Para-athlete Nguon Ratana said she has been overwhelmed by the support she has received and hopes to inspire a generation of people living with disabilities to get involved with sport.
“The inspiring experience of witnessing a person with disabilities like me, and watching me running is truly empowering,” she said, strongly encouraging individuals with disabilities not to lose hope and actively participate in sports.
Ratana said she is grateful for the results she has achieved to date through rigorous training. She added that she is fully committed to giving her best to win more medals for her country. “I give my heartfelt appreciation to my coach and the government for their support,” she said.
In the ongoing 12th ASEAN Para Games, Ratana secured a gold medal in the T46 1,500m event and earned two silver medals in the 400m and 800m races.
She also achieved a gold medal in the 1,500m event and silver medals in the 400m at the 11th ASEAN Para Games held in Indonesia.
According to the World Para Athletics, the T46 classification is specifically for athletics with disabilities, where individuals have undergone a single amputation either below or above the elbow. People in this category may also experience injuries due to the excessive use of their remaining upper limb.
The Paralympic athlete trained for at least seven years, and takes immense pride in her success. “I did not anticipate winning a gold medal. This is the first time I have received three medals in three different events at the Para Games,” Ratana said.
“Although training is challenging, the competition itself was manageable, and I pushed myself to reach the finish line.”
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