Editor's Choice

Pipeline Of Talents Continue To Flow

Singapore 2015 Southeast Asian Games

Jansen Yeo

Senior Executive, Strategic Communications

Singapore Sports School’s purpose as a pipeline to the national teams was upheld with the selection of 103 student-athletes and alumni to compete at the Singapore 2015 Southeast Asian Games from 5 to 16 June 2015.

The Sports School’s athlete-friendly pathways have contributed to this large number as longer runways make it possible for elite youth athletes to pursue academic and sport excellence concurrently without the interruption of national examinations such as the GCE “O” and “A” levels examinations, which usually requires a student to prepare six months ahead.

From the five cohorts of student-athletes on the Diploma in Sports and Leisure Management programme, including two batches that have graduated, are 31 who will be competing in 13 sports. The DSLM is a collaboration with Republic Polytechnic delivered at the Sports School for elite student-athletes. One such elite student-athlete benefitting from the personal customised programme is table tennis player Clarence Chew Zhe Yu.

“I was allowed to defer modules so that I could join the national team for overseas training camps. We go through intensive training sessions and spar with the top players from the host countries. This allows me to experience the different playing styles of other top-level table tennis players and the familiarity has helped me in my game significantly. Likewise, I deferred a couple of modules to compete at major tournaments like the 2014 World Team Table Tennis Championships, where I came up against the world’s best table tennis players. I will catch up on my studies after the Sea Games,” said Clarence.

Student-athletes and alumni have also benefitted from attending the School-Within-A-School programme, which piloted with Clarence and table tennis teammate Isabelle Li Siyun in 2010. The SWS programme includes seven badminton players, one fencer, one golfer, two shooters, two table tennis players and two tennis player who will be competing at the Sea Games. Student-athletes on the SWS programme train full-time with the national team in the day and attend classes in the evening. This allows them to maximise their training time, have the opportunity to spar with the senior national team, thus bringing their sport development to a higher level. Among the 15, eight have gone on to the DSLM programme.

Before the DSLM programme was established, Sports School student-athletes pursued the Auckland University of Technology Diploma. From this very first through-train pathway are 19 alumni heading out to the Sea Games such as bowler Jazreel Tan Shi Hua, sailors Griselda Khng and Victoria Chan Jing Hua, swimmers Amanda Lim Xiang Qi, Clement Lim Yong’En, Pang Sheng Jun and Tao Li and trackers Calvin Kang Li Loong, Dipna Lim Prasad and Stephan Tseng Ke Chen.

“Our athlete-friendly pathways provide talented student-athletes and alumni with a longer runway for development. Athletes between the ages of 15 and 18 are at a very critical stage of development and these pathways offer them greater flexibility in terms of supporting their training and competition needs, thus enabling them to fulfill their potential. This year, we have more than 100 student-athletes and alumni competing at the Sea Games and the Sports School will continue to be a pipeline to the national teams,” said Dr Irwin Seet, Director of Sports.

All Set To Go… A group of Singapore Sports School student-athletes and alumni at the Team Singapore Flag Presentation Ceremony at OCBC Square, Singapore Sports Hub, on 12 May 2015. 105 student-athletes, alumni and staff will compete at the Singapore 2015 Sea Games.

Feature

Leaping Beyond Age-Old Records

2015 Singapore Athletics Track and Field Series 4

Gail Chia

Executive, Strategic Communications

Pictures courtesy of Eric SC Lim.

Barely a month after breaking the Women’s 4x100m Relay National Record, Eugenia Tan Yan Ning leapt to a distance of 5.94m, breaking the 22-year-old Long Jump National Record set by Yu Long Nyu in 1993. She rewrote the National Open, National Junior and Under 23 records in her second recorded jump.

Eugenia did not expect to break the record at the Singapore Athletics Track and Field Series 4 on 9 May 2015, after only a month of intensive training for the Long Jump. Having qualified for the event in the Singapore 2015 Southeast Asian Games, Eugenia switched coaches – from sprints coach Margaret Oh to coach Katrina Hall-Engle – to improve on her jumping technique, before she pits herself against Southeast Asia’s best jumpers.

“There are visible improvements to my jumping technique. My take-off is now more active, my knees are higher in-flight and I am jumping higher now. All these are important aspects for me to jump further,” said Eugenia. Speed is also a crucial element of the long jump, thus it is understandable that she is also working on improving her running form.

The third-year Republic Polytechnic-Singapore Sports School Diploma in Sports and Leisure Management student-athlete picked up the field event after a training trip to Germany two years ago. During the trip, a German coach commented that the sprinter had good physique to excel in long jump. This, and the added advantage of her speed, led her to take up the challenge of a new event.

However, her focus remained on sprinting. She participated in jump competitions on the rare occasion and preparations for such competitions only started the same week. A hamstring injury in 2014 also kept her away from the sandpit. Despite the lack of opportunities to jump, Eugenia came back stronger this year to record significant performances.

“I didn’t expect to see such ‘instant’ results in my distance. This is affirmation to the training I’m putting into the event and will motivate me to better this result at the Sea Games next month. I will continue training hard to meet my target of going further than 6m at the Games.”

Eugenia is not the only jumper to break an age-old record. Student-athlete Tia Louise Rozario smashed two records in the Girls “B” Division Long Jump at the recent National Schools Track and Field Championships in April 2015. Her leap of 5.56m rewrote the 35-year-old divisional record (5.33m) by Chua Eng Mui and 42-year-old National Schools Record (5.56m) by Koh Hong Phang.

Alumni Dipna Lim Prasad also inked her name in the record books in 2013 when she broke the Women’s 200m National Record set by Prema Govindan (29-year-

old), while, T Piriyah lowered Norshida Mohd Ali’s Women’s 400m Hurdles mark (26-year-old) at the 2010 Pahang Open Track and Field Meet.

Click on picture to enlarge.

Sports

Singapore 2015 Southeast Asian Games

Singapore Sports School To Hold Send-Off Ceremony

Singapore Sports School will be organising a send-off ceremony for its Sea Games-bound Team Singapore athletes on 27 May 2015.

Singapore 2015 chefs-de-mission Nicholas Fang (left) and Dr Tan Eng Liang.

Age Not A Factor At Sea Games

In less than 30 days, 14 Singapore Sports School student-athletes from 10 sports will be making an appearance at the Singapore 2015 Southeast Asian Games. Among them are six from the School-Within-A-School programme.

Shuttler Yeo Jia Min, an SWS student-athlete, will be making her debut at the Sea Games in June. Jia Min beat 10 other shuttlers to claim one of two slots in the Women’s Singles event. World Youth No. 4 Liang Xiao Yu (alumnus) grabbed the second coveted spot in the event. Since joining SWS, the Secondary 4 student-athlete has shown improvements to her game. Jia Min credits her progress into the national team to the customised programme which allows selected student-athletes undergo extended training sessions as compared to their peers; classes are conducted at night.

“Under the SWS programme, I can train twice during the day – once in the morning and another session in the afternoon. This level of intensity is good for badminton players. The longer training hours have definitely helped in my preparations for the Sea Games,” said Jia Min. “My teachers and mentor are also very supportive and guide me in my school work, allowing me to focus on training and competitions.”

Another debutant is Martina Lindsay P Veloso. The shooter, though young, has an impressive track record. At 14 years old, Martina became a World Cup champion and won a silver medal at the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games. She also holds the Women’s 10m Air Rifle National Record with a perfect score of 400.

All but two will be making their debut at the Sea Games. This will be Amanda Tan’s second outing. The Secondary 4 golfer was the youngest golfer ever to compete at the Sea Games, at the Nay Pyi Taw 2013 edition. Synchronised swimmer Natalie Chen Mei Qing will also be competing in her second Sea Games.

Singapore Sports School Student-Athletes on Sea Games List

Badminton

Crystal Wong Jia Ying (SWS)

Yeo Jia Min (SWS)

Football Irfan Fandi

Golf

Amanda Tan (SWS)

Pencak Silat

Abdul Raaziq Abdul Rashid

Rhythmic Gymnastics

Edlyn Ho Zen Yee

Shooting

Martina Lindsay P Veloso (SWS)

Wong Ting Wei (SWS)

Swimming

Hoong En Qi

Synchronised Swimming

Debbie Soh Li Fei Gwyneth Goh Xiao Hui Natalie Chen Mei Qing

Tennis

Muhammad Shaheed Alam Meqsud Alam (SWS)

Track and Field

Dylan Wong U Fai

Farsighted Move Gives Farhan Spot At Sea Games

Pencak Silat

Pencak Silat exponent Sheik Farhan Sheik Alau’ddin has been given the nod by Singapore National Olympic Council to compete at the Singapore 2015 Southeast Asian Games in June. The world champion had been denied a spot on the team as his weight class (Class J (90 to 95kg)) was not registered for the Games.

However, Farhan received good news on 11 May 2015 when approval was given for him to compete in the Men’s Match Class H (80 to 85kg) event, replacing injured teammate Muhammad Shakir Juanda. Farhan had, since April, been told to drop to a lower weight class as a reserve for the Sea Games. To do so, he controlled his diet and stepped up training, cutting 6kg off his weight to qualify for the under 85kg category. The debutant remains unfazed about competing against competitors who may be potentially faster.

“I still aim to be the best at what I do,” said Farhan. “It doesn’t matter who I’m up against. Whether I’m fighting against heavier or faster opponents, I only have to focus on myself, fight my own fight and do my best.”

With the inclusion of Farhan, Singapore Sports School student-athletes and alumni make up 10 out of 13 of the Pencak Silat squad.

Singapore Sports School Silat Exponents at the Singapore 2015 Sea Games

Abdul Raaziq Abdul Rashid (Student-Athlete)

Muhammad Iqbal Abdul Rahman

Muhammad Nur Alfian Juma’en

Nur Fazlin Juma’en

Nur Shafiqa Sheik Alau’ddin

Nurul Khairunnisa Azlani Nurul Shafiqah Mohamed Saiful Nurul Suhaila Mohamed Saiful Sheik Farhan Sheik Alau’ddin

Sheik Ferdous Sheik Alau’ddin

Preparations On Target

Shooting

Shooter Wong Ting Wei’s preparations for the Singapore 2015 Southeast Asian Games has taken him to Fort Benning, USA, where he competed at the International Shooting Sport Federation World Cup. He shot a score of 611.7 in the Men’s 10m Air Rifle event on 13 May 2015 and did not qualify for the Final. Despite this, Shooting Academy Coach Lim Chea Rong says Ting Wei’s preparations for the Sea Games are on target.

“He is a junior shooter competing at the World Cup amongst a field of world-class shooters. In fact, he is the youngest shooter in the field. He was a little nervous during the first 10 shots (99.7) but as the competition progressed, he delivered up to expectation.

“Competitions like this allows him to gauge his standard against elite shooters. He can find out more about his strengths and weaknesses. From there, we can fine-tune his game to help him to hit peak performance at the Sea Games.

“Ting Wei has been training really hard for the Sea Games. He is always willing to listen and learn. He takes the initiative to come for extra training whenever he is available. Most importantly, he is hungry for success,” said Coach Chea Rong.

Ting Wei, who is making his debut at the Sea Games, is one of 105 Singapore Sports School student-athletes, alumni and staff who will compete at the Games.

Who Are The Sport Heroes In Your Neighbourhood

Athletics – Calvin Kang Li Loong

(Resident of Pasir Ris)

Bowling

Charlene Finishes Strongly, Qi En Blazes Through

38th Malaysian International Open Tenpin Bowling Championships

Kuek Qi En (left) and Charlene Lim Jia Yi. Courtesy of Singapore Bowling Federation.

Student-athlete Charlene Lim Jia Yi and alumnus Kuek Qi En won the Youth Girl’s Open and Boy’s Open Masters Finals at the 38th Malaysian International Open Tenpin Bowling Championships at Sunway Mega Lanes on 5 May 2015 but their paths to victory differed greatly.

Charlene bowled well during the first five games in the Girl’s Youth Open Masters Finals and was among the top three. But her scores of 195, 182 and 169 from Games 6 to 8 shook her foothold on a podium prize.

“After that 169 game, I dropped to 6th. I heard a spectator say, ‘No chance already, la’. I felt that I wasn’t that far away, just 82 pins off. I consulted my High Performance Manager Michelle Kwang and decided to change ball and altered my strategy to chase for the oil. It was a risky move but I managed to find my line and connected cleanly with the pocket. Then I started to string my strikes and eventually finished with a 246. This time, I was 16 pins behind, with just one game to go. I maintained my line and started with a six-bagger and finished with 236 pins. I wasn’t sure if I managed to catch up but my coach told me that I won and it was by 15 pins. I’m glad I took a calculated risk to change ball and strategy which paid off,” said Charlene.

Charlene bowled a 10-game series of 2,127 pins (212.7 average) ahead of Malaysians Nur Amirah Auni Azman (2,112 pins) and Nur Ameerahusna Aznel (2,094 pins).

Qi En, in the meanwhile, was on fire as he led for most of the Masters Finals and had only one game below 200 – a 193 in Game 2. He bowled a 10-game series of 2,363 pins (236.3 average). Fellow alumnus Darren Ong Wei Siong was 2nd, 189 pins behind, while alumni Marcus Kiew Jia Wei and Ahmad Safwan finished 4th and 5th.

Football

Regional Finals, Here We Come

Manchester United Premier Cup 2015 – Singapore Qualifiers

A combined U14 and U15 teams from the Football Academy has qualified for the Regional Finals of the Manchester United Premier Cup 2015 after winning the Singapore competition.

Playing over three Saturdays in April, the team won 10 of 12 matches, including a 2-0 victory over Serangoon Gardens Secondary School in the Final on 25 April 2015.

The format for MUPC is different from most football tournaments as each match lasts 15 minutes without a half-time break. Teams played four matches a day. The exception was the Semi-Final and Final, which consisted of two 15-minute halves.

Muhamad Firas Muhamad Irwan was the team’s top scorer with 5 goals. In all, the team scored 19 goals in 12 games; two matches ended in goalless draws.

“The team is looking forward to the Regional Finals, which will take place in Pattaya from 18 to 20 June, where we will compete against the best teams from India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. The players are training hard and I am confident they can hold their own against these opponents. The target is to win the Regional Finals and proceed to the World Finals in Manchester in July,” said Coach Rob Johannes Maria Servais.

Golf

Best In Singapore

2015 Singapore Junior Golf Championship

Shaun Chew

General Manager, Golf Academy

Tommy Tan receiving the trophy for the best local performer from Singapore Golf Association

President Bob Tan. Courtesy of SGA.

Student-athlete Tommy Tan Xuan Hao was the best Singaporean golfer at the 2015 Singapore Junior Golf Championship. He shot a three-day total of 10-over

226 and finished 2nd in the Boys’ Division, 3 shots behind Thailand’s Ekpharit Wu. He was presented the Rolex Trophy for being the best overall local player.

Tommy played consistently throughout the three days of competition from 6 to 8 May 2015 at Keppel Club. He shot a 2-over 74 on the first day and was 4 shots behind China’s Chen Chen. He closed the gap with Chen Chen to 1 shot with a score of 4-over 76 on the second day and a total of 6-over 150. Tommy (4-over 76) and Chen Chen (6-over 78) were overtaken on the final day by Ekpharit Wu, who shot a par-72 and won with a three-day total of 7-over 223. Tommy finished 3 shots behind Ekpharit Wu and 1 shot ahead of Chen Chen.

Student-athletes Louis Tee Jun Jie (12-over 228), Nicholas Mok Chee Yong (15-over 231) and Ryan Wong Wey Ren (17-over 233) rounded up the top 6.

Nicholas Mok partnered Callista Chen and was 2nd in the Team event. Louis Tee and fellow student-athlete Jacqueline De Los Reyes Young was 3rd.

Netball

Graduating Players Sign Off With A Bang

Philippines National Team Friendly

Lee Min Li Senior General Manager, Netball Academy

It was their last match together as a team before they graduate this year. The Secondary 4 netball players, together with two IBDP Year 1 student-athletes, brought their “A” game to the court when they played the Philippines national team in a friendly match on 29 April 2015.

The Philippines team had a height advantage over our players but we countered that with speed, good movement and composed shooting, and won 65-30.

“This was one of the best games I’ve seen them play. The players really wanted to sign off with a bang and the fact that they were playing against a national team served as additional motivation to the girls. They were able to find spaces and made quick transitions from defence to attack. This created more shooting opportunities and our shooters took their chances well,” said Netball Academy Head Coach Joanne Kyra Loo.

The Philippines national team was in Singapore as part of their preparations for the Singapore 2015 Southeast Asian Games.

Synchronised Swimming

Gold For Water Ballerinas

2015 Australia Nationals and Open Championships

The Synchronised Swimming National Development Squad garnered three medals at the 2015 Australia Nationals and Open Championships in Sydney from 23 to 26 April 2015. The 10-strong squad, which includes Secondary 2 student-athlete Ariel Sng Kai Lin, displayed their gracefulness and synchronisation to clinch the gold medal in the Team Free event. The team also won 2 silver medals in the Free Combination and Team Technical events.

Table Tennis

Top-Notch Performance At World Champs

QOROS 2015 World Table Tennis Championships

Gail Chia

Executive, Strategic Communications

She played so well that National Head Coach Jing Jun Hong thought she saw a “mini” Feng Tian Wei. Alumnus Yee Herng Hwee fought back from a 2-2 tie to beat Portugal’s Rita Fins 4-2 in her third match of the group stage. She won all three matches to top her group in the qualifying rounds of the QOROS 2015 World Table Tennis Championships in Suzhou, China.

This was the first time the Republic Polytechnic-Singapore Sports School Diploma in Sports and Leisure Management Year 1 student-athlete was playing in the Singles event at an international tournament. At the World Championships from 26 April to 3 May 2015, Herng Hwee beat opponents from Sudan and Latvia 4-0 in the Group Stage. She showed her prowess in her third match, refusing to concede to the Portuguese.

“The whole team had undergone a month-long training stint in Chinese Taipei before the Championships. I was able to put into practise the skills I had worked on. Since this was also the first time I was playing the Singles event at the world stage, my first thought was only to give it my all rather than worry about the results. This allowed me to cope with the pressure of the high level of competition," said Herng Hwee.

Unfortunately, the paddler’s progress in the tournament was halted when she lost 0-4 to Park Youngsook from South Korea in the first round. Singles players Clarence Chew Zhe Yu and Isabelle Li were also unable to advance to the Round of 64.

In the Doubles events, student-athlete Eunice Lim Zoe, alumni Clarence, Isabelle and Pang Xue Jie were unsuccessful in their attempts to progress past the Round of 64.

RESULTS

Men’s Singles

Clarence Chew Zhe Yu – Round of 128

Pang Xue Jie – Group Stage

Women’s Singles

Eunice Lim Zoe – Group Stage

Isabelle Li Siyun – Round of 128

Yee Herng Hwee – Round of 128

Men’s Doubles

Clarence Chew Zhe Yu, Pang Xue Jie – Round of 64

Women’s Doubles

Eunice Lim Zoe (student-athlete), Isabelle Li Siyun – Round of 64

Mixed Doubles

Clarence Chew Zhe Yu, Isabelle Li Siyun – Round of 128

Track and Field

Diane Bears The Pain, Sees The Gain

56th National Inter-School Track & Field Championships

Jansen Yeo

Senior Executive, Strategic Communications

DianeHilary Pragasam (left) receiving the baton from

Raine Oh Shuqin in the Girls 'C' Division 4x100m Relay.

Training at Singapore Sports School represented a big leap forward for Diane Hilary Pragasam.

“There was no formal track and field programme at Northland Primary School. I literally went from running in a park to training on Sports School’s track. It was a culture shock for me when I started training with Coach Margaret Oh. Her training programme is tough. She pushes us very hard. It took me a while to cope. There are times when we are doing endurance training and I just feel like stopping but she always insists that I push on.

“Well, it was really ‘no pain, no gain’. Because of these training sessions, I learnt to persevere and I have become physically and mentally stronger. This is especially useful when I run the 400m. It takes a lot of willpower to finish the last 100m in a 400m race. It’s all in the mind,” said the Secondary 2 student-athlete.

Diane’s grit, helped by Coach Margaret’s training programme, saw her make huge strides. She won two gold medals in the “C” Division Girls 400m and 4x400m

Relay events at the 2014 National Schools Track and Field Championships. This year, she became the only athlete at the Championships to win 4 gold medals in the “C” Division Girls 200m, 400m, 4x100m Relay and 4x400m Relay events.

Coach Margaret highlights Diane’s training attitude as one of the key reasons for her improvement and sees similarity between Diane and another of her protégé, Sports School alumnus and women’s 100m and 200m national record holder, Veronica Shanti Pereira.

“Diane’s attitude is fantastic. Like Shanti, she has the drive and is always asking questions during training. When I correct her technique, she will take note and try to improve on it. This girl is a real fighter. She has a lot of potential to go further if she continues to train hard and keep improving,” said Coach Margaret.

These days, Diane is making use of every opportunity to observe her role model Shanti when they train together at Sports School.

“I always like to watch Shanti run because I can pick up some tips on how I can improve my running style. The way she runs is so smooth, yet so fast. And no matter how tough the training gets, she doesn’t give up nor complain. She has achieved so much – setting national records and competing at major meets like the Asian Games and the upcoming Sea Games in Singapore. She brings pride to the country and that is something I hope to achieve someday,” said Diane.

Kugapriya Qualifies For World Youth Championships

1st Asian Youth Athletics Championships

Jenny Lim

Senior General Manager, Track and Field

Team Singapore at the 1st Asian Youth Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar. Picture courtesy of Singapore Athletics.

Singapore Sports School alumnus Kugapriya d/o Chandran marked three milestones in her pet event at the 1st Asian Youth Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar. Kugapriya finished 3rd in the Girls 200m and was one of two athletes in the 15-strong Team Singapore contingent to medal at the Championships from 8 to 11 May 2015; Eric Yee won a silver medal in the Boys Discus event. Kugapriya’s time of 25.35s was a new personal best. More importantly, it qualified her for the 2015 International Association of Athletics Federations World Youth Championships in Cali, Colombia, from 15 to 19 July.

Student-athletes Celeste Goh Jia Rui and Kang Jun Jie also competed in Doha. Celeste qualified for the Girls 400m Hurdles Final and finished 7th in 1:07.46s. Jun Jie finished 10th in the Boys Shot Put with a distance of 15.24m.

Celeste and Kugapriya teamed up with Smriti Mahesh Menon and Amirah Aljunied in the Girls Medley Relay and was 0.79s off a podium finish. The team

finished 4th in 2:19.83s, behind Bahrain (2:19.04s). The event was won by China in 2:13.32s.

Jun Jie was part of the Team Singapore medley relay team that finished 6th in 2:02.91s.

Pictures courtesy of Singapore Athletics.

Holiday Training Schedule

Keep Up Fitness, Skills

June School Holiday Training Schedule

Please check the “Activities” page of the respective Sports Academies in the school website for training schedules.

Badminton http://www.sportsschool.edu.sg/SportsBadmintonDetails.aspx?id=1&tabid=3

Bowling http://www.sportsschool.edu.sg/SportsBowlingDetails.aspx?id=1&tabid=3

Fencing http://www.sportsschool.edu.sg/SportsFencingDetails.aspx?id=1&tabid=3

Football http://www.sportsschool.edu.sg/SportsFootballDetails.aspx?id=1&tabid=3

Golf http://www.sportsschool.edu.sg/SportsGolfDetails.aspx?id=1&tabid=3

Netball http://www.sportsschool.edu.sg/SportsNetballDetails.aspx?id=1&tabid=3

Shooting http://www.sportsschool.edu.sg/SportsShootingDetails.aspx?id=1&tabid=3

Swimming http://www.sportsschool.edu.sg/SportsSwimmingDetails.aspx?id=1&tabid=3

Table Tennis http://www.sportsschool.edu.sg/SportsTableTennisDetails.aspx?id=1&tabid=3

Track and Field http://www.sportsschool.edu.sg/SportsTrackAndFieldDetails.aspx?id=1&tabid=3

Awards and Scholarships

Top Performers Receive High-Level Support

Singapore Olympic Foundation-Peter Lim Scholarship 2015

Jansen Yeo

Senior Executive, Strategic Communications

Twice a week, student-athletes Debbie Soh Li Fei and Gwyneth Goh Xiao Hui take a taxi back to Singapore Sports School after their morning training sessions with the national synchronised swimming team at Toa Payoh Swimming Complex. Despite facing peak hour traffic and fare surcharges, it was necessary if they were

to make it back to School in time for their second period class. Because of this, they accumulate a substantial amount in transport cost. Fortunately, they can tap onto the Singapore Olympic Foundation-Peter Lim Scholarship to offset these costs.

The SOF-Peter Lim Scholarship provides monetary support to youth athletes to continue their quest for sport excellence. This year, 33 Singapore Sports School student-athletes received the Secondary School award, one, the Junior College/Integrated Programme/Tertiary award, and six, including Debbie and Gwyneth, the High Performance U18 award. The award presentation took place at Institute of Technical Education College Central on 4 May 2015.

Badminton player Bernard Ong Soon Yang, fencer Amita Berthier, shooter Martina Lindsay P Veloso and table tennis player Ethan Poh Shao Feng received the High Performance U18 award which comes with $5,000 in scholarship money. Recipients of this award must achieve good results in regional and international competitions. Bernard competed at the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games; Amita was ranked no. 14 in the European Cadet Circuit in 2014; and Martina was a gold medallist at the 2014 ISSF Women’s 10m Air Rifle World Cup. Debbie and Gwyneth were gold medallists at the 2014 Southeast Asian Swimming Championships (Synchronised Swimming) while, Ethan won a Men’s Team silver and Men’s Doubles bronze medal at the 2014 Southeast Asian Table Tennis Championships.

Team Singapore athletes like Debbie, Gwyneth and Martina will use this scholarship money as they prepare for the Singapore 2015 Southeast Asian Games.

“I am competing at the International Shooting Federation Sport Federation World Cup meet in Fort Benning, USA, as part of my preparations for the Sea Games. While my trips are largely funded, the scholarship money can help cover my daily expenses overseas, which can add up to a substantial amount. I can also use the money to maintain my rifle and equipment such as gloves and shooting glasses to ensure that everything is in tiptop condition for the Games,” said Martina, who also received the High Performance U18 scholarship in 2014.

As for Debbie and Gwyneth, besides transportation, their scholarship money will cover their expenses incurred at overseas competitions. They recently competed at the 5th Makeup Forever French Open and 91st Japan Synchronised Swimming Championships Open.

Learning Journey

A Journey Through Singapore’s History And Heritage

Loh See Ping

Assistant Head, Cluster (Academics)

Subject Head, National Education

We conduct Learning Journeys to instill in our student-athletes a sense of pride in Singapore’s achievements, to help them understand Singapore’s constraints, challenges and opportunities, to build their confidence in the future of our country and to nurture a sense of belonging to Singapore. Every year, we devote one day in our school calendar for this purpose.

These out-of-school trips, which teachers and student-athletes embark on together, also seek to extend and enrich the educational experience of our student-athletes. Besides helping to make real what has been learnt in the classrooms, Learning Journeys also broaden their mental horizons and contribute to their holistic development. As such, to make our Learning Journeys more meaningful and relevant for them, we deliberately infuse parts of the formal curriculum into the trips.

Student-athletes visited 10 places this year:

Level Learning Journey Site Subject Integration

Secondary 1

Chinatown Heritage Trail – Conducted in Mandarin

Kampong Glam Heritage Trail – Conducted in Malay

Serangoon Road Heritage Trail – Conducted in Tamil Mother Tongue

Secondary 2

War and Peace Resilience Trail to Sarimbun Beach Landing Site, Bahtera Track Walk, Sungei Buloh, Kranji War Cemetery

History

Secondary 3

The Government of Singapore Investment Corporation

and Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau

English

Secondary 3 and 4 Pre-IBDP

Da Vinci Exhibition at the ArtScience Museum Mathematics

Secondary 4 and 5

(GCE ‘O’ and ‘N’ Level)

Marina Bay Area Geography Investigation Geography

Secondary 4

(Through-Train) Veterinary Public Health Centre Science

IBDP Year 1 Singapore State Courts

Theory of Knowledge

IBDP Year 2 Internal Security Department Heritage Centre

Theory of Knowledge

While some student-athletes were already keenly aware of national issues and how its citizens play a part towards nationalistic and international efforts, the varied learning opportunities provided by these trips were an eye-opener to many others.

Through the Learning Journeys, we hope that our student-athletes will better understand and appreciate that hard work, the desire to excel and the readiness to take calculated risks have allowed us, a small city state, to overcome many constraints and challenges which have brought us so far.

Secondary 1

Chinatown Heritage Trail Student-athletes learnt Tea Appreciation and tried their hand at preparing and serving tea the traditional way at Tea Chapter. Most student-athletes did not realise tea drinking is an art. Student-athletes also went on a trail around Chinatown. Through tasks and puzzles, they deepened their knowledge on Chinese heritage and culture. – Lai Fui Ling, Head of Department, Mother Tongue

Kampong Glam Heritage Trail We started our Learning Journey at the Malay Heritage Centre, which is also known as Istana Kampong Glam, as it used to be the residence of the Sultanate of Singapore more than 100 years ago. It carries information on the contributions of notable Malays in Singapore, such as Singapore’s first President Yusof Ishak and actor/director Tan Sri P Ramlee, and displays ancient Malay antiques which belonged to royalty and common folk alike. – Nurul Insyirah (Secondary 1C/Track and Field Academy)

Serangoon Road Heritage Trail The student-athletes were introduced to many aspects of Indian culture during the Heritage Trail. They tried their hand at the traditional art of Henna and learnt the different types of Thaali (marriage symbols) and the significance of gold in Indian culture. They were also shown the different types of silk sarees and briefed about the importance of silk in Indian weddings. The student-athletes also found out more about the medicinal value of different types of Indian herbs and finished off their trail at a spice shop where they had a firsthand peek at the various spices used in Indian cooking. – R Nani Menon, Teacher, Mother Tongue

Secondary 2

Resilience Trail to Changi Chapel and Museum and Sook Ching Massacre Site

The biggest takeaway from our Learning Journey is that a positive attitude in spite of terrible circumstances can make a difference in our lives. We were regaled with uplifting stories of how the Prisoners of War survived harsh, inhumane conditions during World War II and emerged stronger to lead meaningful lives up to an old age. Some prisoners realised the importance of keeping their spirits up and drew humourous and cheeky pictures to distract themselves from the hardship and to motivate others. We also heard stories of great resilience and resourcefulness, where prisoners used spare parts to make a radio to communicate with people in India and Indonesia. To avoid detection, they hid the radio in brooms and their shoes. – Aryna Mohammad Affendy (Secondary 2B/Netball Academy)

Resilience Trail to Sarimbum Landing Site and Kranji War Cemetery

The desolate beach at Sarimbun held so much significance and through the vivid account by our National Heritage Board certified guide, we could imagine the hardship faced by the British and local forces as they struggled to hold back the invading Japanese troops. We also visited the Kranji War Memorial and saw how the designs of the memorial columns seemingly symbolised the respective service corps of the dead soldiers. The interactive style of the trail helped the student-athletes better understand the contributions and sacrifices made by these soldiers for Singapore. – Lim Hwee Hua, Assistant Head, Cluster (Academics)

Secondary 3

The Government of Singapore Investment Corporation

Through the visit to GIC, the student-athletes had a deeper understanding of how investments and returns sustain the development of Singapore. We also had a firsthand look at the inner workings of the trading floor at GIC. The learning at GIC was interactive, with iPads holding the student-athletes’ attention to difficult economic terms like trust funds, risk management, equities, budget deficit and unit trusts. Student-athletes were divided into teams to play a computer-based game, “Safehouse”. Through a crisis scenario, teams had to determine how they should take risks in order to maximise resources to various changes and conditions. The teams learnt the importance of forward planning and how vital information can be in allowing risky investments that bring high returns. Hence, they applied the principles of prudence of investment through practice and role play. – Ng Lay See, Assistant Head, Cluster (Academics) and Head of Department, English Language

Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau The trip to the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau was an eye-opener for me. CPIB is an independent body which investigates and aims to prevent corruption in the public and private sectors in Singapore. From this Learning Journey, I learnt that corruption can happen in sports too. As a football player, I was shocked to learn about incidents of famous football players and match referees accepting bribes and succumbing to corruption. CPIB plays an important role in stamping out corruption, which is key to enabling economic growth and equality in

Singapore, and everybody has a part to play in preventing corruption. – Kevin Wong (Secondary 3C/Football Academy)

Secondary 3 and 4 (Pre-IBDP)

Da Vinci Exhibition at ArtScience Museum

Most of us have heard of Leonardo Da Vinci but after attending this exhibition, we can confidently say that we know much more about him. Born in Vinci, Italy, Da Vinci was immensely talented in painting, sculpting, engineering and much more. We learnt interesting things about him – he is left-handed and his notes were written backwards, from right to left. Da Vinci was also one of the pioneers who dreamt about human flight which led to innovations such as the Ornithopter. The famous Mona Lisa painting took him 10 years to complete due to his perfectionist attributes. We also got the chance to learn about painting techniques like Sfumato and Chiaroscuro that Da Vinci used for his art work. I was inspired by his perseverance and creativity and I hope those who visited the exhibition would find a greater passion for thinking, learning and dreaming. – Tatiana Wong Yu Rong (Secondary 4A/Fencing Academy)

Secondary 4 and 5 (GCE ‘O’ and ‘N’ Level)

Marina Bay Area Geography Investigation

Marina Bay is a popular tourist destination and we were curious to find out what exactly attracts them. Prior to this fieldtrip, we spent weeks preparing our hypothesis and crafting interview questions. Our hypothesis was that the area’s infrastructure, such as the iconic Merlion, and scenery, were the main reasons tourists visited Marina Bay. During the Learning Journey, we conducted a survey with tourists and the results proved our hypothesis was correct. We actually used a tally-counter to count the number of tourists and in just three hours, we counted about 800 tourists in the area. This is an indication that Singapore’s investment in building up this area to attract tourists is successful. – Goh Xue Qi (Secondary 4B/Bowling Academy)

Secondary 4 (Through-Train)

Veterinary Public Health Centre

A group of Secondary 4 student-athletes donned lab coats and toured four laboratories at the Veterinary Public Health Centre. At the Microbiology, Food Quality and Authentication, Pesticide Residue and Food Nutrition and Chemistry Laboratories, we were introduced to how food safety and quality is ensured in all food produce imported into Singapore. We often take safety and well-being for granted but through this trip, the student-athletes are better informed on the huge amount of work undertaken by passionate officers to ensure a healthy Singapore. – Wong Wei Dee, Acting Subject Head, Biology

International Baccalaureate Year 1

Singapore State Courts

I learnt that the difference between the State Courts and the Supreme Court is the types of cases handled. The State Courts handle cases which deal sentences of less than 10 years, while the Supreme Court handles those that are more than 10 years, including death sentences. I also learnt that we are allowed to enter a majority of the court rooms and observe trials and that the State Courts handles approximately 300,000 cases per year. This really gives added meaning to the tagline. ‘Low Crime Doesn’t Mean No Crime’. It was a really interesting experience, totally opposite of what I had expected. The trials were conducted in an orderly and calm manner, unlike the dramatic scenes we see in television shows. The fact that we can sit in during trials is evident of the transparency of

Singapore’s legal system, and that strengthened my faith in Singapore’s law and security. – Gary Wee Wei Zong (IBDP 1/Track and Field Academy)

International Baccalaureate Year 2

Internal Security Department Heritage Centre

Our visit to the Internal Singapore Department Heritage Centre gave us a glimpse into the social and national security threats that occurred over the course of Singapore’s history. The tours were very informative and it gave me a historical perspective towards the importance of ISD as an intelligence agency protecting the sovereignty of our country and its people. It also allowed me to appreciate the relevance of its existence in preserving Singapore’s security – something that younger generations of Singaporeans like me may not instinctively register to have much significance on our personal lives, for we have not borne the burden of the devastation and destruction of past security threats. This realisation was, for me, a heavily weighted one. Not only did it help me appreciate better the safety of a life that I enjoy at this present moment, it has also brought about a more tangible understanding towards certain enacted policies concerning Singapore’s security that I’ve found to be inextricably linked to the peace and stability that strengthens the fabric of our nation. – Audrey Lim Jia Min (IBDP 2/Shooting Academy)

Visits

Family Familiarisation

MCCY Senior Staff Induction Programme

Some 20 senior staff from the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth visited Singapore Sports School on 21 April 2015 to get to know the family better.

The induction programme included colleagues from various departments such as Audit and Compliance, Corporate Administration, Governance and Best Practices, Planning and Programme, Resilience, Syariah Court, etc. They were hosted by Mr Chua Choon Seng, Director of Corporate Services, who shared with them the success as well as some ground issues and challenges the Sports School faces.

Sponsorship

Biscuit In The Bag

Khong Guan Biscuit Joins Sports School Stable Of Sponsors

Dr Low Chee Yong

Head, Sport Science Services

Shirley Tan-Oehler

Senior Manager, Strategic Communications

From left: Principal Tan Teck Hock, Dr Tan Cheng Bock, Mr Chew Kah Chuan (Managing Director, Khong Guan) and Mr Casey Chew (Deputy General Manager, Khong Guan). Picture by Mike Lam.

Student-athletes have been stashing away Khong Guan On-The-Go biscuits in their school bags since 11 May 2015 to bite on when they feel hungry between main meals. This special snack has joined the selection of apples, bananas and bread buns which are readily available in the Dining Hall for consumption pre- or post-training.

Pro-active recovery is important for athletes as it means providing the body with all the nutrients it needs in a speedy and practical manner so as to optimise the desired processes following each training session or competition. This can be achieved via meals that are time-tabled so that they can be eaten straight after a

work-out session or special recovery snacks which will last them until the next meal.

However, recovery remains a challenge for Singapore Sports School student-athletes who undergo at least two training sessions a day, training for prolonged periods or competing in a programme that involves multiple events. This is because recovery encompasses a complex range of processes that include refueling the muscle and liver with food that is rich in carbohydrates and food types that are palatable to the athletes.

Most of the food groups recommended by experts that are wholesome and adequate are often food types such as cereal bars, cake style muffins, fruit buns, scones and pancakes which are more associated with the western culture. Asian recovery snacks are less preferred due to the lack of understanding of what is available and suitable.

A quick comparison of Khong Guan’s all-time favourite cream biscuit has allowed us to realise that a local popular snack can also provide similar nutrients, for example, carbohydrates, that are essential for recovery. Khong Guan’s selected biscuits can be an excellent alternative to cereal bars if taken in the appropriate quantities.

The Sports School sees tremendous value in using Khong Guan biscuit as an alternative to refueling our student-athletes as Khong Guan biscuits provide both variety and the nutritional needs required to be a good recovery snack.

The Sports School welcomes Khong Guan Biscuit Factory (S) Private Limited as our new valued partner.

The Sports School also welcomes Nike Singapore Private Limited, the Sports School Football Academy’s new sponsor for the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 seasons. Three other sponsors have renewed their partnerships for the same period – Pacific Sports Private Limited for Molten products for the Netball Academy, Sportz and Fitness Team Private Limited for TYR products for the Swimming Academy and Sunrise and Company Private Limited for Yonex products for the Badminton Academy. Singapore Airlines is also continuing its partnership with the Sports School for the 11th year, as are Nestle Singapore Private Limited (MILO) and Sportz and Fitness Team.

The Sports School also has valued partnerships with Mizuno Corporation-RSH Singapore Private Limited (Mizuno for Golf Academy) and Key Power International Limited (2XU and Brooks for Track and Field Academy), Atos Information Technology (Singapore) Private Limited (Atos Sports Excellence Scholarships), F&N Interflavine Private Limited (100PLUS), Singapore Totalisator Board and Singapore

Pools (Singapore Pools Sports Excellence Scholarships), Spectrum Imaging Private Limited (LED Scoreboard and Display Panel), Sunrise and Company Private Limited (Yonex apparel for whole school) and Temasek Holdings (EW Barker Endowment).

Media

Stirred, Not Shaken

50est: Stirring Stories For The Singapore Soul

Photographs from “50est: Stirring Stories For The Singapore Soul” by Danny Toh

They each have a compelling story to share. One that inspires. One that stirs the soul. Eight Singapore Sports School student-athletes and alumni told their stories in “50est: Stirring Stories For The Singapore Soul”, a hard-case book published by Singapore National Olympic Council and launched by SNOC President Tan Chuan-Jin on 17 April 2015.

The first story is about a team. The Men’s 4x100m Relay Team of which track and field alumnus Calvin Kang Li Loong is a member. This team has won three silver medals in as many editions of the Southeast Asian Games in 2009, 2011 and 2013. Each time, it missed the gold medal by a dip or in a photo finish. But for Gary Yeo, Muhammad Elfi Mustapa, Calvin, Lee Cheng Wei and Muhammad Amirudin Jamal, the five men who have each competed in the event at least twice, theirs is a story of resilience and determination. Individually, their times would not match up against their regional rivals. But excellent team work and the sheer desire to break the national record and win the gold medal at the Sea Games have seen them rise to the challenge as an inspiring relay team on all three occasions. Their explosive feats have fired the imagination of young boys – and girls. Of course, it will be great if their silver can turn to gold at the 2015 Sea Games on home soil.

The other seven elite athletes from the Sports School chosen by SNOC to share their inspiring stories are 2010 Youth Olympic Games triathlete and 2013 President’s Scholar Scott Ang Yiqiang, 2009 Asian Wakeboard Champion Sasha Siew Hoon Christian, 2014 Sportsboy of the Year and national bowler Muhammad Jaris Goh Ali Akbar Goh, Singapore’s fastest woman over 100m and 200m Veronica Shanti Pereira, Olympian hurdler Dipna Lim Prasad, Olympian swimmer Tao Li and 2014 World Cup gold medallist and national shooter Martina Lindsay P Veloso.

WHO’S AFRAID OF FAILURE?

Scott Ang Yiqiang, Triathlon, graduated in 2009. The recipient of the President’s Scholarship in 2013 is currently reading Law at University of Cambridge. 50est: He may come across as a typical high achiever. Like when he was chosen to represent Singapore at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games. Like when he received the President’s Scholarship in 2013. But Scott Ang has had his fair share of struggles. A late bloomer, the Cambridge University law undergraduate didn’t shine in IQ tests and always seemed to read slower than his peers. Even in sports, his forte, he felt, in his own words, “destined for mediocrity”. What has kept him going is his unbreakable spirit, humility, desire to improve and, most of all, willingness to face failure.

SEIZE THE DAY

Sasha Siew Hoon Christian, Wakeboarding, graduated in 2010. Sasha, who won a clutch of medals at the Jakarta 2011 Sea Games, has been training full time for the Singapore 2015 Sea Games since graduating in May 2014 from the customised Diploma in Sports and Leisure Management which Singapore Sports School is collaborating with Republic Polytechnic. 50est: She has been all over the world to compete and made a name for herself in the niched world of wakeboarding. Yet Sasha Christian always craves for some “mainstream” respect for her sport. She seized the opportunity to earn that at the 2011 SEA Games in Palembang, where wakeboarding was making its maiden appearance. With a sophisticated routine which set her apart from her rivals, she clinched gold — and made a bold statement for her underrated sport.

CREATING A PATH

Muhammad Jaris Goh Ali Akbar Goh, Bowling, graduated in 2011. His is a story of resilience and determination. The Singapore Sports School graduate has gone on to become the ITE Valedictorian and has now returned to the Sports School to pursue the Diploma in Sports and Leisure Management, a customised programme in collaboration with Republic Polytechnic for elite student-athletes. 50est: In the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles, a path was created — and the bowling career of Muhammad Jaris Goh was born. The EM3 student had specially sought for a place in the Singapore Sports School. Moved by his focus and his father’s dedication to his cause, the school decided to open a Normal Technical class. The rest, one might say, is history as the Sportsboy of the Year has become one of Singapore’s top bowlers.

FOURTH-TITUDE

Veronica Shanti Pereira, Track and Field, graduated in 2012. Shanti is clearly ahead of the pack as she is Singapore’s fastest woman over 100m and 200m. 50est: Coming in fourth is one of the hardest experiences for athletes for whom a podium finish is a clear marker of success. Sprinter Veronica Shanti Pereira knows this only too well, having finished fourth twice — and missing bronzes narrowly — at the 2013 SEA Games. The setback only made the determined athlete stronger and she bounced back in style to win medals at the 2014 Asian Junior Championships.

LATE BLOOMER

Dipna Lim Prasad, Track and Field, graduated in 2007. Dipna started hurdling when she was 16 years old and she represented Singapore in her new event at the London 2012 Olympic Games four years later – at 20 years old. 50est: Those who know about hurdler Dipna Lim Prasad’s slow rise will say her events very much represent her journey. It is one marked by tenacity as she overcomes one barrier after another. While not always the most talented, her drive and work ethic have taken her far — like when she clinched bronze at the 2013 SEA Games in Myanmar.

BIG HEART, BIG STAGE

Tao Li, Swimming, graduated in 2009. She is the top performer among Sports School student-athletes and alumni in the Southeast Asian Games series having won 23 golds, 1 silver and 3 bronzes in five editions since 2005. 50est: Before 2008 in Beijing, no Singapore swimmer – not even the legendary Ang Peng Siong – had made the final of a swimming event at the Olympics. All that changed when the feisty Tao Li entered the final of the women’s 100m fly. Not one to flinch, not even against much taller and stronger opponents, she held her own to finish fifth in the final. In the process, she showed what a big heart can do on a big stage.

HITTING A BULL’S EYE

Martina Lindsay P Veloso, Shooting, Secondary 4 Student-Athlete. She shocked Singapore when she broke the national record with a perfect 400-point score at 13 years old. Then, she shocked the world when she won the ISSF World Cup 10m Air Rifle gold medal, beating an Olympic champion and a World champion – at 14. Little wonder that the international shooting circle has dubbed her, “The Baby Champion”. 50est: In today’s culture of endless distractions, Martina Lindsay Veloso is a classic study of admirable focus. A former taekwondo champion, she found making the switch to shooting a difficult decision. But once she has chosen her target, she never wavers – and taekwondo’s loss is shooting’s gain. Making her mark in style, she has achieved success in the World Cup, no less.

The “50est: Stirring Stories For The Singapore Soul” eBook can be downloaded from http://singaporeolympics.com/50est/.