SINGAPORE — Fresh from their stellar performances in Rio de Janeiro, Singapore Paralympians Yip Pin Xiu and Theresa Goh made a passionate plea for Singaporeans to see para-athletes on par with their able-bodied counterparts and accord them the same respect.

With their sporting futures up in the air, the two swimmers, who are considering retirement and will make a decision within the next three months, stressed they are not swimming for the money but for equality and respect, a call echoed by Singapore National Paralympic Council (SNPC) chairman Teo-Koh Sock Miang.

The public debate on whether the country’s Paralympics medallists should be awarded the same prize money as their Olympic counterparts was once again ignited after Yip won two gold medals at the 2016 Paralympics in the 50m and 100m backstroke S2, and Goh bagged a bronze in the 100m breaststroke SB4.

Their wins came after national swimmer Joseph Schooling was awarded S$1 million for his Olympic gold medal in the 100m butterfly in Rio last month. A Paralympic gold medallist, in contrast, receives S$200,000.

While many Singaporeans have called for equal prize money for the para-athletes, the SNPC said it has not decided if the rewards for Paralympic medallists will increase this year.

Amid the debate, Yip said she has read comments by critics who said para-sports is not as competitive as those competed by the able-bodied, and hence should be rewarded less.

“As much as I am overwhelmed by the (calls for) support, when I looked at social media ... it also isn’t all positive, as there are some haters,” said the 24-year-old.

“It is just as hard for an able-bodied to go to the Olympics, as (it is for) me to (go to) the Paralympics. We (Theresa and I) are close to the other (able-bodied) Team Singapore athletes as well, and they see how we work and know that (our efforts) are not any less than anybody else’s.”

Goh, a veteran para-athlete with a career spanning 17 years, agreed.

“I would like to see more equality, not just in terms of prize money, but also (support) at, say, welcome ceremonies, and media sessions like this,” said the 29-year-old.

“Prize money is one part of it, but there is so much more too that can be (used as a) reward for your hard work.

“It is tough, because we cannot push people to give us stuff. They give what they think we deserve — as long as they don’t place us in a lower value than able-bodied athletes.”

In Singapore, the para-athletes are awarded prize money under the Athletes’ Achievement Award (AAA), which is given by the SNPC. For national able-bodied athletes, they receive theirs via the Multi-Million Dollar Awards Programme (MAP) administered by the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC).

The Tote Board — which governs Singapore Pools and Singapore Turf Club, and comes under the Ministry of Finance — is the primary sponsor of the AAA and MAP. While it awards S$1 million for an Olympic gold medal, it funds a smaller amount to Paralympic medallists.

At the 2008 Paralympics, when Yip won Singapore’s first Paralympics gold medal in the 50m backstroke S3, a public outcry ensued when it was learnt that para-athletes received S$100,000 for a Paralympic gold, $50,000 for a silver and S$25,000 for a bronze. The rewards for the 2012 Paralympics were subsequently doubled.

Yesterday, SNPC chairman Teo-Koh said that the amount of prize money to be awarded this year is a “conversation that will continue to take place” as they meet interested sponsors. She also called for Corporate Singapore to step forward.

“A rewards system is in place, and it is in place because they are supported by sponsors,” she said.

“So I have to respect the sponsors’ views and abilities to support para-athletes. We all would love for everything to be similar (to the able-bodied athletes).

“It would be wonderful if we have other sponsors who are willing to come on board. If everybody out there keeps saying that we should be treated equally, then corporations need to step up to the plate, and not say everything (depends on) the Government.

“If you truly feel very inspired by what our para-athletes have been doing, support us, because at all levels of development (of para-sports), support is needed.

“To everyone who says there has got to be equality, my question to them is: Where is your role in all of this?”