I have reported previously on Singapore's first Sports School (SS) and its main purpose to produce future sports stars for the nation.

Now, in just over half a year of the SS's existence, the SBA has been successful in negotiating a deal to allow their foreign junior imports to live and train in this school, which has excellent facilities as a boarding school. Hitherto, these children, who recently came from China, train at the SBH (Singapore Badminton Hall) and their lodging and meals were catered to separately. In the SS, there is no worry over these matters especially when there are professionals to look after their diet, physical development and injuries.

Although I have not visited the SS yet, I have read favourable reports of its facilities and professionalism. It looks like you can have everything 'under one roof', certainly a god-send to any aspiring teenage sports person.

The badminton academy, which has a relatively small enrolment as a start, can also benefit as their own trainees will have a chance to interact with like-minded teenagers. Although the Singaporean trainees have a slightly different programme in that there is more emphasis on academic studies, but when they are training in the badminton courts, they can certainly exchange ideas and make friends. Sparring sessions are also arranged to make it more interesting and as a motivation to the locals who are naturally less skillful than the China teenagers. In time to come, hopefully, some of these foreign talents, who are probably in the age group of from 12 to 15 years, will eventually become Singapore citizens like Li Li and Ronald Susilo. That was why the SBA has included the study of English in the SS for these children to prepare them for assimilation into the local culture, not that our own children of Chinese ancestry are not taught Chinese to be able to interact with the China imports, although accents and pronounciation of the spoken word may be different. :)


JULY 17, 2004
BADMINTON
Two nationalities, but schooled in one goal
China shuttlers join S'poreans at sports school as part of Thomas and Uber Cups plan

By Peh Shing Huei

THE crisp Mandarin from one corner of the Singapore Sports School's badminton hall contrasted sharply with the lahs and lehs from the other end, lending the Woodlands campus a fresh 'racket'.

It did not take long to figure out the participants' nationalities: Chinese on one side, Singaporeans on the other.

But, if the Singapore Badminton Association has its way, they will all be Singaporeans with a distinct local accent in a few years.

With the aim of getting the Republic into the Thomas and Uber Cup Finals by 2012, the association sent its latest batch of foreign talent to the school two weeks ago.

Except for twice-weekly English lessons, the seven China shuttlers - two boys and five girls - do not attend classes.

Their objectives are clear: train and live with the best young Singapore players and build a camaraderie that will boost the country's Goal 2012.

Said SBA executive director Jacqueline Lim: 'The 2012 team will be an integrated squad - foreign and local talents. And these children will likely be the backbone of that team.

'We want them to know each other now, so that the Chinese kids can slowly learn our culture and language.

'By the time they represent Singapore, they won't be foreigners anymore. They will be true-blue Singaporeans.'

So far, the experiment seems to be working out fine.

Said Desmond Tan, general manager of the school's badminton academy: 'They attend assembly, have meals together, and talk about kids' stuff. They certainly have common topics, like Pokemon.'

Added a grinning Gu Juan, 14, from Jiangsu province: 'They come to our rooms to play at night.'

The Chinese players pay the school $530 a month for meals and lodging, and the money comes from their salaries, which are less than $1,000 a month.

The SBA pays the school about another $2,500 monthly for use of the facilities and the English lessons.

In contrast, the school's students pay just $500 a month in fees, which includes food, lodging and training, a sum heavily subsidised by the Government.

But the association reckons that it is money well-spent.

Said Lim: 'Not only can this arrangement build team spirit, but having the Chinese here can also raise the Singaporeans' badminton standards.

'Now, the sports school students have a very clear target to work towards.'

While the Chinese have separate training sessions under two coaches from the SBA, there are weekly sparring between the two groups and the results are perhaps not surprising.

'Totally one-sided in favour of the Chinese,' observed Tan.

The Singapore boys are usually beaten by the Chinese girls, and can take only seven points off in each game against the boys. The Singapore girls are frequently thrashed.

As an impressed Sheena Tan said: 'They are very good. Skills, speed, power, everything.'

Added her coach Basri Yusuf: 'The Chinese started training earlier, and their muscles are already well-developed.

'They have that explosive power and, if my shuttlers can match them in two or three years, I would be very pleased.'

The school welcomes the challenge.

Said marketing and communications manager Gerard Wong: 'Better for them to face it now, than to be shocked later on the international stage.

'The students have to rise to the challenge and we believe they can. This is a win-win arrangement.'

Damn. Wished I'm lucky enough to attend such a school.

Nice.

IMHO, the sports school come too alte, but it is better than nothing.
I have a this feeling the local parents do not really encourage their children to become a sportsman and woman for reasons parents should know.

Hopefully, with a good headstart from foreign talents like Ronald, Li Li, Jun Hong....will bring more encouragement to parents to accept this enrolment.

Well, the mentality of parents will always say "study hard, get a good degree and find a good job".

IMHO, the sports school come too alte, but it is better than nothing.
I have a this feeling the local parents do not really encourage their children to become a sportsman and woman for reasons parents should know.

Hopefully, with a good headstart from foreign talents like Ronald, Li Li, Jun Hong....will bring more encouragement to parents to accept this enrolment.

Well, the mentality of parents will always say "study hard, get a good degree and find a good job".

I agree with you that the SS should have come earlier. A few of our neighbours already have theirs for many years.

But I guess S'pore priorities as a young nation were different then. We do not have a long history like Japan, Korea, China (by the way they are basically homogenous societies unlike muliti-racial Singapore) and most of the western countries including USA. Even then, internal politics take precedence in countries like Korea and China, China being much more in turmoil with the victory of the Communists and the aftermath of the Cultural Revolution. It was a slow and turbulent transition from abject poverty to its current success of 'socialist capitalism'. Even China has to change to be more in line with the world community and 'Capitalism', which was frequently associated with its then arch-enemy, the USA, is now an accepted model. China has now moved forward to be a member of the WTO that can bring greater economic benefits to its people. Like the USA, sports will become more prominent in China with economic success for World Champions do bring glory to their countries.

Likewise, the first Singapore government has to look after the more basic needs of its citizens and speed up economic development. After almost 40 years, Singapore's per capita income is the highest in Southeast Asia. In a way, Singapore is lucky it has not been burdened with a huge population. It has been pushed into the First World away from most of its Third World neighbours. With its economics well-entrenched, Singapore can now focus more on the finer things in life, with the arts and sports taking precedence now.

Compared to 30 years ago (a generation), there are now many times more graduates, second degree holders and PHDs. Yes, we need more of the latter to propel us further into the higher value-added industries to be able to compete in an ever increasingly competitive market. R&D is paramount to our future success.

With increasing wealth, more Singaporeans are turning to entertainment, travel and sports as a form of pastime. But, if the unexpected interest shown during the SS's first enrolment is any indication, parents are now less hostile to their children taking an interest to full-time sports.

The financial success of big-time sports stars in soccer, golf, basketball, motor-racing, etc, together with the financial rewards promised by the Singapore government to winners of regional and internationals Games, must have influenced their decision somewhat. But I think the solid programmes offered by the SS could have been the clincher, the good balance between studies and sports and the perceived assurance that their children could still get a decent job after graduation. And for those children who can excel they may even get a chance to obtain a degree from a foreign university with strong foundations in sports, something the SS has promised to look into.

But the most compelling reason for a sports-talented child is the fact that you can only train to be a world champion when you are still young and age, like time, waits for nobody! :p

I have some close friends in SS and they told me that they study 3 hours per day. A contrast to the average Secondary school's 6+ hours. In SS however, they study from 9 P.M. to 12 A.M.

The sports school's badminton players didn't seem to impress that much so far huh? They study less, train more, but still lose out to the other schools... At the end of the day, study no good, sports no good, what's they going to do when they graduate?

................ite???

The sports school's badminton players didn't seem to impress that much so far huh? They study less, train more, but still lose out to the other schools... At the end of the day, study no good, sports no good, what's they going to do when they graduate?

Give them a chance to prove in another 2 to 3 years. The school is still relatively new and needs time to establish a name. The are many sports schools in neighbouring countries which were started many years ago, long before our own sports school. Some of our SS students are national athletes in other sports, though not in badminton yet as I think the competition here is very keen.

Remember some of the talented players in the other Singapore schools are also under the SBA training schemes. Except they chose to remain in their own schools for various personal reasons. Some schools resort to importing direct from the talent pool of other neighbouring countries which are strong in badminton. I see this as very good competition to raise the overall standards.

Patience! :)