In 2009, a contingent made up of approximately 200 athletes
formed Singapore’s smallest expedition to the 25th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in Laos. It ended on a high note, the athletes hauled home 98
medals - 33 Gold, 30 Silver and 35 Bronze.
This year, over 400 athletes make up Singapore’s 2011 contingent
competing at the 26th SEA Games. In 10 day’s time, Team Singapore
will set foot in a different country; Indonesia, but still retracing the
familiar footsteps of their predecessors on the road to medal glory.
Even though this might not be the biggest contingent
Singapore has sent to a competition, it is still a sign of our growing
confidence to take on fellow Southeast Asian counterparts at the games.
Singapore will also be looking to repeat, and hopefully
break her ‘50’ gold medals record in 1993’s SEA Games.
As regional powerhouses in sport such as Waterpolo,
Shooting and Table Tennis, Singapore will hope to continue the tradition with
another strong outing. In addition, Team Singapore also debuts in three of the
new sports added to 2011’s SEA Games lineup: Contract Bridge, Wall Climbing and
Roller Sports.
The Play Times caught up with some of the athletes who will
be competing in the various sports and hopefully, breaking the ’50’ gold medal record
in this highly anticipated regional event. Let’s hear their stories:
Waterpolo
This Aquatics discipline continues to be in the limelight
as it always has been at the previous SEA Games. Team Singapore will once again
defend her SEA Games Championship title, which it has won 23 times
consecutively since 1965. The team is confident in clinching another gold medal
in the Men’s Waterpolo event.
Team Captain Eugene Teo, who has represented the Republic
in the previous two editions, will be leading the team in bringing home Singapore’s
24th Waterpolo Championship title.
Table
Tennis
Ever since Feng Tian Wei, Wang Yuegu and Li Jia Wei won a
silver medal in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, this sport has been touted
favourably as a high potential medal shoo-in for Singapore. Feng Tian Wei also took
part in the 25th SEA Games and 2010 19th Commonwealth
Games where she bagged 2 Gold medals (Women’s Team & Women’s Singles events)
and 2 Silver medals (Women’s Doubles & Mixed Doubles events) for both competitions.
Feng Tian Wei is confidently gunning for a hat-trick gold
medal sweep in this year’s SEA Games.
Shooting
Team Singapore shooters never fail to deliver at the major
competitions. Jasmine Ser had bagged a Gold (50M Rifle 3 Positions Women event)
and a Bronze (50M Rifle 3 Positions Women Team event) in the previous editions.
She also won two Gold and two Silver medals at 19th Commonwealth
Games in 2010. Leveraging on these
past experiences, the Sportswomen of the Year 2011
certainly is a strong medal contender at this year’s 26th SEA Games .
Jasmine Ser will be competing with other
Southeast Asian counterparts and trying her best for a bulls-eye on the gold
medal.
Badminton
Singapore’s top women pair - Shinta Mulia Sari and Yao Lei,
smashed their way to a Women’s Double Silver medal in both 2009’s 25th
SEA Games and 2010’s 19th Commonwealth Games. Following those stellar
performances, both shuttlers have been training very hard to get physically and
mentally fit in their attempt for gold this year.
Do not let their compact frames deceive you; Shinta Mulia
Sari and Yao Lei pack a mean ‘Smash’ with their racquets.
Waterski
Wakeboarding will be making a debut at the 2011 SEA Games
in Indonesia under the Waterski discipline. Singapore’s female wakeboarder, Sasha
Christian has been pegged to be the Republic’s gold medal hope. The 17-year-old
Republic Poly student proved her worth when she clinched top spots in the 2009
Asian Championships and 2010 Mettle Games.
Sasha Christian said that her aim is to do her best and win
a medal at this regional competition.
The Singapore Sports Council
(SSC), in partnership with NTUC FairPrice, launched a nationwide well-wishing
campaign for our Singapore athletes as they embark on their quest for glory
with the support of fellow countrymen at the 26th SEA Games.
Till December 22nd,
members of the public can pen a hardcopy of their well wishes at 64 selected
NTUC FairPrice outlets across the island, as well as send them online through
Facebook (www.facebook.com/TeamSG) and the Team Singapore website at www.teamsingapore.com.sg.
In addition, the public can
also visit the showcase of the well wishes in the form of a 3D stadium, which is
on display outside Mandarin Gallery until 6th November.
When asked about what these well wishes could
do for an athlete or a team during the regional tournament, Shakir from the
Singapore Silat team enthuse, “It makes me feel confident as it boosts my
morale and makes me want to strive harder to clinch gold for my Singapore.”
With just 10 days to go before the Games begin, there is still
time to show your support for Team Singapore! Some of the public’s well wishes
via Facebook so far:
·
Team Singapore, take my [relentless determination]
to the games
· Team
Singapore, take my [heart, passion, mind and soul. Unleash your potential, Show
the region what you've made off. Let's ROAR!] to the Games!
· Team
Singapore, take my [true blue Singapore Kiasu-ness and Fighting Spirit] to the
Games!
It is your chance to rally with fellow Singaporeans.
What do you want Team Singapore to take with them to the 26th SEA
Games?