Darren Choy, Sailing
With just weeks to go to the first-ever Asian Youth Games (AYG), the Team Singapore contingent has finally been revealed! Ninety young athletes have been carefully selected by the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) Games Selection Committee, which is chaired by Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Defence and President of SNOC, Mr Teo Chee Hean.
These talented youths are representing Singapore in a total of nine disciplines: athletics, beach volleyball, FIBA 33 (Basketball), bowling, football, sailing, shooting, swimming and table tennis. The swim team constitutes the largest group, with 24 swimmers. The team will be featuring Quah Ting Wen, the Republic’s rising sports star, who broke three national swimming records in March earlier this year.
Together with Jodie Tan from shooting, Isabelle Li from table tennis and Darren Choy from sailing, these youngsters have been touted as faces to watch for more sports achievements in the future.
We can also look forward to a tough fight in the FIBA 33 (Basketball) basketball competitions. Mr Wee Siew Kim, Member of Parliament of Ang Mo Kio GRC and President of Basketball Association of Singapore, has shared that he has set expectations for both the boys and girls teams to achieve top-three positions at the group stage.
Even though the names have yet to be finalised for the bowling contingent*, Mrs Jessie Phua, President of the Singapore Bowling Federation, is confident that the selected team of eight players (four boys and four girls) will put in their best for the competition. Said Mrs Phua, ‘Apart from their past performance, we are also looking at our bowlers’ mental strength, attitude and disposition. We would also want our bowlers to have the team synergy as winning is not regarded simply as a personal glory but a team effort.’
Indeed, her sentiments are echoed by Qing Shan, one of the beach volleyball boy players. ‘I’ll definitely give my best to achieve a medal for Singapore,’ he said. At the same time, the Team Singapore athlete is looking forward to fostering friendships with other young athletes from Asia, and cementing strong comradeship with his team-mates through the Games.
Log onto www.ayg2009.sg for more information on our Team Singapore athletes!
And to show your support for our Singapore contingent, send them your well-wishes here!
*Information accurate as at 20 May ‘09