Bridgestone Asia Pacific, a global leader in sustainable mobility and advanced solutions, on Thursday (3 Dec) announced its partnership with Singaporean para-cyclist Tee Wee Leong (Steve) and pilot Ang Kee Meng for the much-awaited Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games next year.
As a Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner, Bridgestone believes that sport has the power to excite, inspire, and unite people from diverse backgrounds all over the world.
In line with this, the company is proud to partner with the Singapore National Paralympic Council (SNPC) and Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC) to support athletes on their journey to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
The announcement is also timely as it is observed in conjunction with the United Nations’ International Day of People with Disabilities (IDPwD).
Steve – who is visually impaired – and Ang Kee Meng have joined Team Bridgestone as the first Singaporean athlete ambassadors.
“I am honoured to represent Bridgestone and be the first Team Bridgestone athlete ambassador in Singapore alongside my partner Kee Meng. It is especially rewarding to partner with a company that holds the same beliefs and values of empowering people to chase their dreams. Just as I have found a purpose and a passion in tandem-cycling, I hope to inspire more people to play sports and achieve their goals,” said Steve.
The accomplished duo has demonstrated sporting prowess in the face of adversity, having qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games next year.
“Our sportsmen and women have undergone rigorous training and overcome various challenges to reach where they are today. Support from corporate partners like Bridgestone enable our athletes to focus on their training and realise their sporting ambitions. Ultimately, such meaningful partnerships help achieve our goal of promoting disability sports in Singapore,” said Teo-Koh Sock Miang, Chairman & President of SNPC and SDSC.
Bridgestone has helped the pair chase their dreams with a donation that contributed towards their equipment, training, and competition fees.
“As a worldwide partner of the Paralympic Movement, diversity and inclusion is ingrained in our company culture, and upheld by our Global CSR commitment, ‘Our Way to Serve’. The pandemic has only heightened our athlete’s resilience as their dreams have only been delayed, not denied,” said Paul Choo, Vice President for Human Resources & Corporate Social Responsibility at Bridgestone Asia Pacific.
“Their unwavering commitment and positive attitude are an inspiration to us all as we navigate these difficult times. We are very proud to be part of their remarkable journey,” he added.
Tandem para-cycling requires tremendous synergy between the visually impaired athlete, called the stoker, and the sighted counterpart, who is called the pilot.
In the past three years, both Steve and Ang Kee Meng have demonstrated incredible ability to deliver the highest standards of performance.
Last year, the pair set national record when they bagged the first-ever medal in history at the 2019 Para Asian Track Championships.
Consecutively, they clinched a bronze medal in the Men’s 4,000m Individual Pursuit (B) race at the 2020 Para Asian Track Championships despite crashing in the qualifying round.
Since journeying on this path, the pair has trained closely with SDSC and SNPC to become local sporting icons in the para-cycling field.