, a motorbike accident left him with a shattered bone in his left index finger and severed nerves in his left hand, among other injuries. 'When I first fell down my first thought was on the Southeast Asia Games,' said the 25-year-old, who was slated to represent Singapore in the Laser class at the games. 'I wished I could still make it for the games when I was at the hospital, but the doctor told me the stark news that I wasn't going to recover completely and I wasn't going to recover in time as well. 'It was difficult because I thought I couldn't sail again,' he said quietly. Frustration mounted during his recovery as painkillers and other medicine made the normally-cheery Koh drowsy and temperamental. 'What's more difficult was that my reserve, Maximilian Soh, went to the SEA Games and won the gold medal,' said Koh, who has yet to win a gold medal at the biennial games. 'The whole team made a record haul of gold medals and I was not part of it when I was supposed to be. 'I still feel happy for them, but it was disappointing that I couldn't be part of the team that won.' Realities It was six months before Koh could start training again, and when he resumed sailing, the new realities of his physical condition hit him. 'My left hand is definitely much weaker than before, so that translates to less control, less ability and less potential on the Laser, which I sail. 'If you have weak hands you cannot grip the ropes easily, and even now I face that constant difficulty and I have to use my right hand to adjust for my left,' he said, demonstrating the modified technique. Koh also had to compensate for his weaker arm during gym training, and had injured his right hand on a number of occasions before making some adjustments to minimise the strain. But despite the challenges, the Singapore Management University undergraduate perseveres in the sport which he fell in love with 15 years ago. 'I don't think of myself as being handicapped or disabled because of my left hand,' said Koh, who is now in Qingdao, China, representing Singapore in the Olympic Games. 'Olympic qualification was a target that I had, because I wanted to show that the support staff have put in their work and they believed in me, that I would not let them down. 'That was why I stayed on to qualify for Singapore. That was our goal.' Looking back on his sailing career, Koh believes that having the will to overcome obstacles is paramount for athletes who wish to excel in their sports. 'The difficulties are there but there are always solutions,' he said. 'Whatever happens, if you want to do it, people will help you find a solution. 'If you don't have the heart, then no one can help you.'
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