Synchronized Swimming at the 28th Southeast Asian Games 2015

HOME - 28th SEA Games Blog

Location: OCBC Aquatic Centre

Date: 2nd - 4th June 2015

Medalists (3 Gold Medals)

There are 3 events:

• Duet Technical and Free Routine
• Team Technical and Free Routine
• Team Free Combination

Medalists

Water Polo at the 28th Southeast Asian Games 2015

HOME - 28th SEA Games Blog

Location: OCBC Aquatic Centre

Date: 10th -16th June 2015




 
Draw Results held last April 15, 2015

Schedules & Results

Medalists (2 Gold Medals)

Final  Rankings

Men's Team Event
1st - Singapore
2nd - Indonesia
3rd - Thailand
4th - Malaysia
5th - Philippines

Women's Team Event
1st - Thailand
2nd - Singapore
3rd - Indonesia
4th - Malaysia
5th - Philippines

Diving at the 28th Southeast Asian Games 2015

 HOME - 28th SEA Games Blog

Location: OCBC Aquatic Centre

Date: 6th - 9th June 2015 



Medalists (8 Gold Medals)

National team set goal of reaching SEA Games final

The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has encouraged the national football team to win at least the silver medal at the upcoming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Singapore this June.

The Vietnam Olympic Committee (VOC) organised a conference in Hanoi on January 15 to discuss the key targets for national sports in 2015, which included the tasks set out for the national football team.

The football governing body has formulated a plan to rejuvenate the team and is not attaching much importance to its past achievements at the 28th Games.

The VFF has come up with a schedule to train the young players to win SEA Games gold during the next Games in 2017.

“VFF is sticking with its stance of supporting the young team, which might not be successful this year, but should be prepared to win many SEA Games in the future,” VFF Chairman Le Hung Dung said.

(A silver medal) is only the committee’s target and the body has not held any prior discussions with the VFF, he pointed out.

Dung, who was voted as the committee’s vice chairman on January 15, said more meetings should be held between the VFF, the VOC and the National Sports Administration to take a final decision. VFF also needs to hold discussions with National Coach Toshyia Miura, who is in-charge of the team.

Vietnam is considered one of the top football teams in the region, but has not won a silver medal at the SEA Games in its history of five decades.

Its best result to date was winning the ASEAN Football Federation Cup in 2008.

Source: -VNA

Athletes train after Tet

The nation’s rowing athletes were the first to begin training after the short Tet holiday break.

They gathered on Friday at the West Lake Rowing Centre and for intensive training in preparation for the coming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

The rowing team was back in action after the Tet holiday -- Photo: VOV

The nation’s other teams on Sunday to the National Sports Training Centres in Ha Noi, Da Nang and HCM City.

Among them, the fencing crew is scheduled for their first competitions next month.

The weightlifting team will also take part in some Olympics’ qualifying rounds, including athletes Tran Le Quoc Toan, Thach Kim Tuan and Nguyen Anh Tuan.

The wrestling squad is also aiming for berths at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, with Viet Nam’s leading wrestlers Nguyen Thi Lua and Vu Thi Hang.

Source: VNS / VietNamNet Bridge

Training camps for SEA Games open

In a bid to gain a higher placing, the Vietnam National Sports Training Centre has started sending athletes to various training facilities in preparation for the 28th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) set for June in Singapore.

 

Members of the rowing team have started assembling at Ho Tay (West Lake) in Hanoi while other athletes in taekwondo, fencing, track-and-field and volleyball have also kicked off training in both Hanoi and HCM City to sharpen their skills ahead of the region’s largest sporting event.

It’s great to see this level of intensity from veteran weightlifters such as such as Quoc Toan, Kim Tuan and Anh Tuan as well as the younger athletes said chief weight-lifting coach Huynh Huu Chi.

Weightlifter Thach Kim Tuan

Coach Chi said it speaks to the quality of the depth of the team we are fielding not only the upcoming SEA Games but for the 2016 Olympics set for Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

A spokesperson from the national sports centre said on February 21 that women wrestlers Nguyen Thi Lua and Vu Thi Hang are strong hopefuls for medals in Singapore and at the 2016 Olympic games.

Source: VOV

Singapore is ‘70% ready’ to host SEA Games

SINGAPORE: With 100 days to the opening ceremony of the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in June, hosts Singapore have “70 per cent readiness” to stage the biennial meet, said Singapore SEA Games Organising Committee (SINGSOC) chairman Lim Teck Yin.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the SEA Games Sports Volunteers Night at Universal Studios Singapore on Tuesday night (Feb 24), Lim stressed that preparations are on track and is confident the buzz is building ahead of the Games, which will take place from Jun 5 to 16.

Tickets to marquee sports such as swimming, table tennis and badminton have been selling well, but he hopes more will be snapped up.

About 790,000 tickets are available for sale and watching 18 of the 36 sports will be free.

Organisers are targeting for 800,000 to one million visitors at the Kallang cluster during the Games, which will cost S$324.5 million to organise and will see about 4,900 athletes from 11 ASEAN nations competing across 31 competition venues in three clusters in Kallang, Marina Bay and the Singapore Expo.

Events such as the Singapore Track and Field Open Championships and OUE Singapore Badminton Open will allow organisers a test run of the facilities and operations.

“It is slowly catching on; we are receiving more and more feedback, and more queries,” said Lim on Tuesday.

“Ticket sales have been going fine and everyone’s looking forward to the Games. The perennial (popular sports) such as swimming, gymnastics, table tennis and badminton - these ticket sales are doing very well. The other sports are also starting to pick up as people get wind of the schedules.

“We are consolidating all the orders for bulk purchases from different organisations and will have a better picture after this month.”

He added: “Most importantly, my message to Singaporeans is Team Singapore needs your support, the athletes are putting themselves out there, training hard to do us proud. Our pride is at stake and you are the ones who will lift them up on those days of competition.”

Tuesday night’s event saw the launch of Team Nila, a new sports volunteer brand for about 17,000 Singaporeans and residents who have signed up as volunteers for the Games.

More than 5,000 volunteers were also treated to a night of fun and entertainment at Universal Studios’ Waterworld.

Among them was retiree Tang Chun Tuck, 62, who volunteered as a first-aider at the 1973 SEA Peninsular Games and 1983 SEA Games in Singapore. For this year’s Games, the former civil servant is playing a new role in media relations.

“My experience in 1973 was very memorable and I remember wearing my Red Cross uniform and working with the athletes,” he said. “The pleasant memories from those days spurred me to volunteer this time.”

Another volunteer is civil servant Loke Hon Wah, who was a liaison officer with Thailand’s athletics team during the 1993 SEA Games in Singapore, where he forged a friendship with long-distance runner Pongchanin Khokbua.

Loke hosted the Thai runner when he returned to Singapore for the Sheares Bridge Run in 1995 and the two friends reconnected a few years ago through Facebook after losing touch.

“I can’t put a finger on why we became good friends, but the two of us had a lot in common,” said Loke. “I am really looking forward to being part of this big event, especially with this being part of the SG50 celebrations.”

The SEA Games Sports Volunteers Night event at Universal Studios on Tuesday acknowledged volunteers’ commitment and dedication. (Photo: Ernest Chua)

Source: TODAY/ac

#‎28thSEAGames2015‬

POC sending 400 athletes to Southeast Asian Games in Singapore

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Olympic Committee has approved 400 Filipino athletes in 33 sports for the 28th Southeast Asian Games in Singapore.

Chief of mission Julian Camacho said Monday a large fraction of the participation would come from team sports as Team Philippines aims to surpass its seventh-place performance in the Burma (Myanmar) 2013 meet.

Camacho, who also sits as treasurer of the POC, said they’ve allocated 12 slots for women’s volleyball, which is still on hold as top officials in the sport try to settle their differences.

Other team disciplines included are the men’s and women’s teams in basketball, softball and rugby 7s along with male entries in traditional boat race and water polo.

“We have less than four months to prepare. But I’m confident that we could beat our previous output,” said Camacho.

Team PH brought home 29 gold medals, 34 silvers and 38 bronzes from Burma.

Athletics, the country’s top performer two years ago with six golds, has entered 34 athletes (22 male, 12 female) in 46 events.

Medal prospects in taekwondo (14), billiards (13), boxing (10), bowling (12) and wushu (12) have also filled up the spots in the delegation to the June 5 to 16 biennial meet.

“These are the sports that are expected to deliver,” said Camacho, secretary general of the Wushu Federation of the Philippines.

A total of 402 gold medals from 36 sports are at stake in Singapore with the Philippines skipping netball, field hockey and floor ball.

In team sports, Camacho said the Marcus Douthit-reinforced men’s basketball team will defend the crown.

They also have high hopes in fencing (18), sailing (13), archery (12), swimming (11), tennis (10), gymnastics (10), cycling (8), judo (8), shooting (9), golf (7) and triathlon (4).




Source link: http://sports.inquirer.net/174159/poc-sending-400-athletes-to-southeast-asian-games-in-singapore#ixzz3Sf4L84bl

Myanmar Wushu gold medalists set for China training

Myanmar Wushu gold medalists from Mandalay have been selected to take joint training in China, reports Xinhua on February 19.

According to the Myanmar Wushu Federation, a total of eight athletes, who grabbed 15 gold medals in the 4th National Sports Festival in Myanmar, will go to China at the end of this month as preparation for the 28^th SEA Games to be hosted by Singapore from June 5-16.

The federation says the team mainly competes with players from Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam and are hoping to many gold medals.

The Myanmar Wushu team grabbed 15 medals including gold, silver and bronze at the 27^th SEA Games hosted by Myanmar in 2013.

Local and Chinese coaches are providing the team with intensive training.

Member of the Myanmar Wushu team in action at the 27th SEA Games hosted by Myanmar in 2013. Photo: Mizzima

Source: Mizzima

Police Athletics Meet To Serve As Platform For Athletes To Earn SEA Games Ticket

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 24 - A number of National athletes are expected to use the police athletics meet as a platform to qualify for the 2015 SEA Games in Singapore, scheduled in June.

The three-day 2015 IGP Cup Athletics and Tug-of-War championships hosted by Selangor will be held at the National Sports Complex mini stadium in Bukit Jalil starting tomorrow.

Organising committee chairman DSP Dr A. Vasu said National athletes would take time off from their duties to see action in the track and field competitions held.

"National road race runner R. Venugopal who has competed in various international competitions in the 5,000m and 10,000m events and Amelia Musa (1,500m and 5,000m) will be among the main attraction.

"The Selangor contingent as the host of the championships has been given the mandate to retain the overall title, by the Selangor police chief Datuk Abdul Samah Mat," he said when contacted by Bernama.

Vasu said 18 contingents from throughout the country would be taking part in the competition while Selangor as the host would be fielding 89 athletes to defend the overall title.

For the record, Selangor emerged as the overall champion in two consecutive editions, namely in 2011 and 2013.

In 2013, Selangor defended the title by winning 12 gold, 11 silver and 9 bronze medals.



Source: BERNAMA

Swimmer, 14, stakes claim for SEA Games berth

SINGAPORE — She may have impressed, but teenager Hannah Quek knows she still has a lot of work to do if she is to secure a place in Singapore’s swim team at this year’s South-east Asian (SEA) Games.

Yesterday, the 14-year-old Raffles Girls’ School student won the 200m backstroke in 2min 20.71secs on the final day of the national time trials at the OCBC Aquatics Centre, with Quah Jing Wen (2:29:01) and Chelsea Khoo (2:33.92) second and third respectively.

Her time would have been enough to claim the bronze medal in the same event at the last SEA Games in 2013, in which compatriot Meagan Lim came in third with 2:21.19.

Hannah also clocked a personal best of 1:05.31 to win the 100m backstroke, ahead of Harley Lopez-Miro (1:06.96) and Jamie Koo (1:09.51). It put her as the fastest qualifier for the event, bettering the previous benchmark of 1:05.44 set by Chantal Liew set at last December’s Singapore National Swimming Championships.

But Hannah, who won the 200m back at last year’s SEA Age-Group Championships, felt her form over the two-day time trials also showed the areas she needs to work on as she aims to be chosen for head coach Sergio Lopez’s national swim team for the June 5 to 16 SEA Games at home.

“I’m happy with my overall performance, but I need to be faster in my turns for both events. My finishing in the 100m back could be better too,” she said. “I’m aiming to go below 1.05 and 2.20 for the 100m back and 200m back (respectively) at the SNAG (Singapore National Age-Group Championships) next month to improve my chances of getting selected.”

The SNAG, which will be held at the OCBC Aquatics Centre from March 17 to 22, is the final local qualifying event for the SEA Games.

So far, 950 athletes from 36 sports have made the first round of selection for the Games. The Singapore National Olympic Council is expected to finalise the list of athletes by April.

Hannah Quek won the 200m backstroke at the national time trials with a time of 2min 20.71secs. Photo: Wee Teck Hian

Source: Today Online by TAN YO-HINN

SEA Games: Worth their time in gold

SINGAPORE - It was a difficult hurdle to cross before, with various National Sports Associations (NSAs) struggling to find a balance between the National Service (NS) commitments of their male athletes who were training for sporting excellence at the same time.

But, in the lead-up to June's South-east Asia (SEA) Games here, NSAs have received a huge boost.

Over 40 athletes across a range of sports will be deferred from National Service until after the Games, which will be held from June 5 to 16.

"The Government recognises that this is a special year and the deferment from enlistment is a reflection of such," said chairman of the Singapore SEA Games Organising Committee (Singsoc) executive committee Lim Teck Yin, on the sidelines of a briefing on ticket prices for the event and the build-up of activities.

The full list of deferred athletes was not released, but it is believed swimmers like Quah Zheng Wen and footballers are in the mix.

"The deferment has benefited me in that it has allowed me to train more thoroughly, given that I have spent less time in the pool last year due to my International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma examinations," said Quah (below), who was named Most Valuable Male Swimmer at last month's Yakult 10th Singapore National Swimming Championships.

There, the 18-year-old ensured qualification for the 50 metres, 100m and 200m backstroke and also the 50m and 100m freestyle events at the SEA Games.

The sport of football is an Under-23 tournament and the Singapore team are eyeing a first gold medal at the biennial Games, which will be extra special if it is achieved on home soil in the 50th year of the nation's independence.

The coach of the Singapore side is former national defender Aide Iskandar, who, for some time now, has had to juggle his roster because of players and NS issues.

He had to grapple with it at the 2013 Myanmar Games - where a team led by national star Hariss Harun returned with bronze - and Aide is grateful for the boost this time round.

"The preparation that we are enjoying now is definitely much, much better," he said, when contacted by The New Paper yesterday.

The Singapore U-23s are currently on a training stint in Turkey as part of their preparations for the Games.

"This is the first time we've had our best U-23s together on an overseas stint in a long time, and it has already been useful. We're able to train twice a day, play against quality opposition and also manage to create a very positive energy in the team," added the former Singapore captain.

"We are very grateful to the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Community, Culture and Youth, as well as Sport SG for this opportunity."

Aide revealed that seven of his players who have already enlisted have also been granted time off for training.

Two in the men's hockey squad have been deferred, but five others who are currently in NS have struggled to get time off for training and competitions.

"Enrico Marican and Ashriq Ferdaus are two key players for us, and having them able to commit full time to training ahead of the SEA Games goes a long way in helping cement the core of our team," said coach Solomon Casoojee, who is making efforts to get his current full-time NS men to train consistently.

Shafiq Abdul Rashid shuttled between his camp and the Sengkang Stadium at the recently concluded World League Round 2 tournament, where the team finished seventh in a field of eight sides that featured the likes of Malaysia, Poland and Japan.

National swimmer Quah Zheng Wen reacts after winning the men's 4x200m freestyle relay during the 27th South-east Asian (SEA) Games in Naypyidaw, Myanmar on 12 December 2013.

Source: Asia One

SINGAPORE - It was a difficult hurdle to cross before, with various National Sports Associations (NSAs) struggling to find a balance between the National Service (NS) commitments of their male athletes who were training for sporting excellence at the same time.
But, in the lead-up to June's South-east Asia (SEA) Games here, NSAs have received a huge boost.
Over 40 athletes across a range of sports will be deferred from National Service until after the Games, which will be held from June 5 to 16.
"The Government recognises that this is a special year and the deferment from enlistment is a reflection of such," said chairman of the Singapore SEA Games Organising Committee (Singsoc) executive committee Lim Teck Yin, on the sidelines of a briefing on ticket prices for the event and the build-up of activities.
The full list of deferred athletes was not released, but it is believed swimmers like Quah Zheng Wen and footballers are in the mix.
"The deferment has benefited me in that it has allowed me to train more thoroughly, given that I have spent less time in the pool last year due to my International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma examinations," said Quah (below), who was named Most Valuable Male Swimmer at last month's Yakult 10th Singapore National Swimming Championships.
There, the 18-year-old ensured qualification for the 50 metres, 100m and 200m backstroke and also the 50m and 100m freestyle events at the SEA Games.
The sport of football is an Under-23 tournament and the Singapore team are eyeing a first gold medal at the biennial Games, which will be extra special if it is achieved on home soil in the 50th year of the nation's independence.
The coach of the Singapore side is former national defender Aide Iskandar, who, for some time now, has had to juggle his roster because of players and NS issues.
He had to grapple with it at the 2013 Myanmar Games - where a team led by national star Hariss Harun returned with bronze - and Aide is grateful for the boost this time round.
"The preparation that we are enjoying now is definitely much, much better," he said, when contacted by The New Paper yesterday.
The Singapore U-23s are currently on a training stint in Turkey as part of their preparations for the Games.
"This is the first time we've had our best U-23s together on an overseas stint in a long time, and it has already been useful. We're able to train twice a day, play against quality opposition and also manage to create a very positive energy in the team," added the former Singapore captain.
"We are very grateful to the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Community, Culture and Youth, as well as Sport SG for this opportunity."
Aide revealed that seven of his players who have already enlisted have also been granted time off for training.
Two in the men's hockey squad have been deferred, but five others who are currently in NS have struggled to get time off for training and competitions.
"Enrico Marican and Ashriq Ferdaus are two key players for us, and having them able to commit full time to training ahead of the SEA Games goes a long way in helping cement the core of our team," said coach Solomon Casoojee, who is making efforts to get his current full-time NS men to train consistently.
Shafiq Abdul Rashid shuttled between his camp and the Sengkang Stadium at the recently concluded World League Round 2 tournament, where the team finished seventh in a field of eight sides that featured the likes of Malaysia, Poland and Japan.
- See more at: http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/sea-games-worth-their-time-gold#sthash.JKH7IfNZ.dpuf

Preecha in charge of Thai SEA Games team

Preecha Senaprom will be in charge of the Thai national team at the 28th SEA Games in Singapore later this year.

The 46-year-old former national player has been picked by the Thailand Golf Association (TGA) to coach the national side for the biennial event to be held in Singapore from June 5-16.

There will be four gold medals in golf at the tournament.

"I have been assigned to guide the team to sweep all four gold medals at the Games," said Preecha, who played at the 1990 Asian Games and the 1991 and 1993 SEA Games.

"I am confident that our players are better than others in the region. However, we cannot underestimate hosts Singapore and the Philippines. Singapore will enjoy a home-course advantage while Philippine players are training in the US."

At the previous SEA Games in Myanmar in 2013, Thailand got two golds in the men's team and individual events while the Philippines won the other two in the women's team and individual competitions.

TGA president Rangsrid Luxitanond said that he was still looking for a foreigner to coach the national side on a long-term basis and Preecha was hired only for the SEA Games.

Preecha is not new to the national team as he was an assistant to then-coach Nithinan Hensirisakul who steered Thailand to win one gold, one silver and two bronze medals at last year's Asian Games.

Source: Bangkok Post

Associations submit entries early for Singapore SEA Games

KUALA LUMPUR: It is a big thumbs-up to all the National Sports Association (NSA) as far as their preparation for the SEA Games in Singapore in June is concerned.

Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) secretary general Datuk Sieh Kok Chi was pleased to note that all the NSAs had submitted the names of their athletes for the Games – way before the entry closed.

A total of 610 athletes from 35 sports have confirmed their participation so far.

“Only athletics and swimming have not submitted the names yet, but they will do so by end of this month after their respective National Championships. The closing date by name is only in March. We are pleased with all the NSAs,” said Kok Chi, who added that Malaysia can expect a great show from the host in this year’s 28th edition of the Games.

“Singapore is celebrating its 50th anniversary as an independent nation. On top of that, it will also unveil its new Sports Hub as the venue for the Games. In conjunction with this double celebration, we can expect a great Games.”

Malaysia are expected to send many back-up athletes.

The Malaysian contingent in a march past during the opening ceremony of the Myanmar SEA Games in 2013. A total of 610 athletes from 35 sports have confirmed their participation for the Singapore SEA Games in June so far.

Source: The Star online

Rugby Sevens team gunning for gold at the SEA Games

After an eight-year absence, rugby will return to the South East Asian Games in June. Singapore is hosting the games and after a remarkable year for local rugby, the men's rugby sevens team is gunning for gold.

SINGAPORE: 2014 was a watershed year for Singapore rugby - the sevens team gained ground in the Asian rankings, rising from 10th in 2012 to seventh last year.

At the same time, the 15s guaranteed their place in Division One of the Asian Five Nations Rugby Championships after beating the United Arab Emirates convincingly to seal their spot for next season.

Fans are also regularly seeing the world's best players in action - in the flesh. After hosting the inaugural World Club 10s last June, Channel NewsAsia understands that the Republic will host a leg of the prestigious International Rugby Board (IRB) Sevens tournament. Japan will also play three Super Rugby matches in Singapore next year.

As part of a landmark deal, the Asian giants will provide technical support, training for coaches and opportunities for local players to get trials in the Japanese professional leagues.

Inoke Afeaki, technical director at the Singapore Rugby Union, said: "That door is now open. In the past, they would have been very, very selective - they would only take the best of the best in the world. Now they will work with us and they see Singapore as a partner... We need to utilise that to the best for Singapore rugby."

With the SEA Games on the horizon, there are high expectations that the rugby boys will deliver. "I don't think there is anything stopping these guys from winning a gold medal," said Afeaki. "That is the aim and the expectation. We have a bunch of people surrounding them with a lot of knowledge and that is for them to take it in and for us to deliver."

Singapore Rugby will play its SEA Games matches at the Choa Chu Kang stadium. It will be a chance to introduce a sport, which traditionally enjoys huge expat support, to the community. Local rugby officials said that the stadium has beautiful grass, which will produce beautiful rugby.

However, the sevens team may be without one of its up-and-comers - in November last year, winger Jay-Hykel Jailani contracted a rare and painful condition called Paget-Schroetter disease. The condition has made his left arm swell as blood clots formed in the deep veins.

Jailani, who is a winger, said: "I have started counting the months to the surgery, post-op, the down time and all that. The doctor said it is his first time encountering this so he might find something new. Of course, I'm remaining very positive. I'm just focusing on my recovery right now."

The 21-year-old will go under the knife in early March, about three months before the SEA Games. If he is to take part in what he describes as "a major tick" on his resume, he will have to prove his fitness by the end of April - the deadline for the Singapore Rugby Union to send its final squad list to the Singapore National Olympic Council. 

 

Source:  CNA/ac

Teens eye SEA Games bow

Their friendship began when they both trained under ex-national doubles player Tan Eng Han at the now-demolished Vincent Hall in Bukit Timah, almost a decade ago.

Together, badminton players Yeo Jia Min and Ryan Ng excelled in age-group competitions like the Pilot Pen National Age Group Singles and the Singapore Press Holdings Age Group Doubles, as they progressed through the ranks of the National Intermediate Squad.

Now, Jia Min, 16, and Ryan, 17, are on the verge of representing Singapore at the South-east Asia (SEA) Games here in June, after making the provisional men's and women's squads that were approved by the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) last month.

Twelve names were submitted for each team, and the Singapore Badminton Association (SBA) has been holding trials last week and this week to fill the 10 spots in each squad.

The results of the trials have not been released, with all national sports associations required to submit their final selections by early April.

The prospect of making their SEA Games debut on home ground is obviously an exciting one for both shuttlers.

Said Ryan: "I will be honoured if I make it to the team. There is no better feeling than to make my SEA Games debut in my country."

Jia Min added: "I am excited and a bit stressed. I hope I can perform well if I do get selected, because friends and family will be watching closely."

While senior players like Derek Wong, Danny Bawa Chrisnanta, Chayut Triyachart, Vanessa Neo, Chen Jiayuan and Shinta Mulia Sari all almost certain to get the nod for the Games, the recent retirement of seniors Ashton Chen, Yao Lei, Fu Mingtian, Gu Juan and Terry Yeo have left holes that have to be filled.

Younger shuttlers like Jia Min and Ryan are vying with their peers, as well as former internationals Ronald Susilo and Hendra Wijaya, for places in the team.

Eager to prove themselves, Jia Min and Ryan made a mindset shift when they were told at the end of last year to prepare for trials this month.

Jia Min, a Secondary 4 student at the Singapore Sports School (SSP), said: "I'd try to imagine myself in a 'competition atmosphere' at each training session."

The duo will leave for a competition in Europe at the end of the month, and may compete at the OUE Singapore Open here - a BWF SuperSeries level event - in April, as part of the national team's preparations for the 2015 SEA Games.

Beyond the SEA Games, which will be held from June 5 to 16, both shuttlers have lofty ambitions.

"I want to compete in the Olympics, and to reach the top 10 in the men's singles world rankings," said Ryan, who starts school at Republic Polytechnic next month as part of a through-train programme with SSP.

Jia Min, too, has similar targets.

She said: "I want to be a world and Olympic champion."

Yeo Jia Min (right) and Ryan Ng are on the verge of representing Singapore at the South-east Asia (SEA) Games here in June 2015, after making the provisional men’s and women’s squads that were approved by the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) in January 2015

Source link:  http://news.asiaone.com/news/sports/teens-eye-sea-games-bow#sthash.yWvvF4lN.dpuf

This article was first published on February 13, 2015.
Get The New Paper for more stories. - See more at: http://news.asiaone.com/news/sports/teens-eye-sea-games-bow#sthash.yWvvF4lN.dpuf

Their friendship began when they both trained under ex-national doubles player Tan Eng Han at the now-demolished Vincent Hall in Bukit Timah, almost a decade ago.
Together, badminton players Yeo Jia Min and Ryan Ng excelled in age-group competitions like the Pilot Pen National Age Group Singles and the Singapore Press Holdings Age Group Doubles, as they progressed through the ranks of the National Intermediate Squad.
Now, Jia Min, 16, and Ryan, 17, are on the verge of representing Singapore at the South-east Asia (SEA) Games here in June, after making the provisional men's and women's squads that were approved by the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) last month.
Twelve names were submitted for each team, and the Singapore Badminton Association (SBA) has been holding trials last week and this week to fill the 10 spots in each squad.
The results of the trials have not been released, with all national sports associations required to submit their final selections by early April.
The prospect of making their SEA Games debut on home ground is obviously an exciting one for both shuttlers.
Said Ryan: "I will be honoured if I make it to the team. There is no better feeling than to make my SEA Games debut in my country."
Jia Min added: "I am excited and a bit stressed. I hope I can perform well if I do get selected, because friends and family will be watching closely."
While senior players like Derek Wong, Danny Bawa Chrisnanta, Chayut Triyachart, Vanessa Neo, Chen Jiayuan and Shinta Mulia Sari all almost certain to get the nod for the Games, the recent retirement of seniors Ashton Chen, Yao Lei, Fu Mingtian, Gu Juan and Terry Yeo have left holes that have to be filled.
Younger shuttlers like Jia Min and Ryan are vying with their peers, as well as former internationals Ronald Susilo and Hendra Wijaya, for places in the team.
Eager to prove themselves, Jia Min and Ryan made a mindset shift when they were told at the end of last year to prepare for trials this month.
Jia Min, a Secondary 4 student at the Singapore Sports School (SSP), said: "I'd try to imagine myself in a 'competition atmosphere' at each training session."
The duo will leave for a competition in Europe at the end of the month, and may compete at the OUE Singapore Open here - a BWF SuperSeries level event - in April, as part of the national team's preparations for the 2015 SEA Games.
Beyond the SEA Games, which will be held from June 5 to 16, both shuttlers have lofty ambitions.
"I want to compete in the Olympics, and to reach the top 10 in the men's singles world rankings," said Ryan, who starts school at Republic Polytechnic next month as part of a through-train programme with SSP.
Jia Min, too, has similar targets.
She said: "I want to be a world and Olympic champion."
- See more at: http://news.asiaone.com/news/sports/teens-eye-sea-games-bow#sthash.yWvvF4lN.dpuf

Waterskiing making a comeback this year

Singapore's national team has been grooming new talent in recent years, so it is pretty optimistic about its chances.

SINGAPORE: Fans of high-octane water sports will be happy to know that waterskiing is making a return to the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in 2015, after a four-year hiatus. Singapore's national team has been grooming new talent in recent years, so it is pretty optimistic about its chances.

There are high hopes for Mark Leong in the water ski slalom event this year. The 16-year-old is expected to win it, on his maiden SEA Games outing. The six-foot-one giant is the latest to be creating waves in a sport that has already produced names such as Sasha Christian and her brother Max.

Mark said: "I will definitely be training my best. I was so excited to go for the SEA Games. From the last SEA Games when I watched my teammates ski, I have always wanted to be there with them to represent the country."

Mark broke a 20-year national record in the slalom event at the recent Asian Beach Games in Phuket, despite being up against some of Asia's best. If he repeats the feat in Singapore in June, there is a high chance he will bring glory to the Republic.

The man who is driving the effort believes talent like Mark's just skims the surface. But growing the talent pool is an issue.

Mr Paul Fong, coach of elite performance at the Singapore Waterski and Wakeboard Federation, said: "If we can keep the working adults in the sport as long as we can, by creating competitions for them, they will bring their kids into the sport.

“Ours is not a sport where we go to schools and have school programmes. I think ours is how we keep people, so maybe when Mark and Sasha become parents, if we can keep them in the sport longer, then they will bring their kids into the sport. And I believe that is going to be the focus."

According to Mr Fong, who is also the president of the Asian chapter of the International Waterski and Wakeboard Federation, a Senior Division could be included at future Asian Championships, perhaps as soon as next year. This would be for skiers 40 years and older.

The last time Singapore hosted a water ski SEA Games event on home soil was in 1983. Then, Singapore won three medals. More than 30 years on, expectations are considerably higher.

Said Mr Fong: "Four golds are on our radar. We need to have an objective, otherwise we can't train towards meeting the objective. I do not think we can say, 'We want to win as many medals as we can.' Obviously, there are strategies in terms of how much we want them to train, and what we want them to do.

“Those are not promises, but what we would like to achieve. And obviously along the way, we will win maybe a couple of silvers or a bronze, but we need to have those targets if not we are not going to know how to structure the training and even more importantly, who we are going to select."

Mark Leong.

One of those almost certain to make the grade is Sasha. In recent years, the wakeboarder has added skiing to her repertoire. And that paid off with gold in Phuket, where she trumped more experienced opponents from South Korea and Indonesia.

Surprisingly though, the former SEA Games and Asian wakeboard champion only picked up a bronze in her pet event. But Christian is unperturbed.

She said: "I put the same amount of effort in both events and when I am training off the water, I make sure that I am still training on my power in wakeboarding and my strength in waterskiing. So I have to remember that I am still competing in both events and not one, so I do not like to compromise one for another.

"Waterskiing actually helps my wakeboarding a lot because it takes the pressure off wakeboarding itself, and it is nice to have another event to train for as well."

Mr Fong plans to select nine skiers and wakeboarders in the team for the SEA Games. Nominations must reach the Singapore National Olympic Council before the end of the month.

Source:  CNA/ms

SEA Games football draw set for April

The draw for the 28th Southeast Asian Games will be organised in April, according to the Viet Nam Football Federation. 

Host Singapore have not confirmed the detailed football schedule. However, they announced that men's football would start on May 29, one week before the opening ceremony.

Matches will take place at Jalan Besar and Bishan stadiums. The host and defending champions Thailand are the top seeds.

Women's football is not listed in this year's Games.

Viet Nam will start their preparation on February 25, when about 30 players are summoned to Ha Noi.

They will be tested at the Asian Football Confederation U23 Championship qualifier in March in Malaysia. 

Source link:  http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/sports/122869/sea-games-football-draw-set-for-april.html

14 New Silat Athletes Viewed to Create Success In Singapore SEA Games

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysian National Silat Federation (Excel) is optimistic that the presence of 14 new faces in the squad silat country will not affect the mission to defend two gold medals at SEA Games Singapore which is scheduled to take place on 5 to 16 June.

Deputy Honorary Secretary Osman Nok said Duty Duty does not see it as a weakness that can affect the performance of martial arts squad, rather it is a combination of strength when their exponents senior and young fighters who will complement each other.

He said that four senior fighter who remains in a state of martial squad is Jufferi Mohd Al-Jamari, Mohd Fauzi Khalid, Siti Rahmah Mohd Nasir and Siti Umairah Zabidin.

"The involvement of these new fighters will not affect the country's chances for maintaining won two gold medals at the SEA Games Myanmar last two years.

They have proven their ability at the international level, successfully brought home four silver medals at the World Championships Pencak Silat Kali 16th held at Saphan Hin Stadium, Phuket, Thailand on 7 to 17 January this year, "he told Bernama.

According to him four silver medals were donated Arifuddin Mohd Nasir, Razali Razak, Syed Hamid Syed Mohd Huzaimi and Faisal Mohd Nasir who presents favorable action on the championship, despite their first time participating in a world-class tournament.

Osman said Malaysia was ranked fourth overall in the tournament by collecting three gold, four silver and 13 bronze.

Source: Bernama

Blu Boys get busy

THE Philippine men’s national softball team, RP Blu Boys, will be back on the international stage for the 14th International Softball Federation (ISF) men’s Softball World Championship in Canada on June 26.

The national squad earned the coveted slot after winning a silver medal in the 14th Asian men’s Softball Championship qualifier in Singapore last December.

Only the top three in that tournament advanced to the world finals. 

Joining the Philippines are gold medalist Japan and bronze medalist Indonesia.

There are five Cebuanos under the PHL team including the bench chieftain Isaac Bacarisas of Punta Princesa. The Cebuanos in the team are Jasper Cabrera, Ben Maravilles, Oscar Bradshaw IV and Jerome Bacarisas.

Before the World Championships, the national squad will gear up for the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in June in Singapore.

Head coach Bacarisas, who was also a long-time player for the Blu Boys, said the the PHL team is a consistent SEA Games gold medal winner. 

Isaac was recruited back to the national team last November.

His previous stint as the national team’s coach was back in 2009, where they finished ninth out of 16 countries in the World Championships. 

“We have a great performance in 2009; we almost made it to the quarterfinals and just fell short in the quotient tie with Denmark and Great Britian,” he said.

“Right now I can’t say the strength of the current roster among the teams of the world since I was away from the team on the 2011 World Championships. But based on our performance in the Asian qualifier, I think we have to work more,” Bacarisas told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday.

The softball national team is currently doing its routines and trainings for the two big events on the horizon. But coach Bacarisas pointed out the problem that lurks in the shadows.

“Most of my players will undergo the Philippine Military Training (PMI) next month. If this pushes through. I will lose seven players on my roster for our bid in the SEA Games and the World Championship,” he said.

“This will be a problem since I will have to hold a try-out to get new players. There are players available but it will take a toll since we have to go back to square one. The current lineup have trained together and we have already worked on teamwork and plays,” added Bacarisas.

Bacarisas added that the PMI has yet to be finalized and is still under the negotiation with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine Sports Commission.

“We have requested if they could postpone the training since there are two events coming for the team,” he said.

Aside from the Cebuano players, the roster also has Apolinio Rosales, Sonny Acuña, Isidro Abello, Marlon and Michael Pagkaliwagan, Leo Barredo, Gregorio Marquez, Anthony Olaez, Jon Jon Robles, Joseph Orillana, Christian Galledo, Edmer Del Socorro, Denmark Bathan, Emeson Atillo, Christian Paul de Leon, Vermon Diaz, and Alvin Pagkaliwagan. 

Joining Bacarisas in the coaching staff are assistant coaches Alejandro Estipular and Noel Bumagat, and pitching coach Raymundo Pagkaliwagan. 

For Bacarisas, the countries Australia, New Zealand and Venezuela are the top contenders in the World Championships.

Source: Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on February 19, 2015.