'We're like family': How a special bond took Singapore's Jeralyn Tan to a historic Paralympic medal

SINGAPORE: Over the years, they have travelled together, eaten together and on some occasions, bunked together.

It is a bond extending beyond that of just a typical coach and athlete.

And while Yurnita Omar has four children of her own, her boccia apprentice Jeralyn Tan is just as much kin.

"We're not just like friends, we're like family," Yurnita told CNA. "She can tell me everything - from boccia, to her family, to her feelings. Everything.

"From one look on her face, I know what she is going through ... that's how close we are."

On Monday (Sep 2), Tan clinched a historic boccia silver at the Paris Paralympics. This was Singapore's very first medal in the sport.

The 35-year-old, who has cerebral palsy, becomes only Singapore's fourth Paralympic medallist, joining swimmers Yip Pin Xiu and Theresa Goh as well as equestrienne Laurentia Tan in the history books.

Boccia, which means to bowl in Italian, is a sport played by athletes in wheelchairs.

Players compete in four different categories, based on their level of physical impairment. For example, BC1 athletes like Tan are allowed to have assistance.

Players are required to throw or release balls towards a white target ball called a jack.

The aim is to land their ball as close as possible to the target, or to knock the opponent's ball out of the way.

Each player takes their turn to do this, and at the end of each round, the athlete whose ball is the closest to the jack scores one point.

He or she also receives an additional point for every ball that sits closer to the jack than their opponent’s closest ball.

At the end of four rounds, the player with the most points wins.

Because Tan's BC1 class allows her to receive assistance, Yurnita acts as not only her coach but also as her