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Tan Kok Leong

Para Table Tennis

Profile
- Tan Kok Leong sustained a serious cervical spine injury after a somersault during Lion Dance practice in 1983, which resulted in complete paralysis of all four limbs, leaving him wheelchair-bound. Rather than be defined by his condition, Tan has built a remarkable dual life as both a competitive para table tennis player and a celebrated artist. With tremendous determination, he taught himself mouth painting in 1988, and within a year received a scholarship from the Mouth and Foot Painting Artists Association. His works blend classical Far Eastern traditions with European and American influences, spanning mythological scenes, watercolour studies of flowers and animals, and fantasy imagery, and he has presented his paintings in both group exhibitions and solo shows in Singapore, earning prizes and considerable recognition for his art.