SINGAPORE : A Disability Sports Classification and Research Centre is being set up in Singapore.

The Singapore Disability Sports Council plans to set it up by November.

The announcement was made on Thursday, at a three-day Disability Sports Conference being held in Singapore.

Singapore's disabled athletes gave their best performance ever at the recent Far East & South Pacific Games in Kuala Lumpur.

They brought home a record 7 gold, 5 silver and 5 bronze medals.

But more can still be done for disability sports, both in Singapore and Asia.

This and other issues will be discussed at the conference.

Host Singapore said it was planning to start a Classification and Research Centre soon.

Michael Palmer, Advisor, Singapore Disability Sports Council and MP, Pasir Ris Punggol GRC, explained, "Disability requires classification. It's like a sort of different bands of performance that they can perform their sport in, and that's key to regional and international competition as well."

Another pressing problem for disabled athletes is the lack of proper coaches and methods.

Zainal Abu Zarin, President, Asian Paralympic Council, said, "Australia is advanced in this. They already have a module for coaching for the Paralympic sports. So we don't have to reinvent the wheel, if there is a book. So what we have to do is to cooperate with personnel from Australia who are well versed with this area of expertise."

Mr Zainal, who is also President of the Malaysian Paralympic Council, hopes to set up a Centre in the region to churn up more accredited coaches.

According to speakers, media coverage is another area that can be improved.

The ultimate goal is for disabled athletes to get equal resources, rewards and opportunities as their able bodied counterparts. - CNA/ms