Moza, 12, aiming for golden exploits with one good arm

In the shimmering blue expanse of the Anglo-Chinese Junior College swimming pool, about 30 young swimmers take turns to do their laps every Saturday morning.

- Deepanraj Ganesan

One of them stands out.

Moza Baihakki, 12, fearlessly plunges into the water, propelling herself forward with only her left arm.

The daughter of former national footballer Baihakki Khaizan and actress-singer turned entrepreneur Norfasarie Mohd Yahya was born with part of her right arm missing due to a rare congenital condition known as amniotic band syndrome.

While it meant that she has had to learn to deal with difficulties performing daily tasks like tying her shoelaces, it has not stopped her from dreaming big.

With unwavering resolve, Moza's eyes are set on a glittering prize: A gold medal at the Paralympics someday, just like the Republic's Yip Pin Xiu, who has won five.

She hopes to achieve that not just for herself but also to show that one's disability should not limit the size of one's dreams.

On her competitive debut on March 23, she also got her first taste of what it feels like to win gold in swimming. Not only did she clinch three races at the InterSchool Para Swimming Championships, which were part of the national championships, but she also broke the women's 50m breaststroke SB9 national record.