eNews! Volume 547 (September 2016)

Editor’s Choice

Spotlight

Sports Badminton

Fencing

Shooting

Table Tennis

Multi-Sport Events

Character

Awards

School News

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EDITOR’S CHOICE

Ryan Takes Silver, Then Gold, In A Week 2016 Malaysia International Youth U19

Desmond Tan

General Manager, Badminton Academy

There was no shame when Ryan Ng Zin Rei lost to Pachaarapol Nipornram in the India Junior

International Badminton Championships Men’s U19 Singles final on 4 September 2016; afterall, Ryan

was No. 14 on the Badminton World Federation Youth Ranking and the Thai player was No. 9.

Still, Ryan, a Singapore Sports School post-secondary student-athlete on the Diploma in Sports and

Leisure Management Programme, was disappointed to lose 9-11, 15-14, 9-11, 11-8 and 4-11.

“I failed to capitalise on many chances. In the final game, I was too anxious and eventually lost patience

in my game and made many unforced errors, which cost me the game,” said Ryan.

The 18-year-old quickly bounced back from disappointment to win the Malaysia International Youth U19

tournament on 10 September 2016 after sweeping aside the challenges of World Junior No. 5, Lee Zii Jia

of Malaysia, in the semi-finals before defeating another Malaysian, Sim Fong Hau 9-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-9.

This is Ryan’s maiden international title.

“Instead of taking the defeatist approach, I took my results in India as a motivation to do better. I made

sure that I remained focused throughout my matches and to take each match one point at a time.

“Zii Jia definitely had the advantage being a much higher-ranked player than me, as well as having a lot

of home support as the competition was held in his country. But, being the underdog, I had nothing to

lose and I was even more determined to give it my best shot.”

This was the second time that Ryan has played in an international final.

“I was better prepared mentally as compared to my final in India. I made sure that I cast aside any

thoughts of winning during my match, and fully focused on having a clear mind and playing my best. I

made sure that I didn't rush at the crucial parts of the match. I was also very driven because of the

encouraging messages from my coaches and friends the day before.”

Ryan is currently in Jakarta, Indonesia, competing in the Pembangunan Jaya Raya Junior Grand Prix from

13 to 18 September 2016.

SPOTLIGHT

The New World-Class

2016 Professional Women’s Bowling Association Tour

Alvin Koh General Manager, Bowling Academy

New Hui Fen with her winners cheque. Picture by PWBA

Just as Joseph Isaac Schooling made world news when he defeated three world-class swimmers for the

Men’s 100m Butterfly gold medal at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Singapore Sports School alumnae

New Hui Fen and Bernice Lim Hui Ying have put the Little Red Dot on the world of professional women’s

bowling map in the recently concluded season.

Bernice won the USBC Queens title in Las Vegas in May 2016 to become only the sixth international

player to wear the Queen’s crown. And two weeks ago, Hui Fen won the PWBA Tour’s Rookie of the

Year award as well as the Smithfield Tour Championship, the last of four majors in the season.

To give our readers a clearer perspective of how major these achievements are: Liz Johnson, 42, is an

11-time winner on the Professional Women’s Bowling Association Tour and Shannon O’Keefe, 37, is a

six-time World Champion and 4-time winner on the PWBA Tour. To dethrone either of these women in

any competitions – or even win a title which they had previously won – is significant.

At the Smithfield Tour Championship, Hui Fen, seeded 11th, defeated Shannon O’Keefe 3-1 to enter the

semi-finals, then beat top-seed Liz Johnson in the semi-finals to face off another Team Singapore

bowler, Cherie Tan. Hui Fen, 24, won the final, and along with the coveted title, a cheque for US$20,000

(about $27,000). Hui Fen had only competed in five of the 13 stops on the Tour prior to the Smithfield

Tour Championship, and to be able to secure the Rookie of the Year Award speaks volumes; she had

consistently finished among the top 5 in four of the five events she took part in, which included a fourth-

place finish at the US Women’s Open, a major, and two third-places at the Sonoma Country Open and

Sacramento Open.

Bernice, 24, also bagged US$20,000 for her United States Bowling Congress Queens title. It was her one

and only playing stop on the PWBA Tour – and she made it count. A total of 256 players bowled 15

games over three days to determine the top 63 bowlers to join defending champion Liz Johnson in the

double-elimination match-play bracket final. Bernice entered the final as the second seed, and defeated

top seed Sandra Andersson of Sweden, 248-223.

Last season, another alumna, Jazreel Tan Shi Hua, 26, was the PWBA Lubbock Open Champion – the first

Singaporean to win a PWBA Tour title. She defeated American Stephanie Johnson, 31, the 2015 PWBA

Rookie of the Year, for a US$10,000 prize.

SPORTS

BADMINTON

Shuttlers Win 5 Out Of 5 Events They Compete In

Chinese Swimming Club Li Ning Age-Group Badminton Championships

Desmond Tan


Singapore Sports School emerged victorious in all five categories that its student-athletes competed in

the Chinese Swimming Club Li Ning Age-Group Badminton Championships from 5 to 11 September 2016.

Sports School swept the Boys U17 Singles, Boys U17 Doubles, Girls U17 Singles, Girls U17 Doubles as

well as the Mixed Doubles Open at Chinese Swimming Club.

Jaslyn Hooi Yue Yann was Sports School’s best performer as she finished the tournament with 3 gold

medals. The 15-year-old clinched the Girls U17 Singles crown as well as the Girls U17 Doubles and Mixed

Doubles Open titles, while partnering Si To Jia Rong and Toh Han Zhuo respectively.

It was a good outing for our shuttlers as they finished their campaign with a haul of 5 golds, 4 silvers,

and 5 bronzes.

RESULTS

Boys U17 Singles

1 Jason Teh Jia Heng

2 Darrion Michael Ng Weng Soong

3 Joel Koh Jia Wei (Xu Jiawei)

Boys U17 Doubles

1 Jason Teh Jia Heng and Joel Koh Jia Wei (Xu Jiawei)

2 Aaron Yong Chuan Shen and Howin Wong Jia Hao

3 Abel Tan Wen Xing and Toh Han Zhuo

Girls U17 Singles

1 Jaslyn Hooi Yue Yann

2 Nur Insyirah Khan Abdul Hamid Khan

3 Bernice Lim Zhi Rui/ Si To Jia Rong

Girls U17 Doubles

1 Jaslyn Hooi Yue Yann and Si To Jia Rong

2 Nur Insyirah Khan Abdul Hamid Khan and Bernice Lim Zhi Rui

Mixed Doubles Open

1 Jaslyn Hooi Yue Yann and Toh Han Zhuo

3 Lim Ming Hui and Royston Loh Keng Yin

FENCING

Not Disadvantaged By Young Age

South East Asian Fencing Federation Championships

Loo Zhao Rong Luan

General Manager, Fencing Academy

Student-athletes Tatiana Wong Yu Rong and Amita Marie Nicolette Berthier proved that age was no

barrier to success when the two youngsters won gold medals in the Women’s Foil Team event at the

South East Asian Fencing Federation Championships.

Indeed, 17-year-old Tatiana and 15-year-old Amita felt no nerves at the OCBC Arena Hall 5 as they

teamed up with fellow youngster Ysien Lau to defeat Vietnam 45-27 in the final.

Not only were the three girls competing against older opponents, Vietnam is also considered as one of

the traditional powerhouses in fencing in Southeast Asia.

“I am really happy because everyone fenced her heart out as one team to overcome the odds to win the

gold medal for Singapore, in Singapore,” said Tatiana.

Altogether, past and present Singapore Sports School student-athletes took home 1 gold, 2 silvers and 2

bronzes at the Championships from 3 to 6 September 2016.

RESULTS

Men’s Epee Team

2 Jefferson Cheong Jia Hui

Women’s Epee Team

3 Michelle Lee Chuan Ling, Veralyn Tan Chou Xin

Women’s Foil Individual

3 Nicole Mae Wong Hui Shan

Women’s Foil Team

1 Amita Berthier, Tatiana Wong Yu Rong

Men’s Sabre Team

2 Ahmad Huzaifah Saharudin, Danial Haqim Mohammed Sophian, Fong Zheng Jie

SHOOTING

Xiu Yi Wins 2 Golds In Incheon

East Asia Youth Air Gun Competition

Lim Chea Rong

Senior Coach, Shooting Academy

Ho Xiu Yi may have missed qualifying for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games by a hair's breadth, but the 16-

year-old is not letting disappointment get the better of her.

The Secondary 4 student-athlete reminded everyone of her potential to represent Singapore at Tokyo

2020 when she won two gold medals at the East Asia Youth Air Gun Competition in Incheon, South

Korea, from 23 to 26 August 2016.

“At this pace, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games is definitely a realistic target. I will be four years older and

more experienced,” said Xiu Yi.

Xiu Yi triumphed in the 10m Air Rifle Women's Individual event and teamed up with post-secondary

student-athlete Adele Tan Qian Xiu and Sports School alumna Catherine Shi to win the 10m Air Rifle

Women Team gold.

“While I am extremely happy to win, I am even more pleased to be able to share this victory with my

teammates and celebrate together,” said Xiu Yi.

Adele also won a silver medal in the 10m Air Rifle Women's Individual event to give Sports School a 1-2

finish.

From the Korean folk song, “Arirang”, is this line: “Just as there are many stars in the clear sky, there are

also many dreams in our heart.” Indeed, Sports School has many reasons to sing, “Arirang”, as our past

and present student-athletes glittered with 2 golds, 2 silvers and 1 bronze from the competition in

Incheon, and continue to follow their dreams.

RESULTS

10m Air Pistol Women Team

2 Fion Pan Cai Feng

10m Air Rifle Men Team

3 Mohamad Irwan Abdul Rahman, Muhammad Izzat Junaidie, Ryan Dayne Phang

10m Air Rifle Women Individual

1 Ho Xiu Yi

2 Adele Tan Qian Xiu

10m Air Rifle Women Team

1 Adele Tan Qian Xiu, Catherine Shi, Ho Xiu Yi

TABLE TENNIS

Gerald Beats 3 Higher-Ranked Players For Bronze

Chinese Taipei Junior and Cadet Open

Dave Lai

General Manager, Table Tennis Academy

Every athlete hopes his efforts at training will result in a major achievement in his next competition. For

Gerald Yu Zong Jun, his breakthrough happened at the Chinese Taipei Junior and Cadet Open.

The Secondary 3 student-athlete defeated three higher-ranked table tennis players in the Cadet Boys’

Singles tournament from 24 to 28 August 2016 before he was stopped in his tracks in the semi-finals by

the eventual Cadet Boys Singles winner, Tai Ming-Wei from Chinese Taipei.

Gerald beat Takeru Kashiwa from Japan, 3-0 (12, 6, 3); Park Gyeongtae from Korea, 3-1 (-7, 8, 10, 8) and

Hsu Po-Hsuan from Chinese Taipei, 3-1 (6, -7, 4, 12). Each win gave him more confidence. He was raring

to go in his semi-final match against Ming-Wei, but fell short 0-3 (-6, -6, -4).

“I have now experienced what a breakthrough feels like. It was exhilarating to defeat Hsu Po-Hsuan. And

after beating Takeru Kashiwa¸ I felt unstoppable,” said Gerald. “Not advancing to the final means I need

to work harder at improving my technical skills and reading my opponents’ games.

“I was able to win the bronze because the Sports School Table Tennis Academy gave me opportunities to

improve my game. This is my 16th overseas competition in two-and-a-half years. The exposure to the

different skills and styles of players of different countries has sharpened my skills. I will be working

closely with my coach, Ma Liang, towards my next breakthrough.”

Beh Kun Ting and Koen Pang Yew En also won a bronze medal, in the Cadet Boys Doubles competition.

Our coaches are pleased with how our student-athletes performed in this competition as they had to

play beyond their capabilities in order to step up the prize podium.

RESULTS

Cadet Boys’ Singles

3 Gerald Yu Zong Jun

Cadet Boys’ Doubles

3 Beh Kun Ting and Koen Pang Yew En

MULTI-SPORT EVENTS

Swimmers, Paddlers, Put Up Big Show

2016 Thailand Sports School Games

Singapore Sports School swimmers and table tennis players scored big at the 19th Thailand Sports

School Games in Chonburi from 25 July to 5 August 2016.

The Swimming Academy was crowned Boys’ and Girls’ Overall Champions – thanks to a haul of 20 golds,

7 silvers and 11 bronzes.

Mitchell Ang Li, Owen Teo Bo En, Sarah Chue Wen Xin and Vanessa Ong were our top swimmers as they

turned in 2 gold medals each. Sarah also finished the Games with two Meet Records.

Meanwhile, Andy Wong Yan Kai secured 3 gold medals to become the Table Tennis Academy’s top

performer, although it was his female counterparts who won the Girls’ Overall Champion Trophy after

claiming gold in five events.

In track and field, our student-athletes competed in the U14, U16 and U18 divisions. Altogether, they

won 12 golds, 9 silvers and 7 bronzes.

In football, our team reached the quarter-finals of the U16 tournament, but was prevented from

advancing when it took a 0-3 defeat from Bangkok.

Sports School sent 94 student-athletes to participate in the football, swimming, table tennis and track

and field competitions and they returned with 40 golds, 18 silvers and 21 bronzes.

RESULTS

Swimming (U14)

50m Backstroke (Boys)

1 Mitchell Ang Li


1 Owen Teo Bo En

100m Backstroke (Girls)

1 Candice Ang Ruo Han


1 Owen Teo Bo En

50m Breaststroke (Boys)

2 Jordan Ong Jun Han


3 Morris Yong Jiahao

200m Breaststroke( Boys)

1 Jordan Ong Jun Han

3 Morris Yong Jiahao

200m Breaststroke (Girls)

1 Julia Lium

50m Butterfly (Boys)

3 Andre Kang Wen Ming

50m Butterfly (Girls)

1 Vanessa Ong

100m Butterfly (Girls)

1 Vanessa Ong

200m Individual Medley

1 Mitchell Ang Li

3 Sean Patrick

50m Freestyle (Girls)

2 Goh Chiat Ling (Wu Jie Ling)

100m Freestyle (Boys)

3 Kiran Lim Tao Liang


1 Goh Chiat Ling (Wu Jie Ling)


3 Kiran Lim Tao Liang


3 Raeann Tan


1 Ritchie Oh Rui Zhi

Swimming (U16)


1 Darra Quek Ting Yi


1 Regine Goh Xuan Xuan



2 Nicholas Rachmadi


2 Regine Goh Xuan Xuan



1 Ng Jian Yan


1 Choo Yi Xuan


2 Ng Jian Yan

3 Ryan Lim Tao Yuan


1 Jasmine Tan

2 Choo Yi Xuan


1 Dynes Quek Yi Chen

3 Ryan Lim Tao Yuan


1 Sarah Chue Wen Xin


1 Sarah Chue Wen Xin


1 Renee Wee Yu Ting

Swimming (U18)


3 Aaron Shane Tan Wen

Table Tennis (U14)

Singles (Girls)

1 Lu Hua Yu

2 Jassy Tan Li Lin

3 Koh Jia Qi

Team (Girls)

1 Corissa Cheng Yoke Sum, Jassy Tan Li Lin, Koh Jia Qi, Lu Hua Yu

Table Tennis (U16)

Singles (Boys)

1 Andy Wong Yan Kai

2 Jabez Mason Law Yong Jun

3 Nicholas Chong Xin Le

Singles (Girls)

1 Eunice Lim Zoe

3 Tan Ker Hui

Doubles (Boys)

1 Andy Wong Yan Kai, Jabez Mason Law Yong Jun

Team (Boys)

1 Andy Wong Yan Kai, Jabez Mason Law Yong Jun, Nicholas Chong Xin Le

Team (Girls)

1 Eunice Lim Zoe, Lew Yen Lin, Tan Ker Hui

Table Tennis (U18)

Singles (Girls)

1 Tan Hui Li

Track and Field (U14)

100m (Boys)

3 Mohamed Haziq Mohamed Yazli

100m (Girls)

3 Erza Irdina Abdul Latiff

200m (Boys)

1 Reuben Rainer Lee Siong En

800m (Boys)

1 Brandon Norton

4x100m (Girls)

1 Erza Irdina Abdul Latiff, Nur Ria Isabelle Suhimi, Nurul Insyirah Mohamed Faisal, Zann Oh Shuyu

4x100m (Boys)

1 Chin Yi Yang, Lucas Lim Yi Liang, Mohamed Haziq Mohamed Yazli, Reuben Rainer Lee Siong En

4x400m (Boys)

1 Brandon Norton, Chin Yi Yang, Mohamed Haziq Mohamed Yazli, Reuben Rainer Lee Siong En

100m Hurdles

3 Rachel Cheong (Zhong Xinfang)

High Jump (Boys)

1 Chin Yi Yang

2 Andrew George Medina

High Jump (Girls)

2 Yasmeen Marie Lutfi


100m (Girls)

3 Norasyiqin Mohamed Wahid

4x100m (Girls)

1 Diane Hilary Pragasam, Ismi Zakiah Kashful Anwar, Norasyiqin Mohamed Wahid, Raine Oh Shuqin

4x100m (Boys)

2 Chong Wei Guan, Mohamed Iskandar Shah Mohamed Fazil, Nur Syarin Zahari, Shawn Jong Tze Chean

4x400m (Boys)

2 Chong Wei Guan, Mohamed Iskandar Shah Mohamed Fazil, Mohamed Zulkhairi Putera Mohamed Zali,

Shawn Jong Tze Chean

110m Hurdles

1 Chong Wei Guan

400m Hurdles

1 Shawn Jong Tze Chean

High Jump (Boys)

1 Chong Wei Kit

2 Muhammad Hazim Ismail

High Jump (Girls)

3 Cherlin Sia Jia Yi

Long Jump (Boys)

2 Raeshon Loo Wei Ming

Pole Vault (Girls)

1 Cherlin Sia Jia Yi

Triple Jump

2 Arfan Azhar


100m Hurdles (Girls)

2 Nur Izlyn Zaini

110m Hurdles (Boys)

3 Jay Choo Zhan Xian

High Jump (Boys)

1 Ryan Teo Tze Jun

Long Jump (Boys)

3 Gary Wee Wei Zong

Octathlon

2 Kang Jun Jie

Football (U16)

Quarter-Finalists

CHARACTER

Winners Put Others Before Self Singapore Sports School Roar Award

Erasmus (left) and Putra (right)

Resilience, sportsmanship and service led the way to three student-athletes being presented with the

Singapore Sports School’s Roar Award on 30 August 2016.

Swimmer Erasmus Ang Zhong Qing cut his knee while warming up for the 1,500m Freestyle final at the

8th Asean School Games in Chiangmai, Thailand, in July. The open wound required 13 stitches. But when

the race started with the doctor’s blessings, he put away his attention on the pain and focused only on

his 30-lap swim. He won a bronze medal.

“I wasn’t swimming as Erasmus Ang; I was swimming as a competitor from Singapore. Modern

Singapore has overcome many difficulties and threats to its sovereignty, and is now a respected world-

class nation. I wasn’t going to let a cut in the knee cast any doubts on our country’s resilience. I had to

swim no matter what. I think it was the need not to fail that spurred me on to win the bronze medal,”

said Erasmus of his 17min 31s swim.

Nicholas Rachmadi was recognised for his show of sportsmanship. At the 19th Thailand Sports School

Games in July, Nicholas touched the wall third in the 100m backstroke, but was named the silver

medallist after officials penalised second-place finisher Parvin Rajendran from Malaysia for swimming in

the wrong lane. Nicholas felt that Parvin had beaten him squarely, and he gave him his silver medal.

For footballer Putra Anugerah Sahrin, it was literally a case of “he ain’t heavy, he’s my brother” when he

piggy-backed fellow footballer Marc Ryan Tan Wei Ming, who was hobbling on crutches, to Palm Valley

at Singapore Botanic Gardens for the School’s National Day Observance Ceremony.

The Sports School’s Roar Awards recognise student-athletes for their outstanding display of respect,

integrity, responsibility, excellence, resilience and sportsmanship. Bowler James Stuart Lowe Heng Leong,

gymnasts Michele Petrova Lau Xin Ling and Phebe Meredith Lau Zhi Ling were Term 3’s other nominees.

AWARDS

Farhan Is BH’s Choice As Young Achiever Berita Harian Awards

Sheik Farhan Sheik Alau’ddin

Singapore Sports School alumnus Sheik Farhan Sheik Alau’ddin was presented with the Berita Harian’s

Young Achiever Award on 30 August 2016.

The 18-year-old pencak silat exponent was conferred the award following a stellar 2015 and 2016, when

he won gold medals at a range of tournaments including the 2015 World Pencak Silat Championship and

the 2015 Southeast Asian Pencak Silat Championships.

Farhan’s next goals are victories at the Asian Beach Games and upcoming World Pencak Silat

Championship.

The BH award, also known as the Anugerah Jauhari Harapan, is given to inspiring young Malay/ Muslim

Singaporeans aged 30 and younger.

Achievements

2015 World Pencak Silat Championships Men’s Match Class J (90-95 kg) Gold Medallist

2015 Southeast Asian Pencak Silat Championships Men’s Match Class J (90-95 kg) Gold Medallist

2015 Southeast Asian Games Men’s Match Class H (80-85 kg) Bronze Medallist

2015 Three Nations Championship Men’s Match Class I (85-90kg) Silver Medallist

2016 National Pencak Silat Championship Men’s Match Class J (90-95kg) Gold Medallist

SCHOOL NEWS

Captains Have ‘Heart Of Service’

2016 Council Of School Captains Investiture

She may be the newly elected Chairperson of the Council of School Captains, but Tatiana Wong Yu Rong

is keenly aware her new position does not make her greater than her peers.

“Being a Captain does not make one more superior. We are here to work together with everyone to

strive for continued improvement and create the Sports School we love and enjoy,” the Fencing

Academy student-athlete said in a speech at the 2016 Singapore Sports School Council of School

Captains Investiture.

To Tatiana, being a Captain simply means having a heart for service and a desire to spread the Sports

School spirit.

Indeed, such messages of humility and servant-leadership were the tone of the day, as evidenced by the

speech given by Principal, Mr Tan Teck Hock.

“Being a leader is not just about the position you hold but an attitude you carry, an attitude of service to

better each individual’s life in the Sports School,” said Mr Tan.

While such values will always remain timeless, one difference between the Captains of 2016 and 2015 is

the way they will be identified.

Instead of the armbands worn by their seniors, the newly invested Captains will wear embroidered

patches bearing Sports School’s mascot, Roar, on their chest.

Members of the Executive Committee will wear gold patches, while School Captains will wear silver

patches. Meanwhile, the red patches will be sported by the Sports Academy Captains, and Boarding

Captains will wear an orange patch.

All in all, 122 Captains were invested at the ceremony on 15 August 2016.

Sports School Fencers Get Overseas Sparring Partners

Singapore Sports School-Lam Tai Fai College MOU

Gail Chia

Executive, Strategic Communications

Singapore Sports School signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Lam Tai Fai College on 24 August

2016 to offer exchange programmes for its fencers.

Lam Tai Fai College, located in Hongkong, attracts talented youths with a passion for sports, fashion

design and innovative technology, while pursuing academic excellence at the secondary and post-

secondary levels. Lam Tai Fai College offers eight focus sports, one of which is fencing.

The exchange programme aims to provide Sports School’s Fencing Academy student-athletes an

additional platform and opportunity for training and friendly competition. This adds competitive

exposure to our young athletes, waiting to make their mark at the national level.

“I’m looking forward to partnering Lam Tai Fai College for the mutual development of both our fencing

programmes. A number of their students are part of Hong Kong’s national youth team. This provides

Singapore Sports School student-athletes with more opportunities to spar with youth athletes of known

standard, while gaining exposure to the different fencing styles of international athletes,” said Sports

School Principal Tan Teck Hock.

Sports School is committed to nurturing its student-athletes into sport champions. Each sports academy

has in place special programmes or tie-ups to provide its student-athletes with overseas exposure to

help them in their pursuit of sport excellence.

Sports School footballers have the privilege to train and compete with Omiya Ardija, one of the top

youth football clubs in Japan; selected student-athletes from various academies are able to pit

themselves against their peers in Ulsan Sports Science Secondary School in South Korea, and other

academies offer overseas training camps where student-athletes are able to learn best practices from

top international athletes.

What’s Next After Rio 2016

Lessons From The Champions

Colin Ng

Executive, Strategic Communications

Additional reporting by Desmond Tan


What do you aim for when you have achieved your target of representing Singapore at the Olympic

Games? For badminton alumna Liang Xiao Yu, it’s to qualify for the next Olympic Games as a seeded

player.

The Olympic debutant was invited by Singapore Sports School to share with student-athletes and staff

her takeaways from Rio 2016 and her determination to outclass herself was evident as one of her

“Lessons From The Champions”.

“Every training session is important. You have to take training seriously. I have already started on

working towards becoming a seeded player at Tokyo 2020. There is no time to lose,” said the 20-year-

old shuttler, barely a week after she returned from Brazil.

A high-ranked player entering the Olympic Games will enjoy the advantage of not being drawn together

with another high-ranked player in the early Round Robin stage. Playing a lower-ranked player will also

provide more opportunities to get used to the playing conditions, for example, the draft, lighting and

crowd. Following victory in the Round Robin stage, the player will then proceed to the Knock Out round

to vie for the gold medal.

Determination is Xiao Yu’s forte. During her secondary school days, she would be the one who trained

the hardest. Xiao Yu running around the Sports School was a common sight as she recognised the need

for more stamina. Even on a day-off, Xiao Yu returned to the Sports School to use its Strength and

Conditioning Centre.

“I need more power, and it has to come from a stronger upper body,” she explained.

Badminton Senior Coach Kevin Lim said he saw fire in Xiao Yu’s eyes when she was on court in Rio.

“Xiao Yu chased every shuttle. She had to move quickly and stretch far to reach some of the shots. Even

when she was trailing, every point mattered to her. She did not give up. I could see there was a great

desire in her to do her best, make Singapore proud. There was strength in her determination,” said

Coach Kevin.

Xiao Yu, who has an Olympic ranking of 21, humbly said her journey to the Olympic Games was possible

only because she had the support of many people who encouraged her every step of the way – her

parents who recognised her ability to play badminton and her desire to be at the top of her game,

Sports School Badminton Academy General Manager Desmond Tan, Sports School coaches and teachers,

the athlete-friendly School-Within-A-School programme that wrapped studies around her sport which

gave her the opportunity to train with the Singapore national team during the day, Singapore

Badminton Association, Sport Singapore and Singapore National Olympic Council.

“Sports School played a major part in my development. I want to thank everyone who played a key role

in helping me fulfill my Olympic dream,” said Xiao Yu.

Sharing the stage with Xiao Yu was International Baccalaureate Year 5 student-athlete Debbie Soh Li Fei,

who had been in Rio for the synchronised swimming Olympic Games qualifiers in March 2016. She

shared what it means to have the Champion’s Mindset.

The Passing Of An ‘Indispensable Man For All Seasons’

Mr SR Nathan, 1924 to 2016

On the night of 22 August 2016, Singapore was informed of the passing of Mr Sellapan Ramanathan

Nathan, Singapore’s sixth President who had served from 1999 to 2011. He was 92.

Mr Nathan had experienced extremely trying circumstances in his childhood and youth, but through

resilience, hard work and ability, overcame the many daunting challenges and rose in his career in the

Singapore Civil Service, where he spent 50 years. Broadly, he had worked in the Foreign Affairs, Home

Affairs and Defence Ministries. In every position that he held, Mr Nathan distinguished himself.

An “indispensable man for all seasons” was how the late founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew

described Mr Nathan. Mr Lee said: "Every time there was a tricky task which required a steady hand,

someone dependable and who could get things done, his name would pop up.”

Among the numerous responsibilities that Mr Nathan carried out, two incidents that made world news

come to mind:

Mr Nathan was with the Ministry of Defence when two Japanese Red Army terrorists and two terrorists

from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine tried to blow up the Shell refinery on Pulau Bukom.

When they failed, they hijacked “Laju”, a ferry that plied between Pulau Bukom and mainland Singapore.

The hijackers demanded a car to the airport and a plane to fly them out to Kuwait. Mr Nathan was asked

to accompany terrorists to ensure their safe passage, in exchange for the return of Singaporeans who

had been taken hostage. The whole episode ended without bloodshed.

Mr Nathan was Singapore’s Ambassador in Washington when an American youth was caught in

Singapore for vandalism, sentenced to jail, fined and caned. The Americans viewed caning as flogging

and protested that the punishment that Singapore meted out on the 18-year-old was “inhumane”. Mr

Nathan, in front of a worldwide audience on the TV talk show, “Larry King Live”, made it clear that

Singapore has its own laws and judicial system, and everyone who lives in Singapore should respect

them.

When Mr Nathan became president, he started the President’s Challenge. He wanted individuals,

corporations and voluntary and religious organisations to work with the government in creating a

society in which every Singaporean matters, to give the less well-off a sense of hope, and feel that

someone does care for them. In one of the activities, the “President’s Star Challenge”, he recited a poem,

“Desiderata”, about happiness. An overwhelming number of callers pledged donations during his

recitation.

Mr Nathan is also a friend of Singapore Sports School. He asked to visit the Sports School during its first

year of operations because he wanted to understand how it was going to nurture sport champions for

Singapore. On 19 October 2004, President and Mrs Urmila Nathan visited the Sports School, where he

spent much time talking to student-athletes and staff on the challenges they faced.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said of Mr Nathan: "To me, Mr Nathan’s most important role was as a

tree planter. Wherever he went, he nurtured young seedlings into mature trees. He built up young

sometimes nascent organisations into mature institutions – in the NTUC, in SID (Security and Intelligence

Division), in MFA, in the elected presidency. He mentored young promising officers and helped them to

fulfill their potential and I count myself a beneficiary. He helped Singapore to build and to grow into a

modern, prosperous and stable nation."

PM Lee described Mr Nathan as “one of Singapore’s greatest sons.” Mr Nathan’s passing is a great loss

to the nation.

Documents

eNews! Volume 547 (September 2016)