Photo of winners at SDSA 2025. Credit: SDSC
Para Swimming and Boccia athletes swept the top accolades at the Singapore Disability Sports Awards (SDSA) 2025, held this evening at Paradox Hotel. Organised by the Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC), the annual awards celebrate excellence across high-performance sport, community impact, coaching, and volunteerism.
This year, 82 nominees were recognised for their contributions to Singapore’s disability sports landscape from April 2024 to March 2025.
SDSA 2025 also marked a significant milestone – a decade of partnership between SDSC and Haw Par Corporation, whose sustained support has helped drive the growth of Boccia in Singapore and enabled the revival of the Awards in 2019 after a 10-year hiatus.
Seven-time Paralympic medallist Yip Pin Xiu was named Sportswoman of the Year for the sixth time, following a historic season in which she achieved her third consecutive double-gold sweep at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games in the Women’s 50m and 100m Backstroke S2 events. She also delivered podium finishes at the Madeira 2024 European Open, Citi Para Swimming World Series Singapore 2024, and World Para Swimming Series Melbourne 2025.
Fellow para swimmer Toh Wei Soong clinched Sportsman of the Year for the fourth straight year. After securing a gold and bronze at the Citi Para Swimming World Series Singapore 2024, the recent National University of Singapore graduate went on to reach the finals in both the Men’s 50m Freestyle S7 and 50m Butterfly S7 at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
In the youth categories, boccia athletes took centre stage.
Sportsboy of the Year was awarded to Aloysius Gan and his ramp assistant — and mother — Eve Cher, for the second consecutive year. Gan secured a silver medal in the BC3 Male Individual event at the 2024 Taipei City World Boccia Cup.
Sportsgirl of the Year went to Yan Jia Yi and her ramp assistant Lim Yi Yu, a physiotherapist at Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore School, after Yan won two gold medals at the 2024 World Abilitysport Youth Games in BC3 Mixed Singles and Mixed Pairs.
The Team of the Year award was presented to para bowling duo Low Chang Hong and Loo Chee Wai Vincent, who earned a silver medal in the Men’s Double TPB9 event at the IBF World Para Bowling Championships 2025 in Hong Kong. The event marked 59-year-old Vincent Loo’s international debut.
Among coaches, Coach (High Performance) of the Year went to Michael Massey, who guided Yip Pin Xiu to defend her Paralympic titles in Paris.
Coach (Developmental) of the Year was awarded to Tang Mun Fai Lawson for his work with para table tennis athlete Caleb Lee, who earned his first Singles medal — a bronze — at the 2024 World Abilitysport Youth Games.
Coach (Community) of the Year was presented to Jovin Tan, former Paralympic sailor and now boccia athlete, for his eight-year contribution to making sailing more accessible for persons with disabilities. Tan became Singapore’s first certified sailing coach with a disability, continues to volunteer weekly, and has championed inclusive regattas by collaborating with Raffles Marina and Singapore Management University to include para sailing in the annual Western Circuit Sailing Regatta — Singapore’s only inclusive sailing regatta.
The Para Cycling Federation of Singapore received Community Changemaker of the Year for its leadership in expanding the para cycling community since 2009, offering weekly recreational opportunities and inclusive outreach activities.
Volunteer (Individual) of the Year was awarded to Ms Jessica Lim for her sustained support of disability sports programmes over eight years. Throughout the pursuit of her doctorate at Nanyang Technological University, she played a major role in establishing volunteer recruitment and management systems for SDSC, building networks, mentoring newcomers, and improving volunteer retention. Her contributions have been instrumental to strengthening SDSC’s community programmes.
The Volunteer (Group) of the Year accolade went to RSVP – The Organisation of Senior Volunteers, which has been a steadfast supporter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association Singapore’s Boccia programme since 2022. Their senior volunteers provide direct athlete support, mentor newcomers, and create an inclusive environment that has strengthened the boccia community.
Boccia athlete Eng Shi Hui Elaine and her father and ramp assistant, Mr Desmond Eng, were named Spirit of Sport (Female) of the Year. Living with severe spastic-dystonic quadriplegic cerebral palsy, Elaine has achieved podium finishes at national competitions and placed fifth at the Manama 2024 World Boccia Challenger.
The Spirit of Sport (Male) of the Year award went to para swimmer Nicholas Hee, who set two personal bests at the 2024 Para Swimming World Series Singapore in the S14 class and has continued to volunteer at various events despite his intellectual disability.
The Spirit of Sport (Team) of the Year was awarded to the Special Olympics Singapore Dancesport Outreach Team – comprising Kweh Jia Xuan, Oun Zi Le, Seetoh Minhui, and Tang Su-Ann Megan. Competing in Dancesport for the first time since it became an official Special Olympics sport, the team earned a gold and silver at the Special Olympics World Winter Games 2025 – marking the first time Special Olympics athletes have received an SDSA award.
This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award honoured the late Mr Lim Ewe Huat, former President of the Singapore Sports Council for the Disabled (now SDSC). Serving from 1982 to 1991 with a short break in between, he secured formal recognition of the Council as a National Sports Association and expanded international affiliations, paving the way for Singaporean para athletes to compete at World Championships and the Paralympic Games. Beyond sport, Mr Lim was deeply committed to social and charitable causes, and his leadership, humility, and service continue to inspire the disability sports community.
Awardees this year received a special cash top-up for their achievements – $5,000 for Pathway and Performance Awards and up to $3,000 for Community Awards – made possible by the CKY Foundation. Yeo’s also supported the SDSA for the first time this year.
Marking ten years of partnership, Haw Par Corporation reaffirmed its long-standing support with a $120,000 contribution, presented by Mr Brian Loo, Group General Manager of Haw Par Corporation, to SDSC President Dr Teo-Koh Sock Miang.
Over the past 10 years, Haw Par has played a pivotal role in the development of boccia in Singapore, supporting the increasing number of technical officials, referees, coaches, and volunteers who are joining this community. Haw Par’s support also made it possible for SDSC to restart the Singapore Disability Sports Awards in 2019 after a decade-long hiatus, restoring an important platform to honour para athletes and community champions.
Mr Wee Ee Lim, President and CEO of Haw Par Corporation, said: “Haw Par is proud to celebrate a decade of partnership with SDSC, supporting the growth of the disability sports community in Singapore, with a focus on boccia. From nurturing new talents at the grassroots level to honouring world-class achievements on the international stage, such as Jeralyn Tan’s Paralympic silver medal in Paris last year, we’ve seen how sport can transform lives and strengthen communities. As the maker of Tiger Balm, Haw Par believes in the power of sport for well-being and empowerment. This milestone reaffirms our commitment to fostering an inclusive sporting ecosystem and empowering athletes of all abilities as we continue to journey with them.”
