More Than a Sport: A Journey of Confidence

It starts as a simple training drill. 

Coach Nor Rahman Bin Jaafar  breaks into a jog beside seven-year-old Devdan Devaraj. Devdan responds immediately, pushing his running frame faster to catch up. What started as a training drill quickly becomes a race – and a glimpse of the trust the pair have built through sport.

For Devdan, that ease did not come immediately. Diagnosed with Type 2 spinal muscular atrophy when he was around a month old, he has significant muscle weakness and is unable to walk without support.

His mother, Mdm See Shu Wen, remembers that those early years were heavy with worry. As an energetic boy, physical therapy was vital, but often felt repetitive. His parents longed to give him a childhood filled with play rather than just treatments, a space where he could simply be a kid and experience the thrill of sports. 

This is what led Devdan’s parents to sign him up for the ActiveSG Para Sport Academy. Launched by Sport Singapore in 2022 as part of the Disability Sports Masterplan, the initiative opens doors for persons with disabilities to participate in adaptive sports like wheelchair rugby and frame running. Regular training is provided by qualified coaches for any willing participant, regardless of age. 

At first, even that new environment took some getting used to. Naturally shy, Devdan could become upset when introduced to unfamiliar activities or equipment. Notwithstanding, his parents kept bringing him back, giving him time to explore each new experience at his own pace.

Frame running has become one of the many ways Devdan can stay active, challenge himself and discover the joy of sports.

Finding his place on the frame 

A turning point came when Devdan tried frame running earlier this year. As the youngest in the group, surrounded by older youth and adults, the track could easily have felt intimidating. Instead, it became a playground, thanks to Coach Rahman. 

Coach Rahman oversees frame running at the ActiveSG Para Sport Academy. He has been coaching para sports since 2021, after years of coaching shooting in the army. 

One of the first things Coach Rahman noticed about Devdan when he first joined the sport was his quiet nature. Rahman quickly realised that he had to go beyond his traditional coaching drills to find a way into Devdan’s world. The breakthrough came through something small and cute: Devdan’s favourite plushies. Before every session, Devdan would carefully strap a plushie to the front of his running frame as a way to bring comfort when he felt overwhelmed. 

“What plushie did you bring today?” became Rahman’s standard pre-training check-in. That simple question broke the ice, turning the young boy’s monosyllabic “yes/no” answers into full sentences and conversations. 

On the frame, Devdan’s natural athletic ability brought new confidence. Having previously ridden a tricycle, he quickly mastered steering the running frame and was able to zoom around the track with ease and a cheeky smile. 

From hesitation to possibility 

Devdan naturally took to frame running, surprising Coach Rahman with how confidently he could move and steer on the frame.

Coach Rahman adapted drills so that Devdan could run side-by-side with the older participants. While older athletes focused on high-speed shuttles, Devdan’s goal was simply to complete the distance. Rahman would run alongside him, playfully picking up his pace just enough to spark Devdan’s competitive spirit. 

To Devdan, this is just another day of hanging out with Coach Rahman and the others on the frame running team. His favourite thing about the sport isn’t how fast he is or the medals he can win. “My friends,” is what he shyly shares. 

A community that feels like family 

For Mdm See and her family, the ActiveSG Para Sport Academy is much more than a weekly physical activity. It has also given them a supportive community that has brought them much hope for their son. 

“The future doesn’t feel so scary anymore,” Mdm See shared. Being surrounded by other families, dedicated coaches and peers made them realise that they are not walking this road alone. 

Rahman shares the same perspective as a coach. For him, the challenge has not simply been getting people to try a sport but giving them enough reason to keep coming back. 

Devdan’s journey is supported by both his family and Coach Rahman, whose partnership helps create an environment where he can keep learning and trying new things.

“Come try first.” 

Today, Devdan eagerly looks forward to his weekly training sessions with his coach. 

Both Mdm See and Coach Rahman hope Devdan’s story can inspire other families facing similar situations. Encourage parents, she said: “We don’t need to wait until our child seems ready or sporty to try out para sports,” she shared. 

Or as Coach Rahman simply puts it: “Come try first.” 

This aptly sums up the work he is doing at ActiveSG Para Sport Academy. If someone enjoys a sport, they can keep going. If it is not for them, there are other activities to explore. What matters is having the opportunity to find out. 

That is also the broader role of programmes such as the ActiveSG Para Sport Academy: making sporting opportunities more accessible to persons with disabilities, with the coaching and environment needed for participants to take part meaningfully.

The ActiveSG Para Sport Academy is supported by Tote Board through its Sporting Singapore Fund, which promotes sports participation, social bonding and healthy living among Singaporeans of all ages and abilities. Through the Fund, Tote Board helps make sporting opportunities more accessible and inclusive, enabling persons with disabilities to participate, build confidence and develop new skills.

“At Tote Board, we believe sports can be a powerful force for inclusion and empowerment. By supporting the ActiveSG Para Sport Academy, Tote Board hopes to create more opportunities for persons with disabilities to participate, thrive and build the confidence and connections to achieve their full potential.” said Amy Lim, Director (Programmes) at Tote Board.

And sometimes, progress looks like a seven-year-old trying to catch his coach.  

With Coach Rahman by his side, Devdan continues to discover how far he can go — one step, one run and one new experience at a time.