Kota Kinabalu: Wong Hie Ming Eva, 48, who clinched the Best Para Coach Award, attributes her success to the unwavering support of her family – a driving force in coaching para-athletes.
The Sibu-born swimmer said her parents are her inspiration and is determined to evolve into a coach, dedicated to nurturing the talents of athletes in the state.
“My mother is my mentor. My parents have been my coaches all along,” said Eva, currently residing in Kota Kinabalu.
“I learned a lot from them, following in their footsteps, which became my motivation in venturing into this rather challenging field.
“There is no shortcut to becoming a coach, especially for athletes, it requires observation and a passion for sports,” she said.
Eva received the award during the 2021-2022 Sabah State Sports Awards Ceremony, presented by Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports Datuk Fairuz Renddan, in conjunction with the 70th Official Birth Anniversary Celebration of the Head of State Tun Juhar Mahiruddin.
In the same ceremony, Eva’s mother, Tee Mi Kiong, received a Special Award, and her protégé, Brenda Annelia Larry clinched the 2021-2022 Sabah State Sportswoman of the Year Award.
One of Brenda’s notable achievements includes qualifying for the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, in 2021 at the age of 14, making her the youngest athlete in the Games.
