Muay thai: Lena Tan strikes gold at IFMA Asian Muaythai Championships Lena Tan took the gold when she beat India's Vaishali Shiv in the senior female bantamweight (54kg) final of the IFMA Asian Muaythai Championships in Macau on Dec 11, 2018.PHOTO: AMATEUR MUAYTHAI ASSOCIATION SINAPORE Published Dec 11, 2018, 11:14 pm SGT David Lee Correspondent davidlee@sph.com.sg SINGAPORE - She started practising muay thai 15 years ago and has represented Singapore in international competitions since 2010, but Lena Tan has never stood on a podium before. The 32-year-old made a golden breakthrough on Tuesday (Dec 11) when she beat India's Vaishali Shiv by referee stoppage in the senior female bantamweight (54kg) final of the IFMA Asian Muaythai Championships in Macau. While the game plan of hard low kicks worked, the road to success has been longer in the making - she changed her diet and training regimen since 2015 after consulting other international fighters. The marketing manager told The Straits Times: "I got more involved with strength and conditioning and am blessed to have found The Pit Singapore. I used to dead lift 80kg but now I have a best of 120kg. "This helps me to be more stable during fights while my punches and kicks are more powerful. "I have also learnt a lot more about nutrition and started to eat cleaner as I cut down on fried food and dessert. That helps in more effective training." After earning Singapore's only gold, she said it is "back to the drawing board" in a bid to do the Republic proud at next year's SEA Games in the Philippines, where muay thai will be a medal sport. Lee Dejun added a senior male lightweight (60kg) silver and Cheryl Gwa a bronze in the senior female light flyweight (48kg) at the International Federation of Muaythai Amateur event, which featured 34 countries and 125 athletes. Amateur Muaythai Association Singapore president Clement Ong hailed it as a historic moment and thanked the Singapore Sport Institute, Sport Singapore and the likes of Novena Global Lifecare Group and SL Foods for their support. He said: "The success of Lena and her teammates augurs well for the sport in Singapore. "We owe so much to our sponsors and supporters as we seek to fulfil our vision for local athletes to compete at the highest level and promote the fundamental values and ethics of muay thai."
Wednesday, December 12th, 2018 - ACN Newswire Pte Ltd https://www.newsmaker.com.au/news/3...sian-muaythai-championships-2018#.XBNQ8vOwrcs SINGAPORE, Dec 11, 2018 - (ACN Newswire) - Homegrown Muay Thai fighter Lena Tan has won the Gold medal at the recent International Federation of Muaythai Amateur ("IFMA") Asian Muaythai Championships 2018, a historic first-ever championship win by a Singaporean at the international level of the sport. In a resolute and inspiring outcome, Lena Tan defeated India's Vaishali Shiv to win the coveted title for the Senior Female Bantam Weight (54kg) category. Lena has practised the combat sport for 15 years and is a national team member under the National Sports Association, Amateur Muaythai Association Singapore ("AMAS"). Demonstrating the fighting never-say-die Muaythai spirit, Lena defeated several contenders before an inspiring fight at the final, 11 December 2018 which ended by way of referee stoppage. Thirty-four countries participated in 109 bouts at the Championships held in Macau from December 4 to 12 which featured 125 athletes representing the various delegations. Athletes from the Singapore Muaythai National Team secured one Bronze medal (Cheryl Gwa) for the Senior Female Light Fly Weight (48kg) category and one Silver Medal (Lee Dejun) for the Senior Male Light Weight (60kg) category, respectively. The awards, including the coveted gold won by Lena, constitute the most prestigious awards obtained in Singapore's amateur Muay Thai history. The sport, which originated in Thailand and is fast gaining popularity in the republic, has recently been provisionally recognised as an Olympic sport. AMAS' recently-appointed President Mr. Clement Ong thanked SportSg's Mr. Toh Boon Yi, Mr. John Batista, Mr. Todd Vladich and Mr. Randee Ng as well as the patronage of Novena Global Healthcare Group, SL Foods, Teelek Petroleum and Mr. Suresh Damodara for their consistent support. "This is a historic moment for Singapore Muay Thai. The success of Lena and her teammates augur a new chapter for the sport in Singapore. We owe so much to our sponsors and supporters as AMAS seeks to fulfil its vision for local athletes to compete at the highest level of the sport and promote the fundamental values and ethics of Muay Thai," said Mr Ong. The International Federation of Muaythai Amateur, or IFMA, is the sole recognised governing body of amateur Muay Thai consisting of 130-member countries worldwide with five continental federations. IFMA is officially recognised and Muay Thai is an official sport in global events such as the Arafura Games, TAFISA Games, SEA Games, Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, Asian Beach Games, Demonstration Sport in the Asian Games, World Games and World Combat Games. About Amateur Muaythai Association Singapore (AMAS) Amateur MuayThai Association Singapore (AMAS) is the main governing body for the sport, covering the management of MuayThai activities, coaching, talent-scouting, coordinating competitions worldwide and promotion of the sport in Singapore. AMAS regulates and controls the conduct of athletes, instructors, clubs, gyms and schools in the Republic of Singapore. AMAS is recognised by Sports Singapore (SS) and Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC). It is also sanctioned by the International Federation of MuayThai Amateur (IFMA) and World MuayThai Council (WMC). More information about AMAS (www.amasmuaythai.org) and IFMA (www.ifmamuaythai.org) can be found on their respective websites. For further information, please contact: Christopher del Agua Xprexo Networks Pte Ltd 3 Phillip Street #12-01 Singapore 048693 E: christopher@xprexo.net; P: +65 82868292
Silat: Singapore in seventh heaven at 18th World Championship, gold haul bodes well for 2019 SEA Games Singapore's Hazim Yusri celebrating after winning the gold medal in the Class B (50-55kg) event at the 18th World Pencak Silat Championship.PHOTO: SINGAPORE SILAT FEDERATION Singapore's Sheik Ferdous (right) in action against Vietnam’s Nguyen Van Tri in the Class I (85-90kg) event.PHOTO: SINGAPORE SILAT FEDERATION From left, Sheik Farhan, Nurul Suhaila Mohd Saiful and Sheik Ferdous showing off their gold medals on the final day of 18th World Pencak Silat Championship 2018.PHOTO: SINGAPORE SILAT FEDERATION Published Dec 16, 2018, 10:50 pm SGT Mohamed Shamir Mohamed Osman Correspondent shamiro@sph.com.sg SINGAPORE - Singapore won seven gold medals at the 18th World Pencak Silat Championship that came to a close on Sunday (Dec 16), surpassing the six-gold target set by Singapore Silat Federation (Persisi) chief Sheik Alau'ddin. After three gold medals in the artistic discipline of the sport on the opening day of the tourney on Thursday, eight Singaporeans were in action at the OCBC Arena on Sunday, with four of them - Sheik Farhan, Sheik Ferdous, Nurul Suhaila Saiful and Hazim Yusli - striking gold. The result is the Republic's best-ever showing at the event that is the pinnacle of the sport, and newly minted three-time world champion Farhan was absolutely delighted that his teammates are finally getting the exposure he believes they deserve. It was extra special for Farhan, who beat Vietnam's Pham Khac Truong to win gold in the Class J (90-95kg) final on what was his 21st birthday. "The first time I won gold at the World Championship, I was alone but, when I won that match just now, Singapore have already won five medals in total, and it was a great feeling," Farhan said after receiving his medal. "We've all trained hard, and my teammates deserve much more exposure than they are getting. We've waited so long for this and, with these wins, I'm so glad that they are also now getting exposure - they really deserve it. "This is the best team I've ever been in, and I'm proud of every one of them, even those who didn't win fought their hearts out." Suhaila was delighted to finally become a world champion, after failing to strike gold in three previous editions of the tourney. Hazim struck gold in Class B (50-55kg) while Ferdous triumphed in Class I (85-90kg). "The last few years of losing at major competitions have pushed me to my limits and I'm grateful to all the support I've got from my coaches, teammates and those at Sport Singapore and the Singapore Sports institute - they never gave up on me," said the 23-year-old. She recalled looking at the clock in the final 10 seconds of her bout against Thailand's Janejira Wankrue in the Class D (60-65kg) final, and the sheer elation when the seconds ran down. "That last second of the fight was unforgettable," she said. "I will never forget this. I'm a different fighter now and, with this win, I'm more confident, too." She believes that her "amazing" team can only get stronger from here. "We've been getting more support from SportSG and SSI, and there has been more recognition from the public, too. There is great spirit in this team, and I'm certain we'll go on to achieve more after this," added Suhaila. Farhan, who will enlist for National Service in the next few months, shared similar confidence, as the team look forward to next year's SEA Games in the Philippines. "The hard part is maintaining your spot at the top but, after winning gold at the 2017 SEA Games and my second gold at the World Championships, this (third medal) means I'm on the right track," said Farhan, who vowed to commit as much time as he can to training despite his NS obligations. "I just have to win every competition that I enter."
Magnificent seven for Singapore’s silat team https://www.tnp.sg/sports/others/magnificent-seven-singapores-silat-team (From left) Sheik Farhan, Nurul Suhaila Mohd Saiful and Sheik Ferdous with their gold medals. PHOTO: SINGAPORE SILAT FEDERATION They surpass target with seven-gold haul at World Pencak Silat Championship Shamir Osman Sports Correspondent Dec 17, 2018 06:00 am Singapore's silat exponents saved their best for last when they won four gold medals on the last day of the 18th World Pencak Silat Championship yesterday. That brought their haul to seven golds, surpassing the six-gold target set by Singapore Silat Federation (Persisi) chief Sheik Alau'ddin. After getting off to a superb start with three gold medals in the artistic discipline of the sport on Thursday, eight Singaporeans were in action at the OCBC Arena yesterday, with four of them - Sheik Farhan, Sheik Ferdous, Nurul Suhaila Mohd Saiful and Hazim Yusli - striking gold. The haul of seven golds, six silvers and seven bronzes is Singapore's best showing at the event that is the pinnacle of the sport, and augurs well for the Republic's chances at next year's SEA Games in the Philippines. It was extra special for newly minted three-time world champion Farhan who beat Vietnam's Pham Khac Truong to win gold in the Class J (90-95kg) final on his 21st birthday. Rather than bask in his glory, he was delighted that his teammates are finally getting the exposure he believes they deserve. This is the best team I’ve ever been in and I’m proud of every one of them, even those who didn’t win fought their hearts out Newly minted three-time world champion Sheik Farhan "The first time I won gold at the World Championship, I was alone," Farhan said after receiving his medal. "But, when I won that match just now, Singapore have already won five medals (in total), and it was a great feeling. "We've all trained hard and my teammates deserve much more exposure than they are getting. We've waited so long for this and I'm so glad that they are now also getting exposure - they really deserve it. "This is the best team I've ever been in and I'm proud of every one of them, even those who didn't win fought their hearts out." Hazim also struck gold in Class B (50-55kg) while Ferdous triumphed in Class I (85-90kg). The wait is finally over for Suhaila, who finally became a world champion after failing to strike gold in three previous editions of the competition. "The last few years of losing at major competitions have pushed me to my limits and I'm grateful to all the support I've got from my coaches, teammates and those at Sport Singapore (SportSG) and the Singapore Sports Institute (SSI) - they never gave up on me," said the 23-year-old. Farhan, who will enlist for national service in the coming months, shared similar confidence, as the team look forward to next year's SEA Games in the Philippines. "The hard part is maintaining your spot at the top but, after winning gold at the 2017 SEA Games and my second gold at the World Championship, this (third medal) means I'm on the right track," said Farhan, who vowed to commit as much time as he can to training despite his NS obligations.
AUG Athletics: Singapore contingent garners 2 golds, 4 silvers, 5 bronzes; best haul since 2010 By Iman Hashim December 20th, 2018 Brian See threw a personal best of 14.72m to win the silver medal for Singapore at the ASEAN University Games. (Photo 1 courtesy of Singapore University Sports Council) Naypyidaw, Myanmar, December 13-16, 2018 — Team Singapore’s track and field varsity athletes returned home with an impressive haul of 11 medals as the 19th ASEAN University Games (AUG) came to a close on Wednesday in Naypyidaw, Myanmar. It is the best tally for a Singapore AUG athletics team since the 2010 edition in Thailand, where our athletes clinched one gold, two silvers and nine bronzes. This time round, the Republic’s reigning sprint queen Shanti Pereira led the way with two golds – a 24.12 seconds triumph in the 200 metres was followed by victory in the century sprint in 11.74s. The 100m result meant the second-year Singapore Management University undergraduate has qualified for next year’s Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in the Philippines, and was just a hundredth of a second shy of the 11.73s national record she had clocked twice in the last two years. Other athletes who chipped in include silver medalists Ang Chen Xiang (110m hurdles), Brian See (shot put), Jeevaneesh Soundararajah (10,000m) and Vanessa Lee (3000m steeplechase), while Jeevaneesh and Vanessa also claimed bronzes in the 5000m, as did Ang Wei Lu (long jump), Nabin Parajuli (3000m steeplechase) and Nicole Low (10,000m). For AUG team captain Jeevaneesh, it has been a trying year juggling between work and running. “I was juggling well between work and training at the start,” said the mechanical engineering fresh graduate from the National University of Singapore (NUS). “However, I felt easily tired towards the last few weeks before the competition and unfortunately, fell ill one week before my races with cough and fever. “I would say juggling between work and training seems harder (than school and training). There are added responsibilities and I have to be financially independent. Also, there are no more school holidays to rest and recharge so I have to learn to better manage both work and training.” Jeevaneesh is into the last few days of his six-month work stint at the National Youth Sports Institute (NYSI). “Still, working part time at NYSI gave me the flexibility to train for this competition, as well as to go overseas for training and racing,” he added. Incidentally, this was the first time NYSI has provided support for athletes competing at the biennial Games. For athletes who met the qualifying mark, NYSI covered 50 percent of the cost of sending them to the AUG, while their coaches were also given an allowance to defray cost of training. Besides monetary support, NYSI provided nutrition and strength and conditioning support for thrower Brian See, who went on to achieve personal bests in the shot put (14.72m) and discus (44.61m), finishing second and fourth respectively. Said Brian of his performances in Myanmar: “Going into the competition, I knew I had a chance of medalling. However, I didn’t expect myself to PB by almost half a meter in shot put as I’ve been focusing more on discus. “On the other hand, I expected more for discus, but I was still contented as I had to compete in two events in less than 24 hours.” Leading up to the Games, Brian managed to gain mass with the help of an NYSI Sport Dietitian, as well as increased the quality of his training using the PUSH Band with support from an NYSI Strength and Conditioning Specialist. “The nutrition support I received from NYSI was really helpful – before, during and after competition,” added the second-year NUS civil engineering undergraduate. “For example, I learnt that having sips of isotonic drinks during competition is really helpful to ensure that the brain remains active, and also had advice on the certain kinds of food I should consume before and after competition to help with preparation and recovery.” Looking ahead, Brian seeks to qualify for next year’s SEA Games, with his discus mark just 19 centimetres away from the qualifying standard and 2017 bronze medal distance of 44.80m. While some athletes returned from Myanmar empty-handed, triple jumper Chan Zhe Ying was more than contented with his maiden experience competing at an international meet. “It has always been my dream and goal to compete for Singapore ever since I won A Division in 2014,” said the second-year economics major at NUS. “That win was probably the turning point in my track career that taught me to believe in myself and aim high to achieve big dreams.” The former Catholic Junior College athlete posted 14.08m at the AUG to finish sixth, while NUS teammate Joseph Zhao leapt to fourth place with 14.22m. Zhe Ying’s result fell short of his wind-aided personal best of 14.45m, set when he won gold at the Singapore Athletics Inter-Club Championships in October. “Realistically speaking it was kind of expected because I couldn’t train consistently during the exam period from November to December,” he said. “But I’m quite glad that I was able to maintain my jumps above 14 metres because I hadn’t broken the 14m mark till October this year. “It was still a good experience, being able to represent the nation. There is no greater honour than competing for your country.” Results – Team Singapore athletes 100m (W) Shanti Pereira – 11.88s (Q), 11.74s (1st) Smriti Menon – 12.63s (q), 12.66s (8th) 200m (W) Shanti Pereira – 24.70s (Q), 24.12s (1st) 100m (M) Timothee Yap – 10.97s (q), 10.89s (5th) Khairyll Amri – 11.06s (q), 11.01s (8th) 200m (M) Timothee Yap – 21.87s (Q), 21.84s (5th) Tan Zong Yang – 22.22s (Q), 22.15s (6th) 100m Hurdles (W) Kerstin Ong – 15.05s (5th) 110m Hurdles (M) Ang Chen Xiang – 14.44s (2nd) Long Jump (W) Ang Wei Lu – 5.37m (3rd) High Jump (W) Valerie Cheong – 1.60m (5th) Triple Jump (M) Joseph Zhao – 14.22m (4th) Chan Zhe Ying – 14.08m (6th) Shot Put (M) Brian See – 14.72m (2nd) Discus (M) Brian See – 44.61m (4th) Javelin (W) Chiu Jing Wen – 36.20m (5th) Discus (W) Nicole Heng – 32.15m (7th) Shot Put (W) Dewi Syaza – 9.84m (7th) 1500m (M) Karthic Harish Ragupathy – 4:07.25 (4th) 3000m Steeplechase (M) Nabin Parajuli – 9:58.04 (3rd) 5000m (M) Jeevaneesh S/O Soundararajah – 15:47.80 (3rd) Nabin Parajuli – DNF 10,000m (M) Jeevaneesh S/O Soundararajah – 33:28.64 (2nd) 3000m Steeplechase (W) Vanessa Lee – 11:46.80 (2nd) 5000m (W) Vanessa Lee – 19:43.94 (3rd) 10,000m (W) Nicole Low – 40:40.22 (3rd) Lok Xin Ying – 43:25.90 (6th) 4x100m Relay (W) Kerstin Ong, Shanti Pereira, Smriti Menon, Ang Wei Lu – 48.51s (4th) 4x100m Relay (M) Ang Chen Xiang, Timothee Yap, Tan Zong Yang, Khairyll Amri – 41.21s (4th)
Singapore national women‘s team to play at FIH Hockey Series Finals, Dublin http://theindependent.sg/singapore-national-womens-team-to-play-at-fih-hockey-series-finals-dublin/ By Staff Reporter 1 January 25, 2019 Singapore’s national women’s hockey team will play in the International Hockey Federation (FIH) Hockey Series Finals in Dublin, Ireland this June. (Contributed Photo) Singapore’s national women’s hockey team will play in the International Hockey Federation (FIH) Hockey Series Finals to be held in Dublin, Ireland this June 8 to 16 after Austria’s withdrawal from the series. Though the team placed third during Hockey Series Open 2018, it did not qualify for HSF 2019. However, the team is the First Reserve for the finals based on their world ranking. This time, both women’s and men’s teams will compete for the finals. After winning in the Hockey Series Open 2018, the men’s team qualified for the finals and will compete in France. Contributed Photo Countries that are not in the Hockey Pro League can play in the Hockey Series, giving the chance for developing hockey-playing nations to qualify for events such as the Olympic Games or Hockey World Cup. Singapore will join China, India, Japan, Korea, and Malaysia in the roster of elite countries, which compete in both men’s and women’s teams in the Hockey Series Finals. With this achievement for both national teams, Singapore Hockey Federation (SHF) president Mathavan Devadas said: “The SHF has always given equal emphasis to both Men’s and Women’s programs with resources being evenly divided. It is therefore very gratifying to see both teams qualifying for Hockey Series Finals and playing with the best in the world.” Now that the women are set for the final leg, national coach David Viner said: “Our focus now is to prepare our squad to be as competitive as possible.” “Many of the teams around the top 20 in the world and below of which there are five in our HSF group, are operating full time or very close to full-time squads,” he added. He noted that of the seven other teams in the Singapore women’s group, five are ranked within or near the top 20 and below. These are Ireland (World No. 8), Korea (No. 11), Scotland (No. 18), Czech Republic (No. 19) and Malaysia (No. 22). The other two women’s teams in Singapore’s group are world Ukraine (No. 27) and France (No. 32). The host country Ireland was 2018 World Cup silver medalist. Photo: Screengrab from YouTube Coach Viner believed that Singapore is very much a team of hard-working students or employed professionals. For him, each player puts in a remarkable amount of time and commitment in order to represent their country in hockey. To qualify for the world finals and to achieve its world ranking, the national women’s hockey team had a challenging journey but with a strong grip, they were able to “tilly” everything for success. The team was a runner-up in 2016 Asian Hockey Federation Cup, paving its way qualifying for the 2017 Asia Cup and became no. 35 in the world ranking. The women also got the bronze medal in the 2017 SEA Games in Malaysia after missing out of a place in the final by a single point after finishing third in the round robin tournament. In preparation for the world hockey series, the women’s team will have test matches in Thailand next month. Two South Korean teams will come to Singapore to spar with the national teams. A month before the Hockey Series Finals, both teams will undergo a training camp in Perth, Australia. The national team manager Tay Siu Hua was extremely happy for the chance to play at Hockey Series Finals. “The team is hugely excited and filled with lots of positive energy, pushing themselves hard to be at their very best in every training,” she added. As the captain of the women’s team, Ho Puay Ling has this to say: “It is really a blessing and a rare opportunity to qualify for the Hockey Series Final in Ireland!” Her dream of playing in Europe would definitely come true. She stressed, “This opportunity is definitely something that motivates us to train and make the team.”
E-sports: Selection process for 2019 SEA Games announced, representatives to be decided by May https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/...nnounced-representatives-to-be-decided-by-may E-sports is making its inaugural appearance as a medal event at the biennial SEA Games. It had previously been a demonstration sport at last August's Asian Games in Indonesia.PHOTO: ST FILE Published Feb 1, 2019, 12:42 pm SGT Lester Wong lesterw@sph.com.sg SINGAPORE - Singapore's first SEA Games e-sports representatives will be unveiled in May, after the Singapore Esports Association announced on Friday (Feb 1) its selection process for this year's edition of the biggest multi-sport competition in the region. The Nov 30-Dec 10 SEA Games in the Philippines will feature six game titles. Five have been confirmed: Dota 2 and Starcraft II (PC), Tekken 7 (console), and Arena of Valor and Mobile Legends (mobile). The sixth is likely to be NBA 2K, but Games organisers have yet to issue official confirmation. Two selection events will be held, with an open qualifier taking place in March before the top eight contest the national selection finals in May. Two players each will be selected for Tekken 7 and Starcraft II, which are played in an individual format, with the other four titles team-based. "We have taken careful steps to ensure the integrity and fairness of this selection process, in what is a historic milestone for e-sports in Singapore and South-east Asia," said the association's president Ng Chong Geng. "The framework has been built to ensure that new and existing athletes - as well as overseas and veteran players - have the opportunity to qualify to represent Singapore." Ng, who set up the association last November, added that the selection process has been approved by national sports agency Sport Singapore and the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC). E-sports is making its inaugural appearance as a medal event at the biennial SEA Games. It had previously been a demonstration sport at last August's Asian Games in Indonesia. Registration for March's qualifier opens is now open, and closes on Feb 28. All participants must be at least 18 years old. Individuals and teams who have placed third or higher previously at the regional level can apply to the association to receive a bye into May's final as one of four seeds, with more importance attached to results from international world finals or tournaments on the professional circuits of the respective game titles. E-sports set to grow further in Singapore with the formation of a new sports association[/paste:font] Connecting with others through eSports[/paste:font] eSports: Razer to be the official e-sports partner for next year's SEA Games in the Philippines[/paste:font] The seeded teams for the selection finals will be announced on March 1. The association is also expected to nominate a head coach candidate to the SNOC. The response from leading teams in the local e-sports scene was largely positive. "We are happy to see that the door has been opened for both team-based players and individual players, and more importantly, we are confident that the selection format is fair," said Team Flash chief executive officer Terence Ting. The organisation's Fifa Online team were crowned Asian champions for the second consecutive year last November, taking home US$100,000 (S$134,816) in prize money. Fifa is not among the titles on the SEA Games slate. Ting declined to reveal which titles Flash has its eyes on at this point, but said they are aiming "for a podium spot" at the SEA Games. Fellow local e-sports organisation Resurgence, who have 12 teams over nine games on their roster, are expected to field teams for three of the SEA Games titles. Resurgence recorded 17 championship wins and 36 podium finishes last year. "The SEA Games is a huge opportunity for us to change mindsets in Singapore about e-sports and I am very excited for the possibilities that it can bring," said Resurgence owner Jayf Soh. "We respect what the NSA (national sports association) has said about the selection process and we will support them."
https://sg.news.yahoo.com/muhammad-...ens-bowling-team-annual-awards-021447862.html Muhammad Jaris Goh leads accolades for Singapore men's bowling team at annual awards Chia Han Keong Editor Yahoo News Singapore13 February 2019 (From left) Youth Bowler of the Year Joey Yeo and Bowler of the Year Muhammad Jaris Goh at the Singapore Bowling Federation Awards Celebration dinner. (PHOTO: Singapore Bowling Federation) For most of the past decade, the Singapore men’s national bowling team have played second fiddle to their female counterparts, as the women’s bowling team clinched titles and gold medals and were regarded as one of the world’s best. Since 2017, however, the men’s team have began to make waves themselves, starting with a gold-winning effort in the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games, ending Singapore’s 22-year wait for a men’s bowling team gold. In August 2018, they outshone the women’s team at the Jakarta Asian Games, winning a bronze medal in the trios event – the first Asiad medal won by male bowlers since 2010. World Bowling Men’s Championships, Singapore’s maiden medal at this prestigious tournament." They followed it up in December with arguably a more impressive feat – another bronze in the World Bowling Men’s Championships, Singapore’s maiden medal at this prestigious tournament. On Tuesday (12 February), the men’s team – comprising Basil Ng, Darren Ong, Keith Saw, Joel Tan, Muhammad Jaris Goh and Jonovan Neo – were honoured at the Singapore Bowling Federation (SBF) Chinese Year/Awards Celebration dinner. The team received a special memento for their sterling efforts, while Goh scooped the most prestigious award of the night, the SBF Bowler of the Year. Communication was key to success Yahoo News Singapore that he learnt a lot about himself and his teammates amid their success in the last couple of years.", who turned 24 on Monday, is widely regarded as the emotional leader of the men’s team, and he told Yahoo News Singapore that he learnt a lot about himself and his teammates amid their success in the last couple of years. “I think communication was key – among ourselves, with our coaches and with our team managers,” he said. “We always tried to focus on the team, helping one another overcome their difficulties. That was the biggest takeaway for me in the last few years, and I hope it can carry us on towards the upcoming competitions.” Inevitably, this year’s focus for the men’s team will be on defending their SEA Games gold in Manila in December. Already, Goh can foresee the challenges that lie ahead, not least of all because 13 out of 18 national men’s bowlers – including himself – will have to do national service this year. “We are planning to compete mainly in Asian competitions – Qatar, Dubai, Philippines and Malaysia. The main thing is not to be preoccupied about winning the gold, but to focus on what we need to do, and the processes needed to bowl consistently well,” he said. Aiming to rebound after rough year The Youth Bowler of the Year award went to 21-year-old Joey Yeo. The 2015 World Open champion continued her steady rise as a top women’s bowler, claiming a trios bronze with teammates Daphne Tan and Bernice Lim at the Asian Games and finishing second at last year’s Singapore Open. Yeo admitted that 2018 had been a rough year for the women’s team, as they failed to retain their Asian Games team gold won in the 2014 Incheon edition. Nevertheless, she said, “Moving forward we have come up with new plans, and have revamped our training going into 2019. “Our main events this year are the World Women’s Championships and the SEA Games, but in between those events, we will also travel to compete with professionals around the world.” New Hui Fen, Jazreel Tan and Shayna Ng – still received a special memento from SBF for winning a team silver at the World Bowling Championships." Despite their struggles last year, the women’s team – comprising Yeo, Cherie Tan, Daphne Tan, New Hui Fen, Jazreel Tan and Shayna Ng – still received a special memento from SBF for winning a team silver at the World Bowling Championships. SBF also gave out the award for Outstanding Contribution to the Sport of Tenpin Bowling to former national bowler Ronnie Ng, who won four gold medals at the 1983 SEA Games and served as an SBF coach from 2008 to 2018.
3 former national athletes to lead Team Singapore at 2019 SEA Games From left to right: Chung Pei Ming, Juliana Seow and Valerie Teo. (Photo: SNOC) 15 Feb 2019 04:40PM (Updated: 15 Feb 2019 04:40PM) SINGAPORE: Team Singapore will be led by former athletes Juliana Seow, Valerie Teo and Chung Pei Ming at the 2019 SEA Games in the Philippines, said the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) on Friday (Feb 15). The three athletes were appointed by SNOC, said the sports organisation in a news release. Seow, a former national fencer, will be making her chef de mission debut at the upcoming SEA Games and will be assisted by Teo and Chung. Teo, a bowler, and Chung, a sailor, have represented Singapore at previous Asian and SEA Games. On the appointments, SNOC secretary-general Chris Chan said: “We have received positive feedback from the athletes and officials on the appointments of former athletes as chefs de mission at recent major Games. We are glad that they all played a positive role in the team." Seow, who is the president of national fencing body Fencing Singapore, said that it is her "tremendous privilege" to represent Singapore at the upcoming SEA Games. Teo, who is vice-president of the Singapore Bowling Federation, a medical doctor, and Asian Games and SEA Games medalist, will use her various experiences to support Singapore's athletes. "I am looking forward to this opportunity to ... provide utmost support to our Team Singapore athletes and create a conducive environment for them to perform at their very best," the former Sportsgirl of the Year said. Chung, who will be taking on the role as assistant chef de mission for the first time, also noted his excitement. “When I was a competitive athlete, the ethos and spirit of the sailing team motivated me to think and act beyond myself. I hope to share my experiences with the Singapore contingent, and look forward to supporting the team to the best of my abilities," he said. Seow noted that the trio will work together to provide support to the athletes. "While it is going to be challenging logistically, Valerie and Pei Ming will work tirelessly with me and the secretariat to provide invaluable support to the athletes. They are backed by their own experiences as high-performance athletes and professional careers to help our athletes," she said. The 2019 SEA Games will be held in three cities in the Philippines – Manila, Clark and Subic Bay – from Nov 30 to Dec 11. Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/new...led-by-3-former-athletes-philippines-11246268
Athletics: Singapore Sports School win eighth overall title in nine years at SPH Schools Relay Championships The Singapore Sports School topped the standings of the two-day meet with 120 points, finishing ahead of Raffles Institution on 109.ST PHOTO: KHALID BABA Published Feb 24, 2019, 7:29 pm SGT Muhammad Sazali Abdul Aziz Correspondent msazali@sph.com.sg SINGAPORE - The Singapore Sports School (SSP) retained their SPH Schools Relay Championships overall crown at the Bishan Stadium on Sunday (Feb 24). They topped the standings at the two-day meet with 120 points, finishing ahead of Raffles Institution (RI) on 109. Nanyang Girls' High and Dunman High shared third place after both schools earned 59 points. It was SSP's eighth overall title in nine years. They had regained the championship crown last year after RI snapped their six-year winning streak in 2017. Clifton Dragon, SSP's assistant director of sports, said: "We are happy. The kids worked very hard to prepare for this competition and the (upcoming) National Schools Championships. "This competition is part of our plans to help the student-athletes in their athlete development, and is a great way to foster teamwork and team spirit." Now into its 27th year, the 2019 SPH Schools Relay Championships featured a total of 32 schools.
Top of the world: National fencer Amita is new world No 1 junior By Low Lin Fhoong University of Notre Dame Fencing and Nuria Ling/TODAY National fencer Amita Berthier (left), in action at the 2018 Asian Games (right), is elated that she has topped the world junior rankings in the women’s foil. Published12 March, 2019 Updated 13 March, 2019 SINGAPORE — National fencer Amita Berthier has topped the world junior rankings in the women’s foil to become the first Singaporean to achieve the feat in the sport. Her world No 1 junior ranking comes after her double gold-medal triumph in the individual and team event — also a first for a Singaporean team — at the Asian Junior Championships in the Jordanian capital of Amman last week. This is the first time that any Singaporean fencer across all disciplines has reached the world No 1 ranking. Amita, 18, had previously reached a career high of world No 3 during the 2017/2018 season before leapfrogging her rivals to clinch top spot after her victories in Jordan. “I am elated and, at the same time, this is surreal,” said the fencer, who is studying at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, United States. “It has been a long journey, lots of intense sparring, never a guarantee of victory.” Amita’s 2019 season got off to a flying start after she claimed three medals at the International Fencing Federation Junior World Cups in Guatemala, Cuba and Italy, before she helped her university team to a victory at the Atlantic Coast Conference Championships last month. With a number of major competitions lined up for the year, the teenager is aiming to build on her success as she heads into the Junior World Championships in Poland next month. She will also compete in the senior Asian Championships in Tokyo in June, the World Championships in Budapest from July 15 to 23 and the SEA Games in the Philippines in November. “I definitely feel the pressure but I shall not let it dominate my mind. I want to remain excited about every competition and to continue doing my very best,” she said. She has also set her sights on the 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games in Tokyo and Paris respectively. “Topping the world rankings tells me that if I set my mind to working hard and accepting the challenges, anything is possible. I want this experience to push me on when I hit the senior ranks in two years,” she said. Mr Ralf Bissdorf, who coaches Amita, called the achievement a “milestone” in the young fencer’s career. “This is an incredible achievement which many thought not possible. But she did it in her first year as a junior,” said Mr Bissdorf, 47, who won the men’s foil silver medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. “It has been an exciting journey which is not yet over… The next goals are even harder to achieve and we’re aware there will be rising expectations. But we’re confident Amita can stay on track and stay focused.” Mr Yau Wee Sian, Fencing Singapore's vice-president for high performance, said that the association was “absolutely elated” to see Amita top the world junior rankings. “This is a historic achievement for a Singaporean fencer and it comes as no surprise that Amita is the one to carve out this new milestone for Singapore,” he said. “She has in recent years consistently delivered good results on the regional and world stage, through cadet and now junior ranks. We congratulate Amita on this achievement, and also applaud the team behind her, namely her primary coach Ralf Bissdorf and her mum Uma.”
Special Olympics: 15-year-old sprinter wins Singapore’s first gold Nurshalini Sahnef (front centre) claimed Singapore's first gold at the 2019 Special Olympics on Mar 16, 2019. (Photo: Special Olympics Singapore) By Matthew Mohan 16 Mar 2019 11:07PM (Updated: 17 Mar 2019 06:43AM) 16 Mar 2019 11:07PM (Updated: 17 Mar 2019 06:43AM) ABU DHABI: She may have crossed the finish line in last position but it was 15-year-old Nurshalini Sahnef who stood proudly atop the highest rung of the podium as Team Singapore claimed its first gold of the Special Olympics on Saturday (Mar 16). Competing in the F2 division of the 200m sprint, Nurshalini clocked a personal best timing of 42.53 seconds, but initially finished in fifth out of as many competitors. "Shalini started nicely but the athletes from other countries were even faster than her," said her coach Mdm Tamil Selvi. "When I saw the official result, it was stated three countries' athletes were disqualified because of the Maximum Effort Rule, and one other athlete due to a technical fault (false start)." The Special Olympic World Games, held from Mar 14-21, is a meet for athletes with intellectual disabilities. At the Special Olympics, athletes are separated into different divisions based on factors such as their age, gender and ability. To ensure a fair divisioning process, athletes are expected to put in maximum effort when competing in all trials and finals. The Maximum Effort Rule ensures that there is no more than a particular percentage difference (usually 15 per cent) in performance between an athlete’s seeding time or score and their final performance. If an athlete exceeds their seeding performance by more than the percentage set for that specific event, they will be subjected to disqualification. "I am very very happy for winning a first gold medal for Singapore but I was confused about the whole situation as I had came in fifth," said Shalini. "It was very tense and very tiring because it's not easy to compete with others from different countries and because it's also my first World Summer Games." Singapore’s athletics contingent consists of 10 athletes, who will be competing in six different events over the course of the Special Olympics. Siti Nurhayati Ali Aksar Khan added to Singapore's overall tally later in the day with a bronze in the 200m F12 category. "I am very happy to get bronze because I broke my own personal record and also proud that I competed with tough competitors," said the 16-year-old who clocked a personal best of 32.42 seconds "I am not able to express my feelings in words, you need to be here to feel the experience," added Mdm Selvi. "I am very proud of my athletes. They made Singapore proud.
Athletics: Soh Rui Yong breaks 23-year national marathon mark National runner Soh Rui Yong crossing the finishing line of the 2019 Seoul Marathon. (Photo provided by Soh Rui Yong) By Amir Yusof @AmirYusofCNA 17 Mar 2019 02:04PM (Updated: 17 Mar 2019 07:51PM) SINGAPORE: Runner Soh Rui Yong has rewritten the national record for the men’s marathon after clocking 2:23:42 at the Seoul Marathon on Sunday (Mar 17). Soh’s effort smashed the long-standing previous national mark, which was held by Murugiah Rameshon. Rameshon’s 2:24:22 time at the 1995 SEA Games in Chiang Mai had stood for more than 23 years before Soh’s effort on Sunday. The record is pending ratification from the Singapore Athletic Association. In a Facebook post following his run, Soh posted a picture of himself showing his official time for the race with the caption: “It's only impossible till someone pulls it off.” Speaking to Channel NewsAsia on Sunday afternoon, Soh said the achievement felt sweet as he had been preparing to break the record since the end of last year. The preparation included training for more than five weeks in Flagstaff, Arizona, in the United States. "I spent more than 100 days of training and I'm happy it has culminated in a performance like this," said Soh. The runner added that he was aware the air in Seoul was polluted recently but he was relieved that rain over the last few days had cleared the conditions for Sunday morning's race. Soh came in 25th in the race while Kenyan Thomas Kiplagat won the event in 2:05:59. This is Soh’s second national mark this year after he rewrote the half marathon record in January. Soh had clocked 1:06:46 at the Houston Marathon, eclipsing Mok Ying Ren’s 1:07:08 set at the 2016 Arizona Rock & Roll Half Marathon. Soh also holds the national 10,000m record of 31:15:95 which he set in the 2014 Portland Track Festival in Oregon, US. Soh, who is also the 2015 and 2017 SEA Games marathon champion, is next eyeing qualification for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. He acknowledged that achieving this will be a tough task, and he is looking to identify upcoming races that will enable him to finish in the top 10 positions of a world marathon major.
Special Olympics: Medals galore for Singapore on third day of competition Rusydi Abdullah poses with his silver medal. (Photo: Matthew Mohan) By Matthew Mohan 18 Mar 2019 06:44AM (Updated: 18 Mar 2019 01:58PM) courtesy of 15-year-old sprinter Nurshalini Shanef's triumph in the 200m F2 division. The Special Olympic World Games, from Mar 14-21, is a meet for athletes with intellectual disabilities, and this year marks Singapore’s tenth occasion participating. Athletes compete in different divisions based on factors such as their age, gender as well as level of ability. Team Singapore has sent a contingent of 30 athletes In athletics, 16-year-old Maveric Lee clocked a personal best timing of 27.87 secs in the 200m M8 division to clinch gold at the Dubai Police Club stadium. Lee narrowly pipped Indonesia's Williems Johanes Doroh, who finished a mere 3 milliseconds behind the Singaporean. The initial winner, Jamaica's Delmar Campbell, was disqualified. "I'm very happy with Maveric - he has been very consistent," said Lee's coach Noor Hanif Sulaimee. "He was also very determined and focused." ONCE LEFT HOME, NOW ON THE PODIUM In the 50m breaststroke M6 division, Siau Ek Jin claimed bronze with a personal best timing of 47.95 seconds. Siau Ek Jin (centre) poses for a photograph. (Photo: Special Olympics Singapore) Siau, who was a reserve at the previous edition of the Games in Los Angeles, said he was excited to be given the chance to finally compete at the meet. "I was disappointed when I was not selected for the last World Games four years ago," said Siau. "When I was finally selected for this World Games, I was very happy and excited." "You would marvel at his sense of focus in the water. He had some fierce competitors and at some point he was lagging behind," said his coach Maria Koh. "But he kept on going, focusing on his strokes and speed." Singapore's joy was not confined to the track and pool as the country's bowlers also took home a silver courtesy of Siti Nurhamizah Hamzah in the singles D11 division. "She did very well. We set some goals last year when we first started training together," said coach Adam Lim. "We planned for her to hit a 140 average here - she bowled a 415, which is almost a 139 average. Siti Nurhamizah Hamzah (left) with teammate Assekin Mohamed Anuar. (Photo: Special Olympics Singapore) "I hope that this helps her see that all her efforts pay off and that if she continues to work hard, she can achieve anything." Another athlete under Lim's charge, Sarhan Zuhir, finished with a bronze in the singles D34 division. Rusydi Abdullah, 16, won his and the bocce team's first medal at the Special Olympics with a silver in the singles M8 division. His teammate Chew Jun Hong added to the tally later in the day with a bronze in the singles M11 division. "A silver and a bronze is awesome! I told them to just do their best and have fun," said coach Norhaiza Binte Yep Abu. "Jun Hong was competing in a higher division against very good players, so bronze is a good result for him. "Rusydi always said that he wants to do the country proud and his family proud. He has done that today." "We are proud of the athletes' performances today - from clocking personal best times to putting up good showings when up against opponents who were sometimes bigger and taller," added Singapore's head of delegation Lee Theng Ngee. "They have shown determination and focus." Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/new...edals-galore-for-singapore-abu-dhabi-11353512
Archer Contessa Loh hits bull's eye with Spex award Fencer Maxine Wong (left) and archer Contessa Loh are two of 19 new spexScholars, with a total of 73 recipients from 22 sports this year.ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG Published 8 hours ago The first able-bodied archer recipient hopes scholarship fund will aid in SEA Games bid Laura Chia claura@sph.com.sg She couldn't explain "how great that feels" to compete at the Asian Games last year, despite finishing fourth in the compound mixed team event with Alan Lee. Contessa Loh was part of the archery team that made their bow at the regional Games then, and broke new ground again yesterday when she became the first able-bodied archer to receive the Sports Excellence (spex) Scholarship. In 2017, para-athlete Nur Syahidah Alim was the first archer to receive the prestigious scholarship, which gives recipients enhanced support in areas such as sport science and career preparation. "Getting the scholarship on top of that (Asian Games outing) is like having the cherry on top of the cake," said the 24-year-old Loh, who received her certificate from Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu at Swissotel The Stamford. "It shows that archery has the potential to do really well and has the potential go further." Loh was one of 19 new spexScholars, with a total of 73 recipients from 22 sports this year. She added that the funding will aid in upgrading equipment and overseas competitions as she aims for a podium finish at this year's SEA Games in the Philippines and in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Fencer Maxine Wong and shuttler Loh Kean Yew were also first-time recipients of the scholarship yesterday and are aiming to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. "With the scholarship, I can go overseas for more training and competitions to build my experience and get used to competing with people from different countries," said the 18-year-old Wong. Shuttler Loh, 21, who defeated Chinese great Lin Dan two months ago, said: "This support will give me the necessary push in terms of training, home and overseas tournaments and all other efforts leading up to it." A STEPPING STONE You have not only demonstrated the potential to go far, more importantly you have shown the drive, the determination, the hunger to reach your targets. This will be the start of an intense journey for sporting excellence. GRACE FU, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, addressing the 19 new recipients of the Sports Excellence (spex) Scholarship. In her speech, Ms Fu said: "You have not only demonstrated the potential to go far, more importantly you have shown the drive, the determination, the hunger to reach your targets. "This will be the start of an intense journey for sporting excellence and we are committed to supporting you every step of the way." Also, nine new partner organisations were last night welcomed into the spexBusiness and spexEducation network, which aims to support Team Singapore athletes through job and education opportunities. The network now has a total of 74 partners supporting 650 athletes. One such partner, Deloitte Singapore, will be hiring three national athletes - among them national sprinter Shanti Pereira - which will take the total number of Team Singapore athletes hired by the company to over 100 by May. James Walton, head of Deloitte South-east Asia's Sport Business group, said companies must join the network only with the right reasons. He quipped: "If you do the scheme because you think you'll get publicity, what will happen is you bring in athletes without getting the culture and job fit right. "There are a lot of steps to go through in terms of the right athlete, the right job and the right work arrangement. "The whole team must work properly because so many things can go wrong if you don't get it right." A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on March 21, 2019, with the headline 'Loh hits bull's eye with Spex award'. Print Edition | Subscribe
Swimming: Glen Lim sets men's 400m freestyle national record at S'pore National Age Group C'ships Swimmer Glen Lim broke his own national record of 3:54.12, set at the Singapore National Swimming Championships in 2018.PHOTO: ST FILE Published Mar 21, 2019, 7:41 pm SGT Nicole Chia cnicole@sph.com.sg SINGAPORE -Swimmer Glen Lim broke his own national record in the men's 400m freestyle on Thursday (March 21), clocking 3min 52.64sec to finish second at the Liberty Insurance 50th Singapore National Age Group Swimming Chanpionships. The 17-year-old's previous record of 3:54.12 was set at the Singapore National Swimming Championships in 2018. At the OCBC Aquatic Centre on Thursday, Glen led throughout the race before being overtaken at the 300m mark by Indonesia's Aflah Fadlan Prawira . Though the Singaporean reclaimed the lead with 50m to go, it was Aflah who touched home first in 3:52.16. Glen also set the national record in the men's 800m freestyle on Tuesday.
Bowling: Singapore mixed team win bronze at World Junior Championships in France (From left) Xavier Teo, Eugene Yeo, Quek Lu Yi and Arianne Tay won the bronze medal at the World Junior Bowling Championship in France on March 21, 2019.PHOTO: SINGAPORE BOWLING FEDERATION / FACEBOOK Published 1 hour ago SINGAPORE - The Republic's mixed team quartet won the bronze medal at the World Junior Bowling Championship in France on Thursday (March 21) evening. The team of Xavier Teo, Eugene Yeo, Quek Lu Yi and Arianne Tay had qualified for the semi-final of the team of four event with the second-highest number of pinfalls (5,477), behind South Korea (5,619). But they fell 220-212, 199-180 to Mexico at the Institut du Judo in Paris. The team bronze is Singapore's second medal at the competition, after Arianne, 14, won the girls' singles title on Tuesday. Mexico will play South Korea - who beat Finland 204-201, 245-223 in the other semi-final - in the final on Saturday.
Swimming: Not his best but Schooling wins 100m fly at Singapore National Age Group Championship Singapore’s Joseph Schooling in action at the men’s 100m butterfly super final at the OCBC Aquatic Centre, on March 22, 2019.ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG Published Mar 22, 2019, 10:33 pm SGT Nicole Chia SINGAPORE - Joseph Schooling eased to victory in the 100m butterfly at the Liberty Insurance 50th Singapore National Age Group Swimming Championship on Friday night (March 22), but he was hardly a happy man. The Olympic champion looked disappointed as he walked towards his coaches after the race and declined to speak to the media. National head coach and performance director Stephan Widmer later told The Straits Times that the 23-year-old had been aiming for a faster time than the 52.70 seconds he clocked at the OCBC Aquatic Centre. Schooling holds the national record of 50.39 which he set en route to winning a historic gold medal for Singapore at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Representing the Chinese Swimming Club, he was second at the turn behind compatriot Teong Tzen Wei, but overtook the latter to touch the wall first. Teong finished second in 53.60 and Jonathan Tan was third in 54.31. Both represented AquaTech Swimming. Declining to reveal what time Schooling had been gunning for, Widmer said: "In very particular areas, he's in a good position, in strength, his body alignment and so on... we have to keep building on the physiology side of swimming, and (have) good conditioning, a solid (training) block in the lead-up to the world championships. "To be fair, he's fresh but he's not tapered... this is just the reality check of where we are and what are the calls that have to be made." The Swiss-born Australian believes Schooling is still in a "very solid position" overall, and stressed that there was no reason for panic. Schooling returned to Singapore last month after spending the past 10 years in the United States, and Widmer feels he has done well in adjusting to life back home and "getting to know the new coaches' language". He quipped that Schooling had to "translate not just my accent, but also the key information that flows across." Widmer also noted that while Schooling and National Training Centre head coach Gary Tan have known each other for a long time, they are now working together on a more consistent basis. "What Eddie (Reese) had time to develop before, and Sergio (Lopez), these guys did a great job. Gary has really stepped it up in that area and developed that relationship," he said. Schooling had expressed similar appreciation for his coaches when he spoke to the media earlier this month, saying: "The coaches are doing a great job so far at being patient with me, taking things slow and I really appreciate that. "If I get into the groove of competing again I know the times will come, it's more of readjusting to life in Singapore and also finding a very good balance between social life and practice. "Everything has changed from what I'm used to. I need to take this adjustment period slow and not rush anything, and I'll be set." Widmer added: "Moving forward from here, it's just (doing) some specific work suitable for Jo and his physiology... we just need to do more often of the same for longer and consistently." Schooling met the A-cut for July's world championships in Gwangju at last year's Asian Games after clocking 51.04 en route to retaining his Asiad title. The qualifying period for next year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo begins this month and to defend his title there, Schooling has to meet the A-cut time of 51.96sec, which he has yet to do. His time on Friday night qualified him for the SEA Games in the Philippines in November. Quah Ting Wen also met the SEA Games A-cut after winning the women's 100m butterfly in 59.28sec on Friday. The 26-year-old thought her race was "not bad", saying: "The first 50m felt smoother this morning (during the heats) but, tonight, I think I did a better job of bringing it back home. "The goal was to make the team and, from here till the SEA Games, just work more on practising the race plan and try to go faster but without using too much effort."
From tears to joy: Team Singapore win first bocce gold at Special Olympics Soh Li Ning (centre) shares a lighthearted moment after winning gold in the Bocce singles F5 division. (Photo: Matthew Mohan) By Matthew Mohan 19 Mar 2019 06:42AM (Updated: 19 Mar 2019 06:50AM) ABU DHABI: She was in tears less than 24 hours before, but the sadness turned to joy for Soh Li Ning on Monday (Mar 18) as she won Singapore's first gold in bocce at the Special Olympics World Games. The 18-year-old defeated Saudi Arabia's Jana Albeshri 9-5 to emerge champion in the Bocce singles F5 division. Bocce is a ball sport similar to lawn bowls. Soh also won her previous match on Sunday against South Korea's Woo Hae Lin, but had been in tears after being flagged for a foul by the referee during the match, said her coach Norhaiza Binte Yep Abu. "Yesterday, when we were busy at the medal ceremony (Bocce athletes Rusydi Abdullah and Chew Jun Hong finished with a silver and bronze respectively), it got delayed so I wasn't able to get to her match in time," said Norhaiza. "I was told that she was scared and crying. "She managed to complete the game and it was a good game ... After, I asked her why she was sad and crying - whether it was because I was not there," said Norhaiza. "She said no - it was because the referee said (she committed) a foul. "But it was only for five minutes and after that she was happy, smiling again." Also there to witness her daughter's triumph was Irene Tan. "It was very touching to see her win," she said. "I never thought she would win - I was just hoping that she would do her best." The Special Olympics World Games, held from Mar 14 to 21, is a meet for athletes with intellectual disabilities, and this year marks Singapore’s 10th year of participation. At least 7,500 athletes from more than 190 nations will feature in this edition, the largest number of participants in the event’s history. At the Special Olympics, athletes are separated into different divisions based on factors such as their age, gender as well as level of ability. There were other medals for Singapore in athletics, as Low Boon Chin claimed his first medal of the Special Olympics, a bronze. Low had been on course for a medal in the half-marathon event on Saturday, but a wrong turn had cost him a podium finish. READ: Wrong turn denies Team Singapore’s half-marathoners a Special Olympics medal, but can't rob them of their spirit "We had a race plan and I'm really happy that he stuck to it, despite him being a little anxious at the start - he was trying to stay with the front pack and ran too fast," said his coach Norman Koh. "I was super proud of him for staying focused after the half marathon incident and to have achieved his personal best," said Koh. "On top of that, he was rewarded with a medal." Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/new...pore-win-first-bocce-gold-at-special-11357150
'Welcome back Team Singapore!': Family, friends celebrate Special Olympics homecoming By Alif Amsyar 23 Mar 2019 06:59PM (Updated: 23 Mar 2019 11:09PM SINGAPORE: The moment Singapore’s Special Olympics athletes entered the arrival hall of Changi Airport on Saturday (Mar 23), a crowd exclaimed in unison: “Welcome back Team Singapore!” Family and friends had gathered at Terminal 2 - armed with flags, banners, balloons and garlands - eagerly awaiting the return of their loved ones. Fresh from a week of competition in Abu Dhabi, the athletes walked out proudly with their medals. Someone in the crowd shouted: “Well done!” Family members of sprinter Maveric Lee plaster themselves against the glass panels upon hearing news of the athletes’ arrival. (Photo: Darius Boey) Singapore won four gold, four silver and eight bronze medals at the Special Olympics, a competition for athletes with intellectual disabilities. But it was their stories of grit, guts and never-give-up attitude that have inspired many. INSPIRING HEROES Sprinter Jacob Wong, 14, said the competition has been a good experience. He won gold in the M3 division of the 100m race at the Games, but not before missing his 200m race due to an injury. “I feel excited because this is my first medal, I am very proud to represent Singapore because they gave me a chance to participate; it is a good experience for me,” said Jacob, the youngest athlete in the contingent. READ: 'The heart of a lion' - Singapore youngster claws back from injury to win Special Olympics gold He won praise for his stellar performance, with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong lauding his efforts. “We should celebrate such inspiring stories by our athletes who embody the never-give-up attitude, even when things do not go their way. Not forgetting the coaches, support staff, and families, who have cheered the athletes on at every stage of this journey,” said Mr Lee in a Facebook post on Thursday. Then there was swimmer Siau Ek Jin’s unfaltering determination to represent the nation. In the 50m breaststroke M6 division, the 26-year-old clinched bronze, clocking a personal best timing of 47.95 seconds. The swimmer’s mother, Mrs Lucy Siau, said that after he was not selected to take part in the previous edition of the Games, he trained even harder to realise his goals. Siau Ek Jin (centre) poses for a photograph. (Photo: Special Olympics Singapore) “It’s his dream, and he really trained very, very hard, almost seven days a week and two hours a day for the past whole year,” his mother said. “He was very upset when he wasn’t selected previously but we told him if he continued to train hard he would have the opportunity to go,” she added. “Now that he has represented Singapore, he has achieved his own target; that’s his proudest moment. The bronze medal is a bonus. “My son took 10 years to learn swimming and he only made his first stroke when he was 16 years old. For him to make it to the Special Olympics is really a miracle,” she said with a bright smile. READ: Focus on ability, not sympathy, say Team Singapore's coaches and officials Family members shower Team Singapore athletes with flowers, banners, hugs and cheers, including Mr Lee Theng Ngee, the Head of Delegation for the 43-man Singapore Team. (Photo: Darius Boey) The Jeyabalan family had much to celebrate as well after siblings Priyadarshani Jeyabalan and Shaman Pandian Jeyabalan both won medals in Dubai, where the track and field events were held. Priyadarshani, who had an injury midway through her 400m F3 division race last Tuesday, continued to power through her race to cling on to a third-place finish. Her brother Shaman won a silver in his event. “I was very happy to get a medal, having teamwork with everyone and helping each other in our group and never giving up on them. When my brother was racing, I screamed: ‘Shaman run faster!’,” Priyadarshani said. Coach Tamil Selvi added: “Priya is very motherly, she can lead the whole team and the girls can follow her; same for Sharman, he can lead the boys together. There was always team spirit and we could see that they were helping each other.” The Jeyabalan siblings give a thumbs up with their coaches Nur Hanif Sulaimee (right) and Tamil Selvi (left). (Photo: Darius Boey) SPIRIT OF THE GAMES Above all, it was the journey and personal growth of the athletes that mattered most. “The medals are important but it’s not the only thing, we’re very proud of all our athletes whether they have won a gold medal or whether they’ve come in third or fourth,” said president of Special Olympics Singapore Teo-Koh Sock Miang. “For us, when you win the medals, that’s just the icing on the cake. Sports is transformative; our athletes transform, grow and learn through sports. They find out who they are and they become so much more confident and independent; that’s what sports is all about,” Dr Teo-Koh said. READ: For Team Singapore’s Special Olympics contingent, to dare is to do Thirty athletes took part in this edition of the Special Olympics, the 10th year that Singapore has participated at the quadrennial multi-sport event. Team Singapore athletes competed in six different sports, including athletics, bocce and bowling, as well as a unified basketball event, where players without intellectual disabilities partnered Special Olympics athletes. The Abu Dhabi Games brought together 7,500 athletes and unified partners from 192 nations. The Team Singapore contingent back in Singapore from the Special Olympics in Abu Dhabi, together with their family members. (Photo: Darius Boey) Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/new...-abu-dhabi-team-singapore-homecoming-11372394
