Swimmer Quah Ting Wen is ST Athlete Of The Year
Swimmer Quah Ting Wen (pictured) has added another prize to her glittering collection: the 2009 Straits Times Athlete of the Year award. In the process, the multiple gold medallist at the SEA Games and Asian Youth Games last year edged out four worthy contenders.
Superb 2009
They were paddler Feng Tianwei, sailor Darren Choy, footballer Aleksandar Duric and shooter Jasmine Ser. They too had a superb 2009 but, in the end, the judges decided that Ting Wen deserved the coveted award most.
Home-Grown Heroes
Apart from her many medals at regional meets, she stood out for setting 14 national records last year. She also showed much focus and discipline in balancing sports and studies. Commenting on the significance of the award, sponsored by 100PLUS this year, The Straits Times editor Han Fook Kwang said it recognised the efforts of deserving athletes in a world led by celebrity sportsmen and money. "We need simple home-grown heroes whom we can identify with because they are real people, not manufactured by spin doctors and the media," he said.
Juggling Sports & Studies
Straits Times reader Avery Chia, who won a prize for a letter explaining why Ting Wen should be Athlete of the Year, noted, "(She) inspired me the most in 2009. This is not only due to her commendable accomplishments but also because of her success in doing something which I used to deem impossible: juggling between one's sports training and one's studies."
Straits Times reader Avery Chia, who won a prize for a letter explaining why Ting Wen should be Athlete of the Year, noted, "(She) inspired me the most in 2009. This is not only due to her commendable accomplishments but also because of her success in doing something which I used to deem impossible: juggling between one's sports training and one's studies."
By Dan Cai, TS Student Reporter, Raffles Institution
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