Goalkeeper Eman Sulaeman attempts a save during a futsal (five-a-side indoor soccer) match in Indramayu, Indonesia, on Feb 3. [Photo/Agencies] One-legged goalkeeper inspiring fans all over world INDRAMAYU, Indonesia - When Eman Sulaeman begged his parents to let him play soccer, the couple worried their young son - born with no feet and just one full leg - would be mocked. But two decades later, the 30-year-old Indonesian goalkeeper is wowing crowds at home and abroad with his catlike reflexes, and sending a powerful message about people with disabilities. I cried for days, begging them (my parents) to buy me a ball, he said at a recent match in the small town of Indramayu, some 220 kilometers east of Jakarta. They relented and went out to find me a cheap plastic ball. Sulaeman's fans came out in force at a recent match at a local court for futsal - a five-a-side game played on a hard pitch with hockey-sized goals and a less bouncy ball. They snapped pictures and cheered as Sulaeman protected his net by shifting quickly on stumps and his one leg - the other limb is missing from the knee down. Cheers turned into a roar as he kicked the ball into the back of the other team's net, capping off a win for his side. Young fans waited for a selfie with their hero. He is very inspiring, said 18-year-old Muhammad Faisal Bahri. Although he's physically very different from the rest of us, his spirit remains strong. He really motivates me. 'Really touched' It hasn't been easy for Sulaeman - a big fan of former Manchester United keeper Edwin Van Der Sar and Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo - who had to train tirelessly to get where he is. I spent a long time learning to walk in balance before I was able to kick the ball, he said. Sulaeman's perseverance paid off, with friends asking him to join the local soccer team as he completed an electronic engineering degree. Soccer for me is just like my wife. My girlfriend is even jealous of it because I love it too much, he laughed. Still, some were not convinced. At my first tournament, the other team's manager doubted me and asked if I really could play, he said. Despite the challenges posed by his birth defect, Sulaeman never considered wearing prosthetic legs. I don't even like wearing shoes. The only time I wore shoes was for a match in Scotland, he said, adding that it was to allay organizers' safety concerns. In 2016, he joined the Indonesian team at the Homeless World Cup in Glasgow. The annual soccer tournament is aimed at raising awareness about homelessness and usually involves homeless players as well as drug addicts, asylum-seekers and disabled athletes. An instant sensation, Sulaeman was crowned the competition's best goalkeeper. It was unreal. My first time ever being abroad and I was named the best goalie, he said. The crowds and even all the organizing committee members clapped for me. I was really touched. British media at the time praised Sulaeman and his catlike reflexes. Soccer really embraces every part of our society, he said. People with disabilities like me and poor people can all unite without being looked down upon or stigmatized. Paralympic dream Sulaeman's talents have caught the attention of West Java's sports agency, lifting hopes that the government might boost its support for disabled athletes. We've recently learned that our disabled athletes have extraordinary skills and they have opened our eyes that if they're given equal opportunities, they can achieve anything, said agency spokesman Dani Ramdan. Sulaeman - who runs an electronics repair shop - is determined to spread his love for the sport by establishing a futsal lover's community in his hometown Majalengka and coach soccer at several local junior high schools. He dreams of competing in a major event like the Paralympic Games one day, and hopes that he will continue to be an inspiration for other disabled athletes. We must stay confident and motivated to bring out the potential in ourselves, he said. Although we (disabled people) have limitations, within those limitations there are extraordinary things. Agence France - Presse dual layer wristbandsxl silicone wristbandscheap custom wristbands no minimumcustom made bracelets for hertriple single rubber band bracelet
The 2018 Tsinghua Aging Industry Forum is held in Tsinghua University from April 22-23. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] The advancement of the development of the aging industry should coordinate all social resources to set up a smooth channel among governments, enterprises and individuals, instead of relying on the government alone, said Yuan Xin, executive chairman of Tsinghua Health (Aging) Industry Union. Yuan's remark was made at the 2018 Tsinghua Aging Industry Forum, an influential event hosted by Tsinghua University. This year, it was held from April 22-23 and attracted more than 800 guests and 40 experts in the aging industry from all over the world. An anniversary event for the 10th year, this year's forum focused on searching for new opportunities and expanding new horizons in the new era and consisted of forums and seminars on industrial development and a product show with an experiential approach. The forum was co-organized by a couple of schools of Tsinghua University and Tsinghua Tongheng Urban Planning & Design Institute (THUPDI), a subsidiary of Tsinghua Holdings Habitat Development Group and THUPDI's aging industry experts committee and health science research institute. Experts at the forum believe that healthcare and serious disease prevention will be the next step to improve services for seniors. Tsinghua University's School of Architecture will pull out all its stops to lay a solid foundation for the planning, design and construction of buildings and environments for aging people, said the school's Deputy-Dean Zhang Yue. Zhang also sent out his invitation to more professionals from governments, academia and enterprises to further explore and develop the care industry. Statistics shows that the number of seniors over 60 years old had reached 240 million by the end of 2017, accounting for 17.3 percent of China's total population. Research also suggests that 60 percent to 80 percent of these elders have medical problems. The development of the care industry is more than a service model for the elders; it's also a solution for them to overcome difficulties and improve their life quality, said Liu Weilin, chairman of the China Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics. Interconnection and communication requires a network featuring close cooperation among governments, market and society, and more exploration in the care industry, pointed out Yin Zhi, executive deputy-dean of Tsinghua University's China's new-type urbanization research institute. A highlight of the event was the sharing of her ideas and plans for the improvement of buildings and environments for the aged by Professor Zhou Yanmin of Tsinghua University's School of Architecture. Other experts sharing their views on the development of the aging industry and their plans for solutions included Cheng Xiaoqing, vice-professor of Tsinghua University's School of Architecture, Pei Xiaomei, professor of Tsinghua University's School of Social Sciences, and Jingjun, a doctor of Anthropology of Harvard University and the director of the Tsinghua University Public Health Research Center. A product show was also held during the event.
