Ms Low Yen Ling, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth & Ministry of Trade and Industry, together with key partners as well as the steering and local organising committees of the Toyota World Para Swimming Championships – Singapore 2025. Credit: Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC)
The Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC) held an appreciation event today to honour the official partners of the Toyota World Para Swimming Championships – Singapore 2025 (WPSC 25), about one month ahead of the landmark event taking place from 21 to 27 September.
The Championships will welcome close to 600 elite Para swimmers from around the globe to Singapore, marking the first time the event will be held in Asia. In recognition of their critical contributions towards making this milestone possible, SDSC thanked its key partners with a presentation of tokens of appreciation at the event. Ms Low Yen Ling, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth & Ministry of Trade and Industry, was the Guest-of-Honour at the appreciation ceremony.
In addition to the announcement of Toyota Motor Asia as the title partner in February, the ceremony also welcomed 23 new partners to the Championships, with Kuok Group, Foundation Healthcare, GNV AVLFX and STARLUX Airlines each signing a Memorandum of Understanding at the event.
Onboard as the Official Medical Partner, Foundation Healthcare has appointed its Director of Operations, Dr Julian Hong, as the Chief Medical Officer to oversee the Championships’ entire medical framework. The organisation will deploy a dedicated medical team to provide comprehensive medical support for the teams during the training and competition period, as well as ensure consistent and swift medical response throughout the event.
Mr Liaw Yit Ming, CEO of Foundation Healthcare, said, “The Championships celebrate perseverance, resilience, and teamwork — proving that with the right mindset and dedication, dreams can become reality. At Foundation Healthcare, this same spirit inspires us to challenge the status quo daily to make private healthcare more accessible. As the Official Medical Sponsor, our specialists are humbled to provide world-class medical support to help the athletes perform at their best. By supporting the Championships, we honour the athletes’ incredible spirit, amplify their stories, and contribute to building a more inclusive community.”
Coming onboard as a Gold Partner, Kuok Group Singapore’s generous financial support will help offset operational costs, enabling the Local Organising Committee to reach wider communities and enhance the overall experience for athletes and spectators. This contribution plays a vital role in ensuring the Championships run smoothly and leave a lasting impact on Singapore’s sporting scene.
A spokesperson for Kuok Group Singapore said, “We are proud to support the Toyota World Para Swimming Championships 2025 and stand with athletes whose courage and determination inspire a more inclusive and resilient society. Their journey is a powerful reminder of the strength within every individual — a spirit that deeply resonates with our values at Kuok Group Singapore, where compassion, unity, and effort guide all that we do.”
The event, held at Fairmont Singapore, featured a fireside chat with 7-time Paralympic gold medalist and Team Singapore Para swimmer Yip Pin Xiu, National Para swimming Pathway and Performance Director and coach Michael Massey, and former Team Singapore Para swimmer and Rio 2016 Paralympic medalist, Theresa Goh Rui Si. They shared insights on preparations for the World Championships, the significance of hosting the event in Singapore, and the role of community support in Para sports.
Goh, who is both a Pathway and Performance Manager at SDSC and the Accessibility Lead for the World Championships Local Organising Committee, reflected, “When I first started my journey as a Para athlete, Para swimming in Singapore was not as publicised and resources were limited. At one point, I even had 7 volunteer coaches at the same time. Over the years, I’ve seen the sport grow – we now have more full-time coaching expertise, more structured pathways for athletes at different levels, and a stronger awareness of Para sport among the public.”
“More importantly, there’s also been a shift in mindset. Sports for the disabled isn’t just seen as a form of rehabilitation or for fun but as a place where they can pursue excellence and represent Singapore on the world stage.”
Ms Kelly Fan, Executive Director of the SDSC and Chair of the WPSC 25 Local Organising Committee, said, “We are grateful to our partners for recognising Para sport as a meaningful and important space for investment. Their contributions deliver not only commercial value but also far-reaching social impact. Para sport is more than a moment of celebration at major games – it is an on-going journey of excellence and perseverance. The World Para Swimming Championships shines a spotlight on these values, whilst reminding us that our Para athletes’ paths extend well beyond the medals. Sustained support – whether monetary or non-monetary – is essential, both for our athletes to achieve and for Singapore to build a truly inclusive society through sport.”
Tickets to the Toyota World Para Swimming Championships – Singapore 2025 are still available on SISTIC: https://sistic.com.sg/events/
