Mon | Apr 29, 2024

Sinclair calls for support of para athletes

Published:Sunday | September 5, 2021 | 12:07 AMRobert Bailey - Gleaner Writer
Jamaica’s Sylvia Grant competes in the women’s F57 seated discus throw final during the 2020 Paralympics at the National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan, on Saturday, August 28, 2021.
AP
Jamaica’s Sylvia Grant competes in the women’s F57 seated discus throw final during the 2020 Paralympics at the National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan, on Saturday, August 28, 2021.

NATIONAL PARALYMPIANS head coach Neville Sinclair has called on local companies to make an investment in the nation’s para athletes.

Grant’s plea came after the country’s dismal performance at this year’s showing at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, where the team failed to secure a medal.

In fact, this is the second straight Paralympics at which the country has failed to secure a medal.

Veteran Sylvia Grant, competing in her eighth Paralympics, finished 10th in the women’s discus F57. Theadore Subba lost in the quarter-finals of the men’s 100+ judo, and Shauna-Kay Hines did not get beyond the round of 16 in the women’s 58kg tae kwon do.

“Financial support was of great concern for us. We only got the (plane) tickets on the day before we left, and so there is concern when it comes to para and sponsorship,” said Grant.

“What I want to say to corporate Jamaica is to believe in us and give us the opportunity to showcase a lot of other athletes in our sport,” he said. “Sometimes when we can take five athletes to a tournament, we only take three due to the financial constraints on the association, and so I am appealing to corporate sponsors to come on board and support the para athletes,” Grant said.

Sinclair pointed out that despite their failure to win a medal, he was still satisfied with the team’s performance because their preparation was not ideal.

“As coach, you always want to make sure that your athletes are on the podium,” said Grant.

PERSONAL BEST

“However, when you have an elite competition like this and you have athletes going out there and giving you PR (personal best) and season’s best times, that is awesome because it has shown that the athletes went out there and did their best,” he said.

“Preparation is always essential, and we are not blaming anything, but we could have put in a lot more work. It wasn’t to be, and we are not using that as an excuse,” Grant said.

Meanwhile, efforts to get a comment from Christopher Samuda, president of the Jamaica Olympic Association, proved futile as several calls to his phone went unanswered.