Inaugural Games also uncover many heartwarming stories
By Andrea Ong, The Straits Times, 8 Sep 2012
SEPAK takraw has opened many doors for 16-year-old Justin Poh.
After picking up the sport two years ago, the Yishun Secondary student learnt basic Malay from his teammates and can now understand the instructions and jokes traded on the court.
Justin also got the chance to shine in the national arena. Last night, his team from Nee Soon Central community sports club (CSC) faced off against Bukit Batok East CSC in the quarter-finals of the Singapore National Games.
"It's a big difference from our usual matches," said Justin. "We're playing many strong teams. It's exciting and a little frightening!"
Beyond the thrill of the match, Justin also got closer to his teammates. Besides slogging it out in twice-weekly training sessions ahead of the Games, the boys hung out often for meals and movies. That is the spirit the inaugural National Games aim to promote.
The nine-day Games will end with a rousing finale tomorrow, after pitting the best of 15 clusters against one another.
These teams were whittled down from the Community Games, which ran from April to July and were meant to give new life to the Inter-Constituency Games launched in 1972.
The maiden National Games had their teething problems, but most participants and observers agreed the events had achieved most of what they set out to do.
The massive affair drew together more than 5,500 participants of all ages, races and experience levels to compete in 10 sports.
Aged seven to 80, the athletes gave their all, many training for months for that one climactic match.
The Games also uncovered several heartwarming stories.
A team of football players of four nationalities had moved into a Simei precinct not too long ago. Training for the Games broke the ice and bonded them, said team leader Jason Quah, 42, chairman of the Parc Lumiere Residents' Committee.
There was hairstylist and make-up artist Angeline Tan, 41, whose bout with cervical cancer five years ago did not stop her from pursuing her love of badminton. Now recovered, she played for Cheng San-Seletar CSC in the National Games.
Through the Games, amateur sportsmen and women also got the chance to pit themselves against top-tier talents such as Olympian sprinter Gary Yeo and national swimmer Amanda Lim, who represented Marine Parade.
The wider community got involved as well. Over 3,000 volunteers from schools and institutions helped run the Games over nine days, while each of the 15 clusters will send 100 cheerleaders for a mass cheer item at the closing ceremony tomorrow.
Representing Sembawang are 20 dancesport enthusiasts, aged six to 70, from Sembawang Zone H Residents Committee. The youngest, Trishna Dutta, is a permanent resident, but is now like a sister to her new friend, Nur Shahira Hashim, seven.
The Games have created a lot of buzz among residents, with many coming down to support the teams, said Jurong GRC MP Ang Wei Neng, who was at Singapore Basketball Centre on Thursday to cheer Jurong Green CSC.
But not all matches were well attended. Some sports, especially those on weekday nights, played to almost empty stands.
Another area that divided participants was the rules on the make-up of each team.
Teams had to have a mix of ages, races and housing types, while there were caps on the number of foreigners and national players.
Shuttler Ms Tan's team had to concede a semi-final item because one player, a permanent resident, was working. He could not be replaced because the team had already hit the 20 per cent quota for foreigners, she said.
But basketball coach Aaron Teo, 38, said the rules allowed good Malay and Indian players to show their skill in basketball, commonly seen as a "Chinese sport".
The People's Association and Singapore Sports Council will review the Games to see how they can "enhance the experience for both partipants and spectators for 2014".Said Minister of State Teo Ser Luck, adviser to the National Games: "Hopefully one day the Games can become like the football club scene overseas, where people are proud of where they live because of the football club, and the players are very close to the community."
Related
No comments:
Post a Comment