By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Sept 22: After losing his right hand in a road accident, Mully Andriano regained his strength through swimming and now represents Sarawak at Para Malaysian Game (Para Sukma) XXI Sarawak 2024.
The 34-year-old Lawas-born lad said he was riding a motorcycle in the accident in 2019 which cost him his limb up to his elbow and his job as a labourer.
On top of that, the Covid-19 outbreak made it harder for him to find a job which caused him to be unemployed for two years.
“During those dark days, I was feeling down. I always isolated myself and stayed away from my family,” he told reporters when met during a training session at Pandelela Rinong Aquatic Centre here today.
Nevertheless, he credited his family members who never gave up on him for supporting him.
“They sent me to Kuching to work and I made friends involved in sports. From there, I joined my friends and developed an interest in swimming,” he stated, adding that he became an athlete representing Sarawak in 2021.
As one who has experienced firsthand the shock and impact from having all his limbs to being categorised as physically-impaired (OKU), Mully expressed understanding towards those who share the same fate as him.
“I wish to tell those who were involved in an accident or to any OKUs out there, to never give up and just try out in showing your talent, like me, to the extent of being able to represent Sarawak,” he emphasised.
Meanwhile, Federal Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh encouraged those with physical impairments to try out becoming para athletes.
“If you do not have the ‘victim mindset’ and if you have the support from your family and the opportunity to train, you could still become an athlete even if you are at the age of 34.
“Many believe that they can no longer try out in sports if they have passed the age of 21, which is false,” she stressed. — DayakDaily
