Can a sport break barriers and bring people ofall abilities together? Parabowls—a modified version of lawn bowls—is doing just that. Host Umayal Eswaran speaks with Ganesh Ramanathan, President of Parabowls Singapore, about his journey as an athlete and advocate championing accessibility in the sport. This episode also explores sports’ role in inclusion, Singapore’s leadership in disability sports, and the push for global representation. Tune in for an inspiring talk on breaking stereotypes and promoting equality!

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00:00-02:21 – Introduction 

• Welcome to RYTHM Connect 

• Introducing Ganesh Ramanathan 

• Parabowls: driving inclusion through sport 

02:22-06:51 – Passion for Lawn Bowls and Advocacy 

• An athlete and an advocate 

• What the game entails 

• Bringing lawn bowls to athletes with disabilities 

06:52-09:58 – The Power of Sports in Inclusion 

• The sport’s unique sportsmanship 

• Playing for enjoyment and empowering others 

• Expanding access through leadership 

09:59-13:22 – Competitive Representation in Sports 

• National and international level opportunities 

• Gaining recognition on the big stage 

• Platforms for athletes with disabilities to thrive 

13:23-19:38 – An Inspiring Story of Transformation 

• Mahindran Pasupathy’s inspiring journey 

• A life renewed for an athlete with a visual impairment 

• Family and community support for athletes with disabilities 

19:39-25:00 – Breaking Stereotypes in Adaptive Sports 

• The societal shift needed for true inclusion 

• A rare sport uniting all abilities 

• Plans for fully inclusive competitions 

25:01-29:39 – Singapore’s Leadership in Disability Inclusion 

• Government initiatives and policy changes 

• The “Disability Sports Master Plan 2024” 

• Expanding access and boosting participation 

29:40-31:55 – Challenging Disability Stigmas 

• How Parabowls Singapore is shifting perceptions 

• Inspiring more people with disabilities to join sports 

• The importance of long-term community support 

31:56-38:52 – Expanding Accessibility Through Innovation 

• Short mat bowls for easier accessibility 

• Adapting Parabowls for All Ages and Environments 

• Boosting participation through local partnerships 

38:53-40:01 – Closing Thoughts 

• The uniting power of sports 

• Inclusion: Opportunity, not charity 

• Inspiring communities to foster belonging