Once excluded from PE, now a national athlete: Meet Singapore’s only female national wheelchair rugby player

Nur Sabrina Suhaimi, a 25-year-old Singaporean, faces mobility challenges due to Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a rare genetic disorder affecting peripheral nerves. This condition causes progressive muscle weakness, and Sabrina requires a cane and braces to walk short distances. Despite her disabilities, she is Singapore's sole female national wheelchair rugby player.

Known as murderball in its early days, wheelchair rugby is a physically intense sport involving collisions between wheelchairs. Sabrina describes these collisions as exhilarating and likening the game to bumper cars. Initially, men on the team were gentler on her because of her gender, but as she demonstrated skill, they grew more competitive.

Off the court, Sabrina is a gentle person with a contagious laugh. Her passion for sports was stifled during her school years, but her condition led to a diagnosis of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease at age 16. This diagnosis helped her understand her condition better. In 2024, she suffered a severe fall that left her wheelchair-bound for a year.

This setback led her to discover her love for wheelchair rugby. Through inclusive swimming classes and encouragement from her coach, she joined the sport. Wheelchair Rugby Association Singapore (WRAS) comprises 27 members, including those with spinal cord injuries, muscular dystrophy, neurological conditions, and amputations. Classified as a high pointer due to her functional abilities, Sabrina plays an offensive role in the game.

She trains three times weekly, working on strength, conditioning, skills, and technical drills. Following her recovery from her fall, Sabrina found renewed strength and purpose in wheelchair rugby, securing a job in graphic design and becoming a national athlete for Singapore.