Singapore Sports Scene

WEEKLY ROUND-UP: Sports happenings in Singapore (27 Nov-3 Dec)
Games medallists earn monetary rewards, Izaac Quek wins silvers at World Youth Championships, Stags and Sailors draw in Singapore Cup

Chia Han Keong
·Editor
Updated Mon, 4 December 2023 at 8:25 am SGT·8-min read

Singapore sprint champion Shanti Pereira with her SEA Games and Asian Games medals. (PHOTO: SNOC/Kong Chong Yew) (KONG CHONG YEW)

SINGAPORE — Here is a round-up of sports events and developments in Singapore in the past week (27 November to 3 December):

Shanti Pereira earns $315,000 at MAP Awards
Asian Games sprint champion Shanti Pereira was the big winner at the Major Games Award Programme (MAP) awards presentation and appreciation dinner at Timbre+ One North on Wednesday (29 November). She earned a total of $315,000 for her gold (women's 200m) and silver (100m) medals at the Hangzhou Asian Games as well as her two golds at the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia.

In total, the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) and Tote Board rewarded 121 athletes with $2,295,000 for their medal exploits at the SEA Games and Asian Games this year. Athletes are required to donate between 20 and 50 per cent of the prize money back to their national sports associations for future training and development.

Singapore sent a 554-strong contingent to Cambodia for the SEA Games in May, and came home with a haul of 51 golds, 43 silvers, 64 bronzes. In September, another 427 athletes were selected to compete in the Hangzhou Asian Games, and managed to win three golds, six silvers and seven bronzes.


Singapore paddler Izaac Quek (front) with his men's doubles partner Sora Matsushima of Japan at the ITTF World Youth Championships 2023. (PHOTO: STTA)
Izaac Quek wins two silvers at World Youth Championships
Singapore national paddler Izaac Quek clinched two silver medals at the the ITTF World Youth Championships in Nova Gorica, Slovenia, over the past week.

The 17-year-old first teamed up with Germany's Annett Kaufmann to finish second in the Under-19 mixed doubles competition on Friday (1 December). The duo faced China's Lin Shidong and Kuai Man in the final, and while they took the first set 12-10, the Chinese pair stormed back to win next three sets 11-4, 11-4, 11-8 to clinch the title.

Izaac then teamed up with Japan's Sora Matsushima to defeat South Korea's Oh Jun-song and Gil Min-seok 3-2 in the U-19 boys' doubles semi-finals. They faced China's Lin and Wen Ruibo in the final on Saturday, and battled through five sets before losing 12-10, 5-11, 11-8, 10-12, 9-11.

Meanwhile, Singapore have been drawn together with South Korea, Chinese Taipei, India and Canada in the first stage of the inaugural ITTF Mixed Team World Cup, to be played from 4 to 10 December in Chengdu.

 

Singapore begin Women's World Floorball C'ship with 5-2 victory
Singapore kicked off the Women’s World Floorball Championship (WFC) with a come-from-behind 5-2 victory over debutantes France at the OCBC Arena on Saturday (2 December). The home side had to dig deep to close out the win with goals from Shannon Yeo, Daphne Tan, Yee Yun Shawn, Nasha Jeffi and captain Michelle Lok.

"Coming in, we didn’t know what to expect from France. When they took the lead against us, it was honestly quite scary," Yeo said after the win. "But it was a team effort – all the goals were scored by different people so it was a team win and I’m very happy."

The first match of the day saw defending WFC champions Sweden in imperious form with a 20-3 win over Slovakia, while rivals Germany also recorded a decisive 10-0 win over Australia. Switzerland’s Corin Ruttiman also became her country’s most-capped floorball player after featuring in her 136th international match – an 8-2 victory over Norway.

The Women's WFC will be held at the OCBC Arena and the Singapore Indoor Stadium until Sunday (10 December). Tickets are available at Sistic, and prices start from $15 for youth aged six to 17, and $20 for those above 18.

Lionesses selected for two friendlies with Bangladesh
The Singapore women's national team head coach Karim announced on Monday (27 November) the selection of 21 players who will represent Singapore in two friendly matches against Bangladesh in Dhaka. They played their first match on Friday - losing 0-3 - with the return match on 4 December.

The squad comprises a mix of regular national players and first-time call-ups. Among the familiar faces are Lioness captain Rosnani Azman, forward Raudhah Kamis, Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) Young Player of the Year nominees Syazwani Ruzi and Dhaniyah Qasimah, along with goalkeeper Beatrice Tan.

Five players are in line to earn their first senior cap, having showcased their talents in the Under-19 and Under-16 age groups, and delivering stellar performances in the WPL and Women’s National League (WNL). This group includes Josephine Ang, Cara Chang, Raeka Ee, Izairida Shakira and Qarissa Putri.

A notable return to the squad is Borussia Dortmund forward Danelle Tan, who has made a flying start since her debut in the German team in August this year, registering 11 appearances and scoring nine goals.

Women's national team - Goalkeepers: Izairida Shakira, Beatrice Tan, Erlinawaty Jaffar. Defenders: Dini Dannisha, Syazwani Ruzi, Mira Ruzana Seherzan, Rosnani Azman, Qarissa Putri Ramadhani Zahary, Khairunnisa Anwar, Nurerwadah Erwan. Midfielders: Dhaniyah Qasimah, Dorcas Chu, Cara Chang, Mastura Jeilani, Sitianiwati Rosielin, Sarah Zu’risqha. Forwards: Farah Nurzahirah, Raudhah Kamis, Raeka Ee, Danelle Tan, Josephine Ang.

Stags, Sailors in thrilling 3-3 draw in Singapore Cup s-finals
Tampines Rovers and Lion City Sailors battled to a thrilling 3-3 draw in their Singapore Cup semi-final first-leg tie at Our Tampines Hub on Sunday (3 December).

Joel Chew gave the home side the lead in the 3rd minute, but the Sailors quickly equalised through M. Anumanthan three minutes later. The visitors' Australian defender Bailey Wright scored next in the 13th minute, but Faris Ramli brought the Stags level again in the 42nd minute.

Shawal Anuar put the Sailors in front again in the 49th minute, but Tampines' striker Boris Kopitovic pounced in the 81st minute to flick home from close range. The two sides will play their second leg on Wednesday (6 December).

At the Jalan Besar Stadium on Sunday, defending Singapore Cup champions Hougang United hold the advantage after a 1-0 victory over Brunei's DPMM FC in their semi-final first-leg clash. Serbian forward Dorde Maksimovic got the crucial goal in the 58th minute to give the Cheetahs the slight edge heading into Wednesday's second leg.

3 coaches awarded Singapore Coach Medallions
The Singapore Coach Medallion was awarded to three local coaches – Pang Qing Liang (archery), Isa Halim (football) and Winson Cheong (volleyball) – at the 14th International Council for Coaching Excellence Global Coach Conference (ICCE GCC) at Marina Bay Sands on Thursday (30 November). Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, presented the medallions to the awardees.

Launched in 2019, the Singapore Coach Medallion is presented to outstanding and inspiring coaches in Singapore who have made a significant impact to the athletes, coaching community, the sport and its stakeholders. Shortlisted nominees underwent interviews, and the finalists were observed during their coaching sessions.

Singapore is the first city in Southeast Asia and the third in Asia, after Beijing and Tokyo, to host the ICCE GCC, the world’s most prestigious coach conference that brings together coaches, coach educators, researchers, sport scientists, technical directors and sport administrators from around the world to address current and emerging issues in coaching.

The theme of this year's conference is "Coaching for a Better Tomorrow", which focuses on effective coaching practices, coach learning and development, coaching policy and systems and inclusivity, with a view to prepare coaches better for a future that is complex and technologically advanced.

Chinese Swimming Club renews lease at Amber Road
Chinese Swimming Club (CSC), one of Singapore’s oldest and most prominent social and sports clubs, has successfully renewed the lease for its sports complex at 21 Amber Road after four years of negotiation with the authorities.

The new 30-year lease will allow the club to continue nurturing national sports champions who contribute to the wider community as role models. It has already lined up key initiatives such as digitalisation, sustainability and a public sports programme.

The fresh lease coincides with the expansion of residential areas such as Bayshore and Tanjong Rhu, as well as improved connectivity from the completion of the Thomson-East Coast Line by 2025. The club - which was founded in 1905 - is sandwiched between Tanjong Katong and Marine Parade MRT stations and is a 10-minute walk from either station.

 

Shanti Pereira collects $315,000 at MAP Awards for successful Asian and SEA Games campaigns

Shanti Pereira with her medals before the Major Games Awards Programme presentation and appreciation dinner on Nov 29. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR

David Lee
Sports Correspondent
UPDATED

DEC 1, 2023, 4:50 PM SGT

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SINGAPORE – After a hectic year in the fast lane, Singapore sprint queen Shanti Pereira admitted it was “kind of strange” to slow down and pack for travelling without her spikes to go for a one-week holiday in South Korea to “just eat and shop” in October after her Asian Games exploits.

She said: “It was a nice change to be able to do that and wind down after such a crazy and incredible year.”

But the country’s fastest woman just cannot stand still. She took a three-week break but has already resumed training for a month as she eyes more national records when she resumes her season in April, before taking on the July 26-Aug 11 Paris Olympics.

Pereira, 27, said: “The goal is always to go faster and find the little places to improve as much as we can and cutting down the time.”

Her sterling Asian and SEA Games campaigns in 2023 also made her the big winner at the Major Games Award Programme (MAP) awards presentation and appreciation dinner at Timbre+ One North on Nov 29.

She collected $315,000 for her Asiad gold (women’s 200m) and silver (100m) plus two SEA Games titles.

She noted: “Having this extra prize launches us to a new level in our careers. Any extra support is amazing help for athletes in the lead-up to major competitions.”

In total, the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) and Tote Board rewarded 121 medallists from both Games with almost $2.3 million. Athletes are required to donate between 20 and 50 per cent of MAP Awards prize money back to their national sports association for future training and development.

The Republic’s 554-strong contingent at the Phnom Penh SEA Games in May returned with 51 golds, 43 silvers and 64 bronzes while the team that competed at the Hangzhou Asiad from Sept 23-Oct 8 managed three gold, six silver and seven bronze medals.

For wrestler Timothy Loh, who finally won a SEA Games gold with his victory in the men’s freestyle 125kg in Cambodia, the $10,000 reward was much appreciated.

On top of training and competitions, the 31-year-old coaches wrestling, judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, while also operating a pop-up food business. Loh, who is trying to qualify for the Paris Olympics, said: “It’s crazy, but it’s nice because these are things I love to do – I love to coach, I love to cook, I love to compete and I love to train.

“It is tough, don’t get me wrong, but doing something that you actually enjoy makes it easier.

“These are the first MAP Awards for wrestling, and it shows that we all can have something to achieve as we push and work towards bigger things. Most of the money will go into training camps towards the bigger goal of qualifying for the Olympics.”

SNOC acting president Jessie Phua thanked the sports fraternity, families, Government and various stakeholders for their support of the athletes.

She said: “At these Games, we witnessed our athletes’ tenacity to stand among the region’s best and their determination to earn a spot on the podium.

“We hope these experiences have expanded the desire and hunger to chase loftier dreams and reach greater heights.”

Top earners
Shanti Pereira, athletics, $315,000
Asian Games gold (women’s 200m), silver (100m), two SEA Games golds (100m, 200m)

Ryan Lo, sailing, $210,000
Asian Games gold (men’s ILCA 7), SEA Games gold (ILCA 7)

Maximilian Maeder, sailing, $200,000
Asian Games gold (men’s Formula Kite)

Isaac Goh, sailing, $110,000
Asian Games silver (boys’ ILCA 4), SEA Games gold (ILCA 4)

Jowen Lim, wushu, $110,000
Asian Games silver (men’s daoshu and gunshu), SEA Games gold (daoshu and gunshu)