SEA Games 31: Singapore athletics team perform best since 1993 SEA Games 31: Singapore athletics team perform best since 1993 | World | Vietnam+ (VietnamPlus) Patience and perseverance have paid off for Singapore’s athletics contingent at the SEA Games 31, who returned to the homeland on May 20 with their best total medal haul for almost 30 years, according to The Straits Times. Wednesday, May 18, 2022 15:55 Singapore's 100m hurdler Ang Chen Xiang (second from left) wins his first medal, a silver, in his 4th SEA Games (Photo: The Straits Times) Singapore (VNA) - Patience and perseverance have paid off for Singapore’s athletics contingent at the SEA Games 31, who returned to the homeland on May 20 with their best total medal haul for almost 30 years, according to The Straits Times. Singapore’s athletics team picked up 11 medals – one gold, three silvers and seven bronzes at SEA Games 31 in Hanoi, Vietnam, marking a significant improvement from the last edition three years ago in the Philippines, where they picked up just three bronze medals. Singapore Athletics (SA) president Lien Choong Luen said this was the result of concerted efforts from the track and field fraternity. Coaches also make a great contribution when keeping the faith in athletes to overcome difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. At SEA Games 31, the host Vietnam continued their dominance of the athletics event, topping the medal tally with 22 golds. It was followed by Thailand with 12 gold medals and the Philippines with 5 gold medals. For Singapore, the last time they yielded a double-digit return was SEA Games 1993 on home soil, with 12 medals (one gold, 3 silvers and 8 bronzes)./. VNA TOPICS: SEA Games 31
SEA Games: S'pore fin swimmers happy to be competing again after almost 20 years Singapore's Lucas Chew (left) and Lim Yao Xiang (right), who made his debut in the sport in Hanoi 19 years ago. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR Kimberly Kwek PUBLISHED MAY 21, 2022, 11:33 PM SGT HANOI - It was a sight to behold for spectators at the My Dinh Water Sports Palace in Hanoi on Saturday (May 21). Sitting on the starting blocks at the swimming pool, competitors were putting on their snorkels and fins, which looked like they belonged in the Disney movie The Little Mermaid. Once the buzzer sounded, the swimmers launched themselves off the blocks and glided seamlessly through the water. The locals clearly enjoyed the unique spectacle, packing the stands and cheering loudly as they lapped up the action on the first day of the fin-swimming competition at the SEA Games. The sport is making a return to the biennial Games after 11 years. It also featured the last time the Games were held in Hanoi in 2003. Among the fin swimmers yesterday were Singapore’s contingent of seven, including Lim Yao Xiang, who made his debut in the sport in Hanoi 19 years ago. Then, they went home with one gold, two silvers and four bronzes. Lim, a former national water polo player with three SEA Games titles, won a gold and bronze. The 39-year-old said: “It brings back the memories, it’s come one full circle. “I could not plan for it to happen because who knew 20 years later I would be able to do it.” With his vast experience as an elite athlete, Lim is playing more of a mentor’s role in Vietnam this time, helping the rest of the team – who are all making their Games debut – deal with the pressures of competition. Yesterday, Lim finished last out of eight in the men’s 100m surface after clocking 43.18 seconds, while compatriot Lucas Chew was seventh in 42.45sec. Singapore’s Bernice Ting and Rayen Ong both set national records in the women’s 100m surface and men’s 100m bi-fins respectively. Ting was sixth after clocking 44.52sec and teammate Jamie Ang was last out of eight in 45.88sec. Ong touched the wall in 45.88sec to finish seventh out of eight in men’s event. Singapore's Lim Yao Xiang in action during the men's 100m surface, on May 21, 2022. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR MORE ON THIS TOPIC The Big Story: Team Singapore bag 45 SEA Games gold medals, matching ST's forecast SEA Games: S'pore sports fraternity excited to leverage on, and deliver an exciting 2029 edition Ting, 20, said: “I’m really happy that I broke my personal best. “I was just focusing on what I had to do and not change anything when I race, especially on the blocks when everyone was cheering and I got nervous. “I used to be in competitive swimming and it’s totally different – the crowd, the environment, everybody around me.” Ong, who is also a competitive swimmer, hopes they can continue building on this experience to grow the sport in Singapore. The 22-year-old said: “I feel that there are a lot more things to discover and with this SEA Games, it’ll be a very big step for us to see the huge difference between us and other countries.” Vietnam topped the sport’s medal tally with five gold, four silver and two bronze medals, while Indonesia and Thailand were second and third respectively with 2-2-1 and 0-1-3. The fin swimming action continues on Sunday. Singapore's Bernice Ting (centre) in action during the women's 100m surface, on May 21, 2022. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR MORE ON THIS TOPIC If NS rightly comes first, should we complain if a swimmer comes second? SEA Games: More work ahead, even as athletics delivers best haul for S'pore since 1993 The 22-year-old said: "We have the foundation there and there is a lot more ground for us to cover in terms of getting used to the fins. I feel that there are a lot more things to discover and with this SEA Games, it'll be a very big step for us to see the huge difference between us and other countries, so we know the next steps to take for future Games." Vietnam rewarded their home supporters on Saturday as the hosts topped the day's medal tally with five gold, four silver and two bronze medals, while Indonesia and Thailand were second and third respectively with 2-2-1 and 0-1-3. The finswimming action continues today with Singapore's athletes competing in the men's and women's surface 50m heats, women's surface 800m heats and the mixed 4x100m bi-fins heats. MORE ON THIS TOPIC SEA Games: Singapore's Teong Tzen Wei is Asean's first sub-22sec swimmer SEA Games: Gan Ching Hwee is 1st winner of women's 1,500m race, her 4th gold
Commentary: Everyone loves gold, but Singapore athletes’ achievements at SEA Games deserve celebration too While gold medals are celebrated at the 31st SEA Games, we should remember our national athletes' achievements are so much more than the results of their events, says CNA senior journalist Matthew Mohan. Singapore's Nurul Suhaila celebrates after winning gold at the 31st SEA Games. (Photo: SportSG/Stanley Cheah) Matthew Mohan @MatthewMohanCNA 22 May 2022 06:00AM(Updated: 22 May 2022 04:22PM) HANOI: My question about her joyous reaction to winning gold elicits a pause from silat exponent Nurul Suhaila Mohamed Saiful. As she composes herself to reply, there are tears in her eyes. By the time she finishes, there are tears in mine. "So many years of doubting myself, getting the bronze three times was very hard for me. I spent a lot of time away from my family," the 27-year-old said, striking gold at long last in the women's Class E (65-70kg) tanding event on Monday (May 16). "So this time, I wanted to make my parents proud and prove to them that the time away is worth it, it’s for me to grow, to be the best athlete that I can be. I hope my parents are proud of me.” For the newly-crowned SEA Games champion, it was about more than just defeating her opponents. It was about conquering self-doubt. There are many stories like Suhaila's among our national athletes at the 31st SEA Games. Their journeys differ, but their tales are bound by a common thread: Determination, strength, perseverance and sacrifice. Hours in the gym, on the road, away from their loved ones - all to be at their peak. Getting to Hanoi has taken hard work but they will leave with achievements far beyond their results. CRUEL WORLD OF SPORTS You win or you lose, there is hardly room for anything in between. The world of sports is a cruel one. match reports, contests distilled down to the bare bones: The score, the result, the victory. Headlines are written, opinions are formed. “No one remembers who took second place and that will never be me", the late Italian race car driver Enzo Ferrari once wrote in a letter. Related: Singapore's silat exponents win 3 more golds at SEA Games to end campaign on a high Commentary: The Olympics medal tally skews towards bigger and richer countries At every major Games, the medal tally is a constant reminder of where nations stand and how they compare to others. It is a barometer of whether there has been improvement, whether training regimens are working. For many, it is gold that glitters brightest. Which country has won the most golds? Which athlete has won the most golds? After all, the number of gold medals generally determines order in the medal table. Famously, American media favour the total medal count, which almost always puts it at the top. This practice brought a wry smile to the faces of observers in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, when the United States trailed behind China in gold medals right up to the last day when the Americans edged ahead by one. ‘TO BE BETTER THAN OUR PREVIOUS SELF’ Many of us remember the euphoria watching Joseph Schooling touch the wall first at the Rio 2016 Olympics to bring home Singapore's first Olympic gold. One of our own had done it. Or the outpouring of joy when badminton player Loh Kean Yew defied all odds to become world champion in December 2021. Winning is important. But for our athletes, gold is one of many motivations. For one, they compete to better themselves. “I swim to see how good I can be. I swim because I actually enjoy what swimming teaches me … and that translates into performance as well,” said Schooling. “You just want to keep getting better than the day before.” After winning the 200m indvidual medley, swimmer Quah Jing Wen was asked if she knew the significance of her victory. This was the first time in almost two decades a Singaporean had won the event. “Having that extra knowledge does make it kind of cool,” she said. “(But) a lot of the swimmers we don't chase titles or anything. We chase to be better than our previous self. These extra things are all a bonus.” Beyond the headlines are the personal bests. Take Reuben Rainer Lee, who finished fifth in the men’s 200m athletics final, but who set a new national record and personal best with his time of 21.07. Or Nur Izlyn Zaini, who set a new national record and personal best in the 100m hurdles as she finished fifth. In the pool, Quah Zheng Wen clocked a personal best in the 200m freestyle - all while serving his National Service. Related: 'Heartbreaking' SEA Games loss a 'speed bump' but kickboxer Nazri Sutari resolute in quest to be world's best Commentary: Loh Kean Yew’s smashing World Championships win is no fluke
Badminton world champion Loh Kean Yew stunned in SEA Games final, beaten by Thailand star Kunlavut Vitidsarn 21-year-old Kunlavut won gold with a 21-13, 21-13 victory in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi World No 10 Loh took the lead in the first game but his Thai rival battled back to draw level before pulling away in decisive fashion. SCMP Sportand Agence France-Presse Published: 8:42pm, 22 May, 2022 Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn in action during the men’s singles final against Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew at Bac Giang Gymnasium. Photo: Reuters Singapore’s badminton world champion Loh Kean Yew had to settle for silver after being stunned in the men’s final at the SEA Games by Thailand’s rising star Kunlavut Vitidsarn on Sunday. The 21-year-old Kunlavut won gold with a 21-13, 21-13 victory in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi on the last day of competition at the regional Games. World No 10 Loh took the lead in the first game but his Thai rival, ranked 18th and a three-time world junior champion, battled back to draw level before pulling away in decisive fashion. Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew in action against Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn at the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Bac Giang, Vietnam. Photo: AP “Definitely I can play better than this... I tried my best but it wasn’t enough,” Loh said. “I was tired, but my opponent was also tired. But he prepared better than me today. I still give my all, and I fight to the end.” Kunlavut was always in control in the second game, his surprise victory dealing Singapore a major blow in what was the city-state’s opportunity to win men’s singles gold for the first time in nearly 40 years at the Games. The women’s singles final was an all-Thai affair, with Pornpawee Chochuwong defeating Phittayaporn Chaiwan 21-14, 21-16. Chen Tang Jie and Peck Yen Wei won mixed doubles gold in an all-Malaysian final, while the women’s doubles crown went to Apriyani Rahayu and Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti of Indonesia. Leo Rolly Carnando and Daniel Marthin, also from Indonesia, won men’s doubles gold.
Yahoo News Singapore SEA Games review: Amid stirring triumphs, issues linger in maximising success Chia Han Keong ·Editor Mon, 23 May 2022, 4:28 pm·9-min read Singapore athletes (clockwise from top left) Joseph Schooling, Loh Kean Yew, Shanti Pereira and Koen Pang at the Hanoi SEA Games. (PHOTO: SNOC/Sport Singapore) SINGAPORE — The first SEA Games after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic will end with the closing ceremony in Hanoi on Monday (23 May). Most of the time, it felt familiar. Save for the ubiquitous face masks on the athletes when they were not in competition, everything else seemed typical of a pleasant, decently-run edition of the biennial Games. Nonetheless, every SEA Games has its own trends, issues and takeaways for each participation contingent. Here are four takeaways from the performances of the Team Singapore athletes: 1. NS issue persists as athletes aim for bigger sporting achievements As Singapore athletes try to aim for higher sporting achievements, the issue of national service (NS) will continue to be brought up and argued upon. The reality is this: The higher the sporting target, the harder the training needed. No sportsman is born ready to win the Olympic gold medal, or even in this case the SEA Games gold medal; to win, athletes have to sacrifice insane hours to hone their skills to be ready to seize the golden opportunity when it comes. And that applies to Joseph Schooling too. Which was why, after months of having to juggle his intense training sessions with his new NS commitments, he was disappointed but not entirely surprised that his SEA Games performances (two golds, one bronze) were not as spectacularly successful as before. But after hearing whispers that he has "lost it " and is "past it", the Olympic swimming champ felt compelled to call for a national dialogue on the issue of the expectations put on athletes serving NS. As he had told this reporter during an interview before the Games, "You train 100 per cent, you'll get 100 per cent in competition. If you can train only 80 per cent, you'll only get 80 per cent maximum in the end." No top athlete would want his requisite training standards to be compromised. But if it has to be - as is the case for Schooling and all the NS-serving athletes in Singapore - then the very least they can hope for is that the medal expectations placed on them should be adjusted too. Certainly, the sports associations and the Singapore Sports Institute have come up with sound plans to work with NS units to maximise the outcomes of every training session for these athletes. "All male national athletes are required to fulfil NS obligations. The priority as they undergo full-time NS is their NS duties," said a spokesperson from the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, in response to media questions on this issue. "Within that, MINDEF (Ministry of Defence) has existing provisions such as leave and disruption, to support the training and preparation of our national athletes, taking into account the specific circumstances of the athlete, his sport, and subject to the Singapore Armed Forces’ operational needs." Yet the blunt truth is that, to scale unprecedented sporting heights like what Schooling did when he won the Olympic gold in 2016, nothing beats a singular focus. Elite-level sports never stays still; just like world records get smashed regularly, the bars for training standards get raised again and again. Schooling fully gets that, and he hopes everyone - his fans, his detractors, his coaches, the sports bodies and the ministries in charge of NS-serving athletes - would understand him too. And so the tough dilemma remains. Amid the strong public appetite for gold-winning athletes, it needs the collective realisation of all parties that it may no longer be enough to just grant flexible training hours amid full-time NS commitments, if Singapore athletes are to continue making sporting history. Singapore shuttler Loh Kean Yew during the men's singles final at the Hanoi SEA Games. (PHOTO: Sport Singapore/ Jeremy Lee) 2. More help needed for Loh Kean Yew as he competes for top honours Perhaps the only other Singapore athlete who could match Schooling in the levels of adoration by the public is current badminton world champion Loh Kean Yew. His recent exhilarating rise from a talented but flawed underdog to a swashbuckling winner has thrilled fans who are eager for the next sporting hero to come from the city-state. And the affable 24-year-old has tried his hardest to keep winning, despite his realisation that he now has a target on his back wherever he goes, with every rival eager to take down the world champion. As he told Yahoo News Singapore before the Games, "I can't go back to being an underdog anymore." While he does not shy away from this reality, he does need all the help he can get.
At the SEA Games, he had a shot at becoming the first Singaporean men's singles gold winner in 39 long years. However, the cumulative effects of a tough Thomas Cup finals campaign just before the Games, as well as his gruelling semi-final win against a wily defensive opponent, conspired against Loh in the final, as he looked drained and out of sorts in a one-sided loss. One may boil it down to growing pains for a rising star who has to get used to repeatedly going deep into semi-finals and finals of major competitions. Yet, couldn't the national badminton team freshen him up for the men's singles by sitting him out for the team competition at the Games? Circumstances may not have allowed Loh to be dropped, but perhaps it is time to think about maximising his winning potential and not burning him out. The next chance to end the SEA Games men's singles drought comes by quickly - next year, in fact. Perhaps the Singapore Badminton Association can start planning Loh's competition schedule, and allow him enough rest and recovery to lead the charge again for the prized gold. Singapore's mixed doubles pair Koen Pang (left) and Wang Xin Ru celebrate winning the gold medal at the Hanoi SEA Games. (PHOTO: Sport Singapore/ Lim Weixiang) 3. Table tennis at a crossroads as it rebuilds with local youngsters It is never easy for sports associations to continuously produce medal-winning athletes, generation after generation. The past decade has seen sports like wushu, shooting and silat having to deal with the retirements of their outstanding athletes, and needing to adjust their medal expectations. For this Games, it is clear that Singapore table tennis is going through such pains. With former Olympians Feng Tianwei and Yu Mengyu no longer competing for the national squad, it was always going to be a tall order for the paddlers to dominate the SEA Games competition as they had done before. Coupled with the untimely injury absence of top female paddler Lin Ye, and Singapore lost its grip on the women's team gold, and came up short in the men's and women's singles while still earning two doubles golds. Despite the Singapore Table Tennis Association's willingness to hand over the reins to youngsters, it was evident that the talent levels of this new generation of paddlers could not overcome their inexperience. And that is perfectly fine; these young paddlers should be given the time to grow into their roles as key national-team players. Yet there were clear signs that STTA is moving away from its reliance on China-born paddlers in the past two decades. Already, the men's team is entirely made up of Singapore-born players. Could that end Singapore's dominance in the sport at the Games? It's too early to say, but STTA got a glimpse of it at this Games. Singapore sprinter Shanti Pereira in the women's 200m final race at the Hanoi SEA Games. (PHOTO: Sport Singapore/ Jeremy Lee) 4. Stirring successes like Shanti Pereira give SEA Games its unique allure As with any SEA Games, there are many stirring success stories among the medal-winning Singapore athletes in Hanoi. Here are a few of them: Elle Koh, who belied her 14 years of age to topple defending champion and compatriot Kiriah Tikanah Abdul Rahman for the women's epee fencing gold. Iqbal Abdul Rahman (silat), Nurul Suhaila (silat) and Contessa Loh (archery), athletes who never gave up despite not being able to win gold in past editions, and finally got their sweet rewards at this Games. The three Quah siblings, whose consistent excellence throughout the past decade defined Singapore's dominance in swimming at the Games. Each of them won at least four golds in Hanoi, each of them an exemplary act for the new generation of swimmers to follow. Peter Gilchrist, who refused to wallow on losing his six-Games gold-winning streak in the men's English Billiards singles, and bounced back immediately to clinch the doubles gold with Alex Puan. But, personally, the most beautiful success story among all the Singapore athletes at the Games has to be that of sprinter Shanti Pereira. After memorably winning the 200m race at the National Stadium in the 2015 Games, many expected her to dominate the regional sprint scene. But a combination of unfortunate injuries and unwanted political distractions amid the athletic association saw her form and her results dip in the ensuing years. Few expected Pereira to make a big mark in Hanoi, but she thrillingly returned to the glorious heights of 2015, sweeping to the 200m gold again and bursting into tears at her barely-believable comeback. A few days later, she made waves again by winning silver in the 100m, after three consecutive bronzes in the event. "There were so many mental barriers I had to break in order to reach this place," she said after that glorious 200m win. And she led the way in a promising revival of the Singapore track-and-field athletes, who collected a total of 11 medals in their best overall performance since 1993. Shanti's comeback, together with so many other stirring success stories, are the backbone in which the SEA Games continues to cast its unique allure among Singaporeans. There is always a chance that another great success story can be unearthed amid the thousands of athletes dreaming of gold in the small city-state.
SEA Games: PM Lee says country is proud of Team Singapore's impressive show in Hanoi PUBLISHED MAY 22, 2022, 10:16 PM SGT SINGAPORE - Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has congratulated Team Singapore on their "impressive" showing at the 31st SEA Games in Hanoi. Singapore will return from Vietnam with 47 gold, 46 silver and 71 bronze medals. The total haul is Singapore's third-best showing at an away SEA Games, behind only Kuala Lumpur (58 golds) in 2017 and the Philippines (53) in 2019. In a Facebook post on Sunday evening (May 22), Mr Lee wrote: "Our athletes brought home an impressive 164 medals. "But beyond the medals, they have set numerous new records and personal bests, and gained valuable experience." Addressing the 424-strong contingent, which included 245 debutants, he added: "Your hard work, sacrifices and perseverance have certainly paid off. Thank you for flying our flag high, and giving it your all! We are proud of all of you!" The Hanoi Games, which had been delayed a year owing to the pandemic, will close officially on Monday night, but Sunday marked the final day of competition. MORE ON THIS TOPIC SEA Games: Singapore has 'bright future' after meeting medal targets in Hanoi, says SSI chief SEA Games: S'pore sports fraternity excited to leverage on, and deliver an exciting 2029 edition
SEA Games: Singapore has 'bright future' after meeting medal targets in Hanoi, says SSI chief Singapore Sport Institute chief Su Chun Wei said that "Team Singapore has done well, we are proud of what we have achieved." ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH Sazali Abdul Aziz Correspondent PUBLISHED MAY 22, 2022, 11:26 AM SGT HANOI - Sports administrators hailed the "bright future" ahead for Singapore sport after the showing by its athletes at the SEA Games, with over a third of the 161 medals garnered claimed by debutants. In a press conference at the Hyatt Regency Hotel on Sunday (May 22) wrapping up the contingent's performance in the Vietnamese capital, Singapore Sport Institute chief Su Chun Wei said: "Team Singapore has done well, we are proud of what we have achieved. "We want Team Singapore to not be satisfied with whatever achievements, and must always aim to do better. So I must say, yes we have met our targets and expectations in our internal projections." He however, declined to reveal what that figure was. The contingent of 424 athletes across 33 sports, clinched 47 gold, 46 silver and 71 bronze medals, after events concluded on the last day of action on Sunday. Badminton world champion Loh Kean Yew had to settle for silver for the second straight Games, after losing tamely 21-13, 21-13 to Thai world No. 18 Kunlavut Vitidsarn. He was aiming to become the first Singaporean champion since Wong Shoon Keat in 1983. Regardless, the total haul so far is already Singapore's third-best showing at an away SEA Games, behind only Kuala Lumpur (58 golds) in 2017 and the Philippines (53) in 2019, both of which featured a significantly larger contingent of athletes. Singapore's athletes also set five Games records, 16 national marks, and 41 personal bests, as the Republic currently ranks fifth as host nation Vietnam tops the overall medal table. Swimmer Quah Jing Wen, 21, was the best individual performer with six gold medals, while 18-year-old teammate Gan Ching Hwee claimed five of her own. Their contributions helped Singapore mine 21 gold, 11 silvers and 12 bronze medals in swimming as they finished the top nation in their sport, as did fencing (6-4-5) and bowling (3-1-3). Pencak silat was also highlighted for its best showing at the biennial Games with a 4-3-4 return, while athletics took home 11 medals (1-3-7) for their best tally since 1993. Su was pleased by Singapore's 245 debutants - of 57 per cent of the contingent - and singled out Kimberly Ong (wushu), Letitia Sim (swimming) and Elle Koh (fencing) as standouts. He added: "More than half our contingent our debutants and we know (they) have done well. "This is a testament to the ability of the Singapore high-performance system to regenerate and to have a new cohort of athletes coming up to do us proud." Su did name several sports - volleyball, basketball, handball and rowing - that leave Hanoi empty-handed and said they "require reflection" on where they can improve and how. "Some of these sports have come, tried their best and come short... They have a lot to reflect, go back, regroup and determine to do very much better," he said. "We are committed to work with them and make sure that (up) is the only trajectory we aim for them." On the men's Under-23 football team, which suffered a fourth straight group stage exit, Su said the team showed "gutsy, gritty" performances. "I think this is a good start to bigger, better things, and we should get behind the (team)" he said. MORE ON THIS TOPIC SEA Games: S'pore sports fraternity excited to leverage on, and deliver an exciting 2029 edition SEA Games: Singapore sports legend Sheik Alau'ddin shares his memories
SEA Games: S'pore sports fraternity excited to leverage on, and deliver an exciting 2029 edition The 2029 SEA Games will be the fifth time Singapore is organising and hosting the event. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH Sazali Abdul Aziz Correspondent PUBLISHED MAY 21, 2022, 8:53 PM SGT HANOI - The 2029 SEA Games may be seven years away but many Team Singapore athletes already have one eye on that edition of the regional biennial multi-sport event, which will be hosted by Singapore for the first time since 2015. Their enthusiasm is shared by many in the wider ecosystem, from administrators to those in sports businesses, who have been lifted by the news that was delivered on May 12. New facilities to showcase When the SEA Games arrived in 2015, Singapore sport had a spanking new home to show off to its neighbours - the $1.33 billion Singapore Sports Hub which had opened the year before. The replacement for the Grand Dame of Kallang, built for the 1973 edition which Singapore also hosted, boasts a stadium with a retractable, domed roof, air-cooling systems for spectators, and the option to cater to different viewing and capacity needs. There is the "football mode" which allows seating to be expanded and moved closer to the pitch, or "athletics mode" which sees seating retract to take in the track. Lim Teck Yin, chief executive officer of national agency Sport Singapore, noted that the 2029 SEA Games is auspiciously timed for the Sports Facilities Master Plan (SFMP) and Kallang Alive plan - which both come under the Government's Vision 2030 blueprint - to bear fruit. Under the master plan, facilities that will be up and running by then include sports and recreational centres in Punggol and Sembawang, as well as an integrated project in Toa Payoh which features a sports centre as one of its highlights. A world-class velodrome - the nation's first - and a tennis centre with up to seven indoor and 12 outdoor courts, are jewels in the Kallang Alive plan. Pointing to the capacities of these new facilities, which are an improvement on existing ones, Lim said: "There are many - old and new (sports fans) - looking forward to the 2029 Games and I, for one, am very optimistic we will break all records in terms of attendances." In 2015, some 500,000 spectators watched from the stands in 31 venues across the island. Still, the Sports Hub and its centrepiece, the National Stadium, will be expected to be the heartbeat of the Games again. But former national swimmer Oon Jin Teik, who in 2015 was its chief operating officer, said the onus is on the venue to provide an even better experience than it did then. The 35-hectare facility had opened its gates barely a year prior to the Games. Sharing that he had received feedback from foreign journalists who told him they found the Sports Hub a "luxury" to work at, Oon - who left the post in 2019 - said the venue needs to up the ante even as it takes "a lot of confidence" in its capabilities moving toward hosting "a reunion for the South-east Asian family" in 2029. "The Sports Hub should not just operate (smoothly), it has to offer a true customer experience to all stakeholders," he said. "What is the definition of that? That's the challenge for the Sports Hub team, and for them to deliver." The 2029 SEA Games is auspiciously timed for the Sports Facilities Master Plan and Kallang Alive plan to bear fruit. PHOTO: SPORT SINGAPORE New forms of engagement The SEA Games events and community roadshows reached out to 1.2 million people over the 18 months prior to the June 2015 Games.But the engagement did not end there, with drives like the Team Nila campaign - a volunteer movement which allowed and encouraged Singaporeans to participate in the hosting of that edition - continuing to grow stronger and wider since. It is one of the successes of that edition. MORE ON THIS TOPIC SEA Games: More work ahead, even as athletics delivers best haul for S'pore since 1993 $20 million to 'Bring Sport Back' in Singapore But Lim is also excited by the opportunities that developing technology presents for 2029, which he says Singapore ought to leverage on as it seeks to "engage a new generation of sports fans". For a start, the SEA Games is already reaching out to youths through games like e-sports, which the International Olympic Committee has also shown an increasing interest in. The Hanoi Games for instance, offers medals in five mobile games and three PC ones. With Singapore taking the plunge into e-sports too - it has staged quite a few competitions in recent years, some offering prize money of up to $1 million - one would expect that this would almost certainly be on the programme. Virtual reality could also become a reality at the Games too with more local sports events making use of such technology. Last year's Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon, for example, offered a VR option for those who were not part of the 4,000 that raced in person. In 2021, it also adopted augmented reality, which allowed participants to run on a treadmill to complete their races and create avatars to compete with fellow runners in real time. Lim added: "2029 offers some interesting angles when you think about technology for fan engagement, e-sports and virtual sport... Finding more avenues for Singaporeans to participate and create the Games will be as important as getting them behind the athletes." Boost for sports industry Caesar Indra, president of travel booking platform Traveloka, said the announcement was a shot in the arm for the travel industry - particularly sports tourism - which is seeking to regain a steady footing after the pandemic. "With large-scale international events like the 2029 SEA Games... (coming) back to Singapore, this will boost tourist arrivals, further cementing our optimism for travel recovery in the coming years," he said. The wider sports business industry in Singapore is also poised to benefit from the 2029 SEA Games announcement, said former national water polo player Yip Ren Kai, managing director at sports marketing agency Reddentes. Hosting the 2029 SEA Games would be a boost for the travel industry. PHOTO: ST FILE The Games are not usually a one-off affair as test events for many sports are typically held in the months ahead, allowing both local athletes and international competitors to get a feel of the ground. He said: "Knowing that there is a pipeline of events coming up in Singapore allows local companies like us to showcase our expertise, grow our capability through being involved... (and) take our capability to the next level, where hopefully we are able to stand shoulder to shoulder with large agencies around the world." Closer to home, closer to the heart The 2029 Games will be the fifth time Singapore is organising the event and its athletes delivered their best performance in 2015 - a haul of 84 gold, 73 silver and 102 bronze medals - to finish second behind Thailand in the medal tally. Yip, a three-time SEA Games gold medallist, is also looking forward to seeing Singapore's athletes benefit from home support, recalling how it played a big role in helping the men's water polo team "get over the line" against Indonesia and clinch gold on home soil in 2015. Singapore Swimming Association president Lee Kok Choy made the case that regional rivalries amplify the importance Singaporeans attach to their countrymen winning at the SEA Games, which makes success more meaningful. MORE ON THIS TOPIC SEA Games: Singapore's fledglings ready to take flight "I'm a strong advocate that we should host the SEA Games as often as we can," said Lee. "It is the major Games that can inspire and generate interest in sport among a large number of Singaporeans the most. We can host a world-level competition but you may almost need to chase Singaporeans to attend them. "But for the 2015 SEA Games, for example, the queue outside the OCBC Aquatic Centre was almost as long as ones you would see for soccer finals."
All 21 new records set by Team Singapore at the 31st SEA Games Five SEA Games records and 16 National records were broken during the Games. Muhd Zahin Ilmi Sports enthusiast and expert overthinker. Published: 24 May 2022, 4:09 PM Team Singapore clinched a total of 164 medals at the 31st SEA Games which took place from May 6 to 23 in Hanoi, Vietnam. Across the sports which Team Singapore competed in, a total of five SEA Games and 16 National records were broken by the swimming, finswimming and athletics team. Swimming All five of the SEA Games records were broken by Team Singapore swimmers, including Teong Tzen Wei who broke two. Tzen Wei achieved a timing of 23.04s in the Men’s 50m Butterfly Finals and 21.93s in the Men’s 50m Freestyle Finals to break the respective Games records. Tzen Wei’s timing for the Men’s 50m Freestyle Finals also broke the National record, making him the first Southeast Asian to go below the 22.0s mark in a men’s 50m Freestyle event. Maximilian Ang Wei broke both the Games and National record for the Men’s 200m Breaststroke in the Finals, where he secured a timing of 2:11.93 to surpass the previous record of 2:12.57 held by Thailand’s Nuttampong Kettin. He also broke the National record for the Men’s 100m Breaststroke in the Finals where he finished with a timing of 1:01.58. In the Women’s swimming events, Quah Jing Wen set a new Games and National record for the Women’s 200m Butterfly in the Finals with a timing of 2:09.52. She smashed the previous National record of 2:12.03 which she previously set in 2017. Jing Wen is also the first Southeast Asian to go below the 2:10.00 mark in a women’s 200m Butterfly event. Gan Ching Hwee also set the Games record for the Women’s 1500m Freestyle in the Finals with a timing of 16:36.73. She became the first winner of this event, which made its maiden appearance at the SEA Games this year. Finswimming Following the sport’s return to the SEA Games after 11 years, athletes from the Finswimming events broke a total of seven National records at the Games. Bernice Ting set a new record in the Women’s 100m Surface events where she secured a timing of 44.65s in the Heats before breaking it again in the Finals with a timing of 44.52s. She also broke the Women’s 50m Surface record in the Heats where she achieved a timing of 20.01s. Two other National records were also broken in the Finswimming Surface events: the Women’s 800m record broken by Vanessa Ong in the Finals with a timing of 8:16.13 and the Men’s 50m Surface record broken by Lim Yao Xiang in the Finals with a timing of 45.88s. In the Finswimming Bi-Fins events, the team of Ong Jun Han Jordan, Ong Rayen, Jamie Ang Hui Hsien and Vanessa Ong managed to break the Mixed 4x100m Relay National record in the Finals with a timing of 3:17.49. Rayen also broke the Finswimming Bi-Fins 100m National record after finishing with a time of 45.88s in the Finals. Athletics The athletics team managed to break five National records at the Games, with three of them coming from the Hurdles events. Ang Chen Xiang and Quek Jun Jie Calvin broke the Men’s 110m and 400m Hurdles National record in the Finals after they finished with a timing of 13.94s and 51.19s respectively in the Finals. Calvin beat the previous National record of 51.73s which he set earlier this year. Nur Izlyn binte Zaini set a new Women’s 100m Hurdles National record after she secured a timing of 13.87s in the Finals. She managed to surpass the previous National record of 13.92s which she set in 2019. The men’s and women’s 200m National records were also broken after Lee Siong En Reuben and Pereira Veronica Shanti achieved a timing of 21.07s and 23.52s respectively in the event Finals. With her new timing, Shanti beat the previous National record of 23.60s which she set in 2015 and managed to clinch Singapore’s second Gold medal in the women’s 200m event in seven years at the Games. The 28th SEA Games which took place in Singapore in 2015 still stands as the country’s best performing SEA Games. Team Singapore managed to clinch a total of 259 medals (84 gold, 73 silver and 102 bronze) across 36 sports.
Commentary: What does a successful 2022 SEA Games mean for Singapore sports? Alfie Lee/SNOC Singapore women's bowling team won the gold medal in the team event at the SEA Games in Vietnam on May 19, 2022. BY NICHOLAS FANG Published May 25, 2022 Updated May 25, 2022 As the sun sets on the closing ceremony of the one-year-delayed 2021 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, the usual trope has been dispensed in the reviews of the performance of Team Singapore. Despite there being no official targets set prior to the games in Hanoi, officials have declared that Singaporean athletes have “met expectations” and performed admirably. I would not disagree. The contingent of 424 athletes clinched 47 gold, 46 silver and 71 bronze medals across 33 sports, marking the country’s third-best showing at an away SEA Games, with a significantly smaller contingent that brought back the best and second-best set of results. Singaporean athletes also set five Games records, 16 national marks, and 41 personal bests, all signs of successful and well-planned training and periodisation strategies to ensure that they arrived in Vietnam ready to do their absolute best. The Republic also demonstrated regional dominance by topping the medal table in sports such as swimming, fencing and bowling. READ ALSO Joseph Schooling defends 100m butterfly crown at SEA Games Their contributions helped Singapore mine 21 gold, 11 silvers and 12 bronze medals in swimming as they finished the top nation in their sport, as did fencing (6-4-5) and bowling (3-1-3). Singaporean competitors in other sports such as athletics and pencak silat were also lauded for their best-ever showing at the biennial Games in decades. The fact that many of these sterling performances were recorded by Team Singapore's 245 debutants — comprising 57 per cent of the contingent — is a nod to the talent identification and development efforts of many national sports associations, and bodes well for the future. But what can the Hanoi Games tell us about Singapore sport, given the world-beating performances we sports fans have been treated to in recent years, thanks to stars such as Joseph Schooling and Loh Kean Yew? And what lessons can we take away as we look to the next SEA Games (just one year away), the Paris Olympics in 2024, and looking to a further horizon, the 2029 SEA Games, which are returning to Singapore shores again? 'KAMPUNG GAMES' NO MORE? There was often a disparaging view of the SEA Games in sporting circles in the region as being a “kampung” or “village” competition. READ ALSO 31st SEA Games: Loh Kean Yew takes silver after loss to Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn in men's badminton singles final This was as much a critique of the level of sporting prowess of Southeast Asian athletes versus their global counterparts, as the fact that the nature of the competition meant that host nations could introduce “traditional” sports that reflected their culture and heritage (capteh anyone?). Taking nothing away from non-mainstream sports and events, their inclusion meant that, compared to the Olympics or even Asian Games, it appeared that the SEA Games were at the bottom of the pecking order, which coloured perceptions of winning performances at the Games. This can be seen in the monetary rewards offered under the Major Games Award Programme administered by the Singapore National Olympic Council, which as expected pays out the least for SEA Games golds (silvers and bronzes do not even merit an award). For illustration purposes, the S$10,000 paid out for a SEA Games victory is 1 per cent of the amount secured by Schooling for Singapore’s only Olympic gold so far. That being said, the SEA Games are by no means an easy competition. In each of the four editions I competed in starting from 2001, I remember being far more stressed and pressured compared to higher levels of competition. It’s hard to explain to anyone who hasn’t experienced it first hand, but at the SEA Games level, because only 10 nations qualify to send athletes, everyone believes they have a chance to win, including their supporters. READ ALSO Singapore's Alvin Woo wins historic xiangqi gold at 31st SEA Games This creates a far more cutthroat environment where vociferous home-ground support can make a difference, compared to events where there were more countries competing and the attention is more dissipated. If we look at some of the athletes’ performances in Hanoi, it’s clear that the level of competition from our regional neighbours is getting higher as well. In that sense, the SEA Games represent a great opportunity for budding Team Singapore athletes to test themselves in a challenging cauldron against tough opponents on their journey to becoming world-beaters.
The fact that more than half of this year’s contingent were debutants suggests that our sporting authorities are of the same view, and this should be our strategic direction going forward. Kelly Wong/SNOC The 31st SEA Games is the fencers' best showing at the regional competition, surpassing the four golds won at the 2019 edition of the Games in the Philippines. MORE INTELLIGENT DEBATE Another encouraging aspect of the latest games was that there seemed to be more interesting stories about our athletes, and broader appreciation for such stories beyond a traditional focus on results and specific outcomes, and whether the football team would ever make it to the semi-finals of the tournament again. In the lead-up to the competition, and throughout the two weeks of action, there were numerous stories in traditional, digital and social media, highlighting the human journeys behind the podium appearances. READ ALSO Singapore’s swimmers conclude SEA Games campaign with 21 golds These included features on young competitors such as the 14-year-old Elle Koh who snagged gold in the women’s epee fencing individual contest, and Lim Yao Xiang, who flew the flag for all of us ageing athletes by representing the country in fin swimming at the ripe old (sporting) age of 40. These and other stories were accompanied by what appears to me to be relatively more intelligent and reasoned debate surrounding sports in Singapore. A case in point would be Schooling’s call for a national debate on the impact of compulsory National Service (NS) on male athletes seeking to represent the country at the same time. One could reasonably expect his comments to echo earlier calls for exemption or special treatment for elite athletes from conscription duties. But he chose to raise the issue of public expectations of NS-constrained sportsmen, and how these should be tempered given the overriding need for universal and egalitarian NS as a key component of Singapore’s defence. His comments won praise from many quarters as a constructive way to approach an age-old thorny issue, and was a remarkable departure from previous emotive calls for athletes to be exempted from NS given that they were “serving the nation” through their sporting exploits. READ ALSO 31st SEA Games: Singapore loses 0-3 to Thailand in table tennis women's team final, ending 9 consecutive golds streak To have our lone Olympic champion elevate the discourse to a new level with a mature and reasoned perspective bodes well for the sporting community. It was also notable that public reactions to our athletes’ performances seemed to have evolved and matured as well. When favourites such as world champion shuttler Loh Kean Yew faltered in the men’s singles final, there was general commiseration and appreciation for his hectic schedule in the build-up to Hanoi, which saw him compete in the Thomas Cup earlier in May. There were some complaints from those who felt he did not live up to his “favourite” tag and world champion status, but an unscientific poll of my friends suggests these were the exception rather than the rule. Overall, these prevailing sentiments suggest a growing maturity and appreciation for sports within our sporting community and among the media and fans and spectators as a whole, which is a critical aspect of building a robust national sporting culture. FASTER, STRONGER, BUT AIM HIGHER The sporting calendar is a busy one this year, with the Commonwealth Games looming, and potentially a postponed Asian Games as well, depending on the Covid-19 situation in China. Individual sports will also focus on their respective World Championships and other major events. READ ALSO Quah siblings sweep 4 individual SEA Games golds on first day of swimming competition With the next SEA Games just in a year’s time due to the delay of the Hanoi edition, we will soon see our athletes in regional action again. The aim should be to build on the positive steps made in Hanoi so that Singapore can look forward to another record showing in medal performances when it next hosts the Games in 2029. As we continue progressing as a regional and hopefully global sporting powerhouse, we should leverage on smaller events like the SEA Games to blood our young athletes, deepen understanding and appreciation of sports among a broader population, and imbue Team Singapore with confidence that we can be successful at sports despite being a small nation. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Nicholas Fang is a former national fencer and triathlete and represented Singapore at four Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, among other international competitions. He previously helmed the fencing and modern pentathlon national sports associations, and was Team Singapore’s Chef de Mission at the 2015 SEA Games. READ ALSO Singapore to host 2029 SEA Games READ ALSO Singapore's women complete sweep of bowling golds at SEA Games READ ALSO 14-year-old fencer Elle Koh wins Singapore’s second SEA Games gold
Floorball: Singapore to face Philippines in Women's Asia Oceania Confederation Cup final Player of the Match Yee Yun Shawn celebrates her goal. PHOTO: SINGAPORE FLOORBALL SERIES Jeremiah Ong PUBLISHED MAY 26, 2022, 11:56 PM SGT SINGAPORE - Defending champions Singapore secured their place in the Women's Asia Oceania Floorball Confederation Cup final after a comeback 5-1 victory over Malaysia at the OCBC Arena on Thursday (May 26). The victory was their fourth in as many matches - the same tally as the Philippines, who thrashed Thailand 8-2. This means both sides will finish in the top two of the six-team table and will meet in the final on Saturday, ahead of their final group match against each other on Friday. Despite missing the likes of forward Mindy Lim and defenders Yeo Xuan (injuries) and Jerelee Ong (university exams), Singapore put in a creditable performance to turn the game in their favour after trailing midway into the first period. Singapore coach Lim Jin Quan admitted that they started off shakily but stabilised as the game went on. "It is something that we need to be more mindful of in future and that we hope to ensure doesn't happen again," said the 29-year-old. "Now, we have quite a high number of debutantes so it is something that's expected. Having a taste of trailing is also part of the learning process and an opportunity for growth for them." On their next opponents the Philippines, who are top of the table with a superior goal differential, Lim said: "We need to eliminate any careless passes and mistakes. These are things that the players will definitely have to be more mindful of. With the size and the technical ability of some of the Philippines' players, if we are not careful, we will be punished for those mistakes." Malaysia took a shock lead midway into the first period after Ang Ling Ling's long range curler took goalkeeper Shermaine Goh by surprise and found its way into the back of the net. Singapore piled on the pressure and found a breakthrough in the last second of the first period as Siti Nurhaliza Khairul Anuar levelled the score. However, they missed a golden opportunity to take the lead after being awarded a penalty five minutes into the second period as Malaysia's Michaela Khoo parried away Ong Swee Ling's shot. Singapore's Marissa Tang (left) and Malaysia's Kuek Ji Mun in action. PHOTO: SINGAPORE FLOORBALL SERIES But they made amends three minutes later as Player of the Match Yee Yun Shawn scooped the ball into the back of the net. Goals from Ong Hui Hui and Maryam Kassim saw Singapore go into the final period with a 4-1 lead. Defender Hoo Mei Hui dealt the final blow as some neat stickwork saw her get past two defenders before scoring to seal a 5-1 win. Siti, who is second in the scoring leaders' table with five goals and four assists, behind Filipina Loella Andersson (seven goals, three assists), felt the team did well but they will definitely need a solid defence against the Philippines. "They are a strong team and they have strong players that can really shoot very well so we have to make sure we defend properly," she said. Despite the defeat, Malaysia coach Chiam Ter Min said: "We played a really good game. We came up with a plan to try to hold them as long as possible and it worked so it is a great job by the team." Singapore trounced the Philippines 8-1 at the 2019 SEA Games in Manila en route to retaining their SEA Games gold. The sport, however, did not feature at the recently concluded edition in Vietnam.
Chess player set to become Singapore's youngest grandmaster at 21 Chess player Tin Jingyao has meet the criteria to become a Grandmaster, pending ratification by the International Chess Federation. PHOTO: SPORT SINGAPORE David Lee PUBLISHED MAY 29, 2022, 4:26 PM SGT SINGAPORE - Fresh from winning three SEA Games medals in Vietnam earlier this month, Singapore’s top-ranked chess player Tin Jingyao is set to become the nation’s fifth and youngest grandmaster after more sterling performances in the Hanoi GM Chess Tournament. The 21-year-old won seven and drew two of his nine rounds to win the event on Sunday (May 29), but with a Round 8 draw with Filipino Paulo Bersamina on Saturday, Tin had already met the criteria to become a grandmaster – pending ratification by the International Chess Federation (Fide). He told The Straits Times: “I’m very happy and relieved because I have been working towards this for the last couple of years, and events have been hard to come by because of the Covid-19 pandemic. “I intend to continue playing chess seriously and aim to increase my Fide rating to 2,600. Learning and improving is a very fun process – when I’m able to show results in tournaments, it is a good feeling.” Tin, who is a first-year computer science undergraduate at the National University of Singapore, added: “The SEA Games was a first for me and a very fun experience which I want to go through again, so I hope chess can continue to be part of major Games and Singapore can send a bigger chess team.” To score the three norms to become a grandmaster, the highest rank in the sport, a player has to participate in norm tournaments that have at least three grandmasters, nine rounds, and a time control that is at least 120 minutes. The player must also have a 2,600 Elo performance rating for these tournaments, and cross the 2,500 Fide rating. Tin’s first grandmaster norm came in 2015 when he won the Asean Under-20 tournament which also gave him the direct International Master title. He earned his second grandmaster at the recently concluded SEA Games. “I’m really happy with my performance... I did not expect to win six out of the first seven games and many even with the black pieces,” said Tin in an Instagram post by Singapore Chess Federation vice-president Kevin Goh, who is the Republic’s fourth grandmaster. “This event has given me some good confidence in my own abilities, calculation and openings. I think in terms of level of play, it’s probably my best event yet.” Ranked 705th among the world’s active players, Tin is known for his ability to defend well and out-manoeuvre his opponents. The five-time national champion will next compete at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Prof Lim Kok Ann Grandmaster invitational during the June 12-19 Singapore Chess Festival before leading the national team at the World Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India from July 28 to Aug 10. Tin’s impending promotion is another milestone in his meteoric rise since he picked up chess at eight after discovering the game online while using the computer at his aunt’s house. He was just 10 when he and 21 other enthusiasts simultaneously played (and lost to) Russian chess legend and former world champion Garry Kasparov in an event at the Serangoon Gardens Country Club, where he earned the praise of the former world No. 1 for his moves and for being the last player standing. At the Hanoi SEA Games, Tin won silver in the men’s rapid chess and two bronzes in the men’s standard individual and blitz. Goh said: “It is an amazing achievement but in many aspects, it is not a surprise to us because of his dedication to chess. During training, we have also seen his ability to jump to the next level. “Even when he was facing tough scenarios, such as when he lost in the third round at the SEA Games with the white pieces (starting first), he displayed good resilience and tenacity to win a medal.” Singapore’s other three grandmasters are Zhang Zhong, Wu Shaobin and Wong Meng Kong, while SEA Games medallist Gong Qianyun is a woman grandmaster. MORE ON THIS TOPIC SEA Games: Two silvers for Singapore in rapid chess Singapore Chess Federation gets $360K boost as trio band together to back the sport
Silat: SEA Games coach Romadhon, 34, dies after road accident in Bali Coach Mochammad Ichsan Nur Romadhon was on holiday with his family following the Games' conclusion on May 23. PHOTO: SGSILAT/FACEBOOK Sazali Abdul Aziz Correspondent UPDATED MAY 29, 2022, 8:03 AM SGT SINGAPORE - Barely a week after a triumphant outing at the SEA Games in Hanoi, the national pencak silat squad were dealt a heavy blow with the sudden passing of coach Mochammad Ichsan Nur Romadhon. The Indonesian died early on Saturday (May 28) in a road accident in Bali, where he was on holiday with his family following the Games' conclusion on Monday. A former national athlete for Indonesia, Mr Romadhon was 34. He is survived by a wife and two young daughters. He had been employed by the Singapore Silat Federation (Persisi) for eight years and was one of four coaches in charge of Singapore's tanding (match) athletes in Hanoi, where he helped guide them to three gold, two silver and two bronze medals. The silat squad returned from Vietnam with a total haul of four golds, three silvers and four bronzes, their best-ever showing at the biennial multi-sport affair. Persisi chief executive officer Sheik Alau'ddin told The Straits Times that Mr Romadhon's passing was a "big loss". "Even though he was from Indonesia, he gave all his heart to us and went through ups and downs together with Singapore silat through the years. Losing him is really saddening," said Mr Sheik. He added that Mr Romadhon and his family had been making their way from Bali to Surabaya via a highway when the car accident happened. His wife suffered head injuries and was taken to a hospital while their children have minor injuries. Women's tanding Class F (70-75kg) bronze medallist Siti Khadijah Shahrem paid tribute to him in an Instagram story, writing: "You've done so much for me, your athletes and the country. "Thank you for everything coach... we love and appreciate you coach." A devastated women’s Class E (65-70kg) tanding champion Nurul Suhaila Saiful said her "heart is broken beyond repair" at the loss of her "coach, father figure and friend". In an emotional post on Instagram, Suhaila, who won her first SEA Games gold in Hanoi after three consecutive bronzes, wrote: "Mas Dhon, you talked me out of quitting silat a few years ago and promised to make me a champion. This year, you took over the SEA Games team and helped me win my first SEA Games gold after 7 years. You said it was a new era. I believed you. We had so many plans in and out of silat... "You were the light in unbearable times. You held my hand when I felt alienated. You worked hard and inspired me to do the same. You gave me the confidence I never had. I don't know how to do this without you... "Thank you for everything you've done for me, the team and this country. You will never be forgotten." In a post on Facebook on Saturday, Persisi said: "Well-loved by everyone in the silat community, coach Romadhon has contributed tremendously to the team's achievements. "Our sincerest condolences to his loved ones. We share in this time of grief, but also share in all the love and memories." Persisi is conducting a drive to collect donations for Mr Romadhon's widow. Those keen to contribute can contact the association directly through its Facebook page. According to Mr Sheik, donations to the family can be sent via Paynow or bank transfer: Paynow 97977588 POSB 120633350 Donors should indicate their names when they make their contributions. MORE ON THIS TOPIC Former national football coach Yap Boon Chuan remembered as no-nonsense fatherly figure Obituary: National shooter Poh Lip Meng dies aged 52
Singapore’s women’s floorball team clinch second consecutive Asia Oceania Floorball Confederation Cup win Singapore’s women’s floorball team clinch second consecutive Asia Oceania Floorball Confederation Cup win | Youthopia Singapore was also represented by the under-19 women’s team that finished in fifth place. Muhd Zahin Ilmi Sports enthusiast and expert overthinker. Published: 30 May 2022, 12:34 PM Team Singapore’s women’s floorball team clinched their second consecutive Women’s Asia Oceania Floorball Confederation (AOFC) Cup title last Saturday (May 28) at the OCBC Arena. The team ended their campaign with a 4-1 victory over Philippines in the championship deciding match to finish in first place out of the six teams. They secured five wins and suffered just one loss in the competition. The only loss came against the Philippines on the second last day of the competition. But the Singapore team managed to bounce back in the final match and turn things around when it mattered in the championship decider. The Singapore women’s team were on a four-game win streak before they succumbed to defeat against the Philippines. They defeated the Singapore’s under-19 women’s team with a score of 4-0 in the first game of the competition before trashing Indonesia in the second game with a score of 13-0. In the next two games, they went on to defeat Thailand and Malaysia with a score of 6-2 and 5-1 respectively. Singapore’s under-19 women’s team also participated in the competition and finished in fifth place following a 6-1 win over Indonesia in the fifth placing match. They managed to clinch a total of two wins and four losses out of six games. The victory over Philippines also marked 33-year-old forward Ong Hui Hui’s final game in her 18-year playing career. Since her debut for the national team in 2005, she earned 84 caps, including seven World Championship appearances. Following the women’s team success in the Women’s AOFC Cup, the Team Singapore men’s team will next compete in the Men’s World Floorball Championship Qualification AOFC (WFCQ-AOFC) at the OCBC Arena from May 31 to Jun 4. The men’s team will compete with seven other teams with the aim of booking a place at the International Floorball Federation (IFF) World Championship in Zurich in six months. Tickets for the games can be purchased at SISTIC’s website and encore broadcasts of the games can be viewed on ActiveSG’s website. READ | SPORTS Team Singapore’s schedule and results at the 31st SEA Games READ | SPORTS All 21 new records set by Team Singapore at the 31st SEA Games READ | SPORTS Fandi siblings miss out as Singapore U-23 football squad for SEA Games announced READ | SPORTS Putri Syaliza Sazali, 19, becomes first Singaporean female footballer to play in Thai Women’s League 1
Sport: 17 new names included in 2022 spexScholarship programme (From left) Kiria Tikanah Abdul Rahman, Kampton Kam and Maximilian Maeder are among 17 new athletes included in the spexScholarship programme for its 2022 cohort. PHOTO: MUHD HASIF AZMI, SYAMIL SAPARI, ALPHONSUS CHERN Deepanraj Ganesan Published 31 May 2022, 3:33 pm SGT SINGAPORE - The month of May was a miserable one for national high jumper Kampton Kam, save for the last day, when he finally welcomed news to lift his spirits. The 21-year-old had earlier seen his medal hopes at the Hanoi SEA Games dashed when he was forced to withdraw from the May 12-23 event due to a collapsed lung. And there was only good news on Tuesday (May 31), as he was named among the 17 new athletes from eight sports included in the Sport Excellence Scholarship (spexScholarship) programme for its 2022 cohort. The additions take the total number of scholars to 76 across 24 sports. In a media release, Sport Singapore (SportSG) announced the new entrants, which included kiteboarder Maximilian Maeder, national fencer Kiria Tikanah Abdul Rahman and indoor skydiver Kyra Poh – the first athlete who competes in a sport not included in major Games. Also another first for the programme, who was launched in 2013, is the higher number of team sports athletes this year. Kam who is recovering from his surgery on May 6, said: “This is extra meaningful to me especially because I missed the Games. It is encouraging that they see the potential in me even if there was uncertainty around whether I can return back to form. The surgery was a big setback and there was a lot of uncertainty.” Kam, who will compete at the July 28-Aug 8 Commonwealth Games, is planning to return to Sweden for a second training stint and the spexScholarship is a timely boost, he added. His 24-day training stint with 2004 Olympic champion Stefan Holm last December cost about $10,000, with Singapore Athletics subsidising half the amount. His second stint will largely be covered by the SpexScholarship. The spexScholarship offers support for athletes who are deemed to have the potential to excel on the Asian and world stage. Aside from monthly stipends, scholars also get support in the areas of education, sports science and nutrition, among others. Noting that indoor skydiving is still considered a niche sport, Poh said the scholarship will “provide more holistic support for me as an athlete” and allow her to train with the best coaches and work with sports scientists to improve her technique. Maximilian, 15, who won the International Kiteboarding Association Kitefoiling Youth (Under-21) World Championships in Torregrande, Italy earlier this month, is grateful. He said: "With the enhanced level of support under the spexScholarship, it will certainly provide me a more conducive environment to train, prepare for competitions, improve my techniques, and work towards representing Singapore at the 2024 Summer Olympics, where kiteboarding will be making its Olympic debut. "I am truly grateful to receive the spexScholarship and will strive to consistently perform at my best." Fencer Kiria, 21, who won an individual silver medal and a team gold at the recent Hanoi SEA Games, said the scholarship would give her the extra boost she needs in terms of funding and support to "train and compete at the highest levels". She said: "I hope to do Singapore proud at the upcoming Asian and World Fencing Championships as well as the major Games and other international competitions. Ultimately, I want to be the best fencer I can be, and in the process, win more medals for Singapore." A total of 47 spexScholars were in action in Hanoi, with 43 bringing home at least one medal and 22 winning at least one gold medal. Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong said that the impressive performances by the spexScholars at the SEA Games are testament of the effectiveness of High Performance Sports(HPS) in "helping our athletes do well and attain podium success". On the new awardees, he added: "I am particularly glad that we have extended the spexScholarship to Kyra Poh, an indoor skydiving athlete who has excelled at the world level in a sport that does not feature in the major Games. "I hope that this will encourage a more diverse group of athletes to strive for sporting excellence in the coming years." A total of 49 nominations were received by the Singapore Sport Institute, of which 17 were selected to join the programme this year. Of the rest of the 59 spexScholars in the 2022 cohort, 34 of them had their contracts renewed from the previous cycle while the remaining 25 athletes' contracts are not yet due for renewal. More On This Topic Floorball: Former ST Young Star of the Month John Alicante Embile achieves his dream Chess player set to become Singapore's youngest grandmaster at 21
Floorball: A debut to remember for Sandy Koh as S'pore beat Philippines to win Cup Singapore retained the Women's Asia Oceania Floorball Confederation Cup after they beat the Philippines 4-1 in the final. PHOTO: SINGAPORE FLOORBALL SERIES Jeremiah Ong Published 28 May 2022, 10:40 pm SGT SINGAPORE - Sandy Koh announced herself on the international stage in style on Saturday (May 28), scoring a brace to help Singapore retain the Women's Asia Oceania Floorball Confederation Cup (AOFC) after they beat the Philippines 4-1 in the final. Playing in her first international tournament and scoring her first two international goals, the 21-year-old forward said: "It was really exciting and those were my first two goals. It really motivated the team." Singapore coach Lim Jin Quan was effusive in his praise of the young forward, who called her maiden competition a "fun experience". "It has been a long time coming for her. She has been working hard and today was just a testimony of her hard work being rewarded," the 29-year-old said. After a goalless first period, Koh opened the scoring in the 19th minute after a rebound from a well-taken set piece found her in front of goal. Six minutes after, Philippines defender Michelle Cortina saw her pot-shot from a tight angle loop over the goalkeeper to level the scores. Fifty seconds into the third period, captain Michelle Lok got the go-ahead goal after intercepting a pass from defender Angelica Bengtsson. Koh sealed her brace eight minutes later and defender Yee Yun Shawn put the game to bed with 25 seconds left to play, her goal taking Singapore to an unassailable 4-1 lead. The result avenged Friday's 3-2 loss in their final group-stage game. Looking ahead, Lim outlined his long-term targets - next year's World Championships Qualifiers, the World Championships which Singapore will host, 2023 SEA Games, and the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games. Noting that there were seven debutants in the 17-woman team, he added: "With this win, they can build more confidence. Going forward, the younger players will rise to take their place in the international scene. It is about continuity and longevity." The end of the tournament also marked veteran forward Ong Hui Hui's retirement from the national set-up after an 18-year career that saw her rack up 84 caps. Lim thanked Ong for her contributions and was pleased to have a mix of young and experienced players in the team going forward. "This team is made up of not just senior players but a collaboration of different generations. Such things are always a joy to see," he said. "Their willingness to play with courage against the finest in the region was really commendable." Despite the loss, Bengtsson was proud of her team for their showing over the six-day tournament. "We surprised people. Even if we have been underdogs previously, we have evolved to be much better. We have proven ourselves," the 20-year-old said. More On This Topic Floorball: Singapore banking on home support to reach greater heights Floorball: International competitions back in Singapore after four years
Swimming: SSA opens second National Training Centre at Sports School The second National Training Centre will be located at the Singapore Sports School in Woodlands. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH Deepanraj Ganesan PUBLISHED JUN 2, 2022, 6:27 PM SGT SINGAPORE - The Singapore Swimming Association (SSA) has moved to expand its high-performance base by setting up a second National Training Centre (NTC) at the Singapore Sports School (SSP) in Woodlands. In its Thursday (June 2) announcement, it explained that a second NTC would be able to support more swimmers who aspire to represent the Republic. Currently, youth and national swimmers train indoors mostly at the OCBC Aquatic Centre, which has a 10-lane competition pool and an eight-lane training pool. At the Sports School, the swimmers will also have access to a swimming complex with two all-weather Olympic-sized pools. SSA executive director Edwin Ker said the second NTC would increase the accessibility of support and services, particularly to swimmers who reside in the northern parts of Singapore. Besides NTC coaches, it will also allow for access to sports scientists from the Singapore Sports Institute (SSI) and National Youth Sports Institute(NYSI). He added: "With the opportunity to stay in the boarding facilities in Sports School, swimmers can train, rest and sleep in one place. Coupled with access to the sports science support by the NYSI, national swimmers and potential ones could receive more responsive support. "With these, we hope to increase the pipeline of national swimmers." National head coach Gary Tan, 40, told The Straits Times that the set-up of a second training base would give him "more options to work with". He said: "With the right facilities and software that is embedded in the Sports School's system, we are then able to focus our attention on getting our athletes closer to their Olympic dream. Therefore, this partnership is one that would serve a bigger purpose in creating sustainable success for our ecosystem." Athletes can apply to the NTC at the Sports School via three pathways -the Major Games pathway, the Performance pathway, and the Singapore Sports School pathway. Under the Major Games pathway, a swimmer must record a time at an event that surpasses SEA Games qualifying standard while to qualify for the pre-requisite under the Performance pathway, the swimmer must have a minimum of 650 Fina ranking points across any event. The Sports School pathway requires one to enrol as a student. Andy Voo, coach at Aquatic Masters Swim Club, felt the move would benefit junior swimmers, who "will have a chance to train with more established athletes when they train at the NTC". "I think it is motivational for the junior swimmers, providing them with NTC coach from Sports School who trained Maximillian Ang and full facilities to make use of," he added. But the SSA decision did not thrill the coaches of two leading clubs. Olympian Ang Peng Siong, who runs the Aquatic Performance Swim Club (APSC) that has produced many Games champions through the years, expressed surprise at the lack of consultation with affiliates, which number more than 30. He said he had learnt about the news via an e-mail on Thursday. Said Ang, whose school currently trains about 200 swimmers: "I was not consulted. A lot of the initiatives are done without engaging affiliates which is disturbing. The SSA is supposed to represent affiliates." On the set-up of a second NTC, he said: "The models around the world, especially in the United States and Japan, have shown how successful it can be when you have clubs contributing to the talent pool. Once you narrow it down to just a few selected locations, you are putting all the eggs in one basket. Our track record at the school speaks for itself - we have contributed to almost 200 medals at major Games over the years. We have coaches who are more than capable." Tan, however, insisted that the second NTC is not meant to sideline clubs. He said: "We are very thankful that our swimming clubs have continued to develop and groom pipeline swimmers for Singapore. Together with the clubs, the second NTC will look to support a bigger community of swimmers who aspire toward the 2028 and 2032 Olympic Games. "We are not forcing an athlete to choose the national training centre and we are not forcing the hand of a club to push the athlete over to us. We know that not everyone needs to go down to the NTC. Not everyone finds a reason to come to the NTC. They should be comfortable with wherever their coaches are but if they feel they need to have a different environment and one that allows them to have a full support system, that's where we come in." MORE ON THIS TOPIC S'pore Swimming Association, Ajinomoto Singapore renew sponsorship deal till 2023 SEA Games: PM Lee says country is proud of Team Singapore's impressive show in Hanoi Tan pointed to the requirement of a swimmer having to seek clearance from their current club before being allowed to join the NTC. But Ang dismissed this, saying: "As a parent, if you are given a choice, one would opt for Anglo-Chinese School or Raffles Institution over the neighbourhood schools. So you can say that you are not forcing but you are creating a system where it does not encourage club programmes to succeed." Another Olympian, David Lim, who runs the Swimfast Aquatic Group, lamented: “Clubs have had the cream of their swimmers taken away since the NTC started. These club coaches also need the motivation that they are able to train a swimmer to the highest level and not have to feel that all they had to do was to train a swimmer to a certain level and expect to lose them to the NTC along the way. “So how is SSA going to motivate these coaches? How is SSA going to get more people into this profession if they are literally telling everyone, ‘You’re only good to a certain level’. How many local coaches are in these two NTCs?” He urged the SSA to give the matter more consideration, adding: “There are at least 20+ active clubs in Singapore now. If SSA thinks this is the way going forward and wants to set up more NTCs, they also need to come out with a pathway for clubs to work hand in hand with the national agenda.”
She changed her mindset, broke barriers and won SEA Games gold. Now Shanti Pereira wants to go faster Shanti Pereira poses for a photo at Kallang Practice Track. (Photo: Matthew Mohan)02:19 Min Sprinter Shanti Pereira, who won gold in the 200m at the recent SEA Games, wants to use her experience to set her up for her next adventure - one that could take her to the Paris Olympics in two years. Lauren Ong reports. Matthew Mohan @MatthewMohanCNA 02 Jun 2022 06:07AM(Updated: 02 Jun 2022 07:46AM) SINGAPORE: Seven years. Of pressure, of pain, of doubt. Of trying harder, of getting faster, of growing wiser. There are now brown streaks in her hair, seven tattoos inked on her skin, and three goals on her mind. Give everything. Enjoy yourself. Send a message. And as she prepared herself for the women's 200m final at the 31st SEA Games in Hanoi, sprinter Shanti Pereira would repeat a mantra. Over and over and over again. "No matter what happens, you'll be good." From left to right, Pereira Veronica Shanti of Singapore, Kyla Ashley Richardson Maico, Kyla Anise Richardson Maico of Philippines and Hoang Thi Ngoc of Vietnam compete during the women's 200M run in the Athletics competition during the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31) in Hanoi, Vietnam Saturday, May 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Minh Hoang) SELF-DOUBT To understand what the race felt like to Pereira, one has to go back to the 2015 Games in Singapore. At the meet, she would win gold in the 200m, clock a personal best and set a new national record. The win also ended a 42-year gold medal drought for Singapore in a Games sprint event. A new sprint queen had arrived. “I was just excited to be there, competing in front of a home crowd,” recalled Pereira, who also clinched a bronze in the 100m. But with the weight of winning came the enormity of expectations. “It created a lot of pressure and I feel like I didn't have the experience to cope with it yet,” she explained. The next edition of the Games would end in tears for Pereira, as she finished with a pair of bronzes in the 100m and 200m. Then came two injuries in 2018, before she would finish with two bronzes again at the 2019 Games. "Physically for the longest time, I was there. I (felt I) could do a PB (personal best), NR (national record) and all that but mentally I wasn't there," she said. "There was a lot of self-doubt that kind of grew as the years went by. Just because it was like - again another season I couldn't get a PB, and it just continued and continued and continued." Singapore's Shanti Pereira competes in the women's 200m heats at the Tokyo Olympics on Aug 2, 2021. (Photo: Facebook/Singapore National Olympic Council/Kong Chew Yew) And some people began to write her off, said Pereira. "Slowly, people just kind of lost faith in me. People have their opinions about my journey, and whatnot. I think, for a while there, I really did let it get to me, which is not ideal. I want to be in a state mentally strong and things like that don't affect me, but for a while it really did." The negativity ate her up, added Pereira. It got to the point that there were times when she was no longer excited to compete or even train. Instead, what she felt was fear. "I couldn't find any motivation," she recalled. "Coming to training, I was just always afraid of doing bad times at training and just not doing well at training." FEEDING OFF A DIFFERENT ENERGY Sandwiched among the lows were highs too. Pereira clocked a new 100m PB of 11.58 seconds at the 2019 Asian Athletic Championships, and also made her Olympic debut in Tokyo where she ran a season's best time in the heats. But even with the Olympics, 2021 was a "rough" year, revealed Pereira. Off the track, she decided to pursue a career unrelated to her Singapore Management University accountancy degree. On the track, the results were not "showing up". "I felt like I suffered a bit of an identity crisis. I started to believe what people said about me, that maybe I’ve reached my end. And if so, who was I?" she said. But speaking to the ones close to her helped. "They've helped me a lot, to realise that I am fine, I am okay. It's really just a change of a mindset that I had to try to do," she said. In the lead up to this year's Games, Pereira did just that. "I reached a point where I just told myself that it really doesn't matter what people think of you," she said. "I have people in my corner, and they really believe in me. They have absolute trust in me that I am not at the end of my career. And I think I just fed off that energy more." She looked inward. "I can only focus on the things that I can control - which is how I approach the Games, how I approach training, all these things," she said. "Whatever people are gonna say, they're gonna say. It doesn't matter. What matters is how I do things, making sure that I do whatever I can and give absolutely everything to my races." Related: Shanti Pereira wins 200m gold at SEA Games in new national record And going into this year's Games, there was a sense of calm, recalled Pereira. "That was ultimately what I wanted. I wanted to just chill. This is my thing, I'm just going to go there and do the best I can." And this would mean channelling a similar outlook that she had seven years ago. "That's the kind of mindset I wanted to be in. I wanted to just relax and have fun and just enjoy the fact that I'm here racing," she said.
