Scientists make contact with X-SAT Channel NewsAsia By Lois Calderon | Posted: 26 April 2011 2100 hrs An India's PSLV-C16 rocket blasts off at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Shriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. (AFP Photo/STR) SINGAPORE: Scientists here have established contact with Singapore's first locally built micro-satellite X-SAT in space. The successful communication with the satellite was made on Wednesday last week at 10.06 pm (Singapore time), less than 10 hours after it was launched into the earth's orbit with two other satellites by India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle or PSLV-C16. The team of scientists from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) made the communication link from the mission control station at the university's Research Techno Plaza, the NTU said in a press statement released Tuesday. "The telemetry received from the satellite shows that X-SAT is in good working condition. Its solar panels have since been deployed and are operating well," the statement said. The X-SAT is wholly designed and built in Singapore by NTU in partnership with DSO National Laboratories. It carries an imaging system, an advanced navigation experimental set-up, and a parallel processing unit for image processing. The satellite will orbit the earth for three years at a height of 800 kilometres and take photographs which will help scientists measure soil erosion and environmental changes. It can also capture data for monitoring forest fires and oil pollution at sea
Literary arts scene gets boost Channel NewsAsia Posted: 26 April 2011 1649 hrs A portrait of William Shakespeare SINGAPORE: The literary arts scene in Singapore has received a major boost through a new programme where local and international literary luminaries will write and teach at Nanyang Technological University (NTU). The three-year, S$1.5 million programme is co-funded by NTU and the National Arts Council. They have established the Singapore Writing Residencies, a new scheme where distinguished writers join NTU's Division of English for up to a year while working on a literary project. A joint news release said the programme is the first of its kind in Singapore, offering two writers-in-residence positions each year for local and international writers. This will allow them to work side by side on literary projects, while teaching and mentoring students of creative writing at NTU. The writers will also take part in literary activities at the university and in the cultural life of the local community. NTU's dean of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences Alan Chan said the programme will support the development of Singapore literature by giving valuable time and space to local writers. Professor Chan also said that by drawing top international writers to Singapore, the programme will help foster dynamic new connections between local and global literatures. The positions will be open to novelists, poets, playwrights, screenwriters, graphic novelists and writers of creative non-fiction. Applications for the residencies will open on May 9 and close on June 15 for the Singapore position, and on July 15 for the international position.
Thumbs up for heartland remaking plans The Straits Times Apr 27, 2011 An artist's impression of Hougang Parkview. Most of the 13,000 who visited the Housing Board's $1 billion Remaking Our Heartland (ROH) plans for Hougang, East Coast and the Jurong Lake areas have given their resounding support in a survey. -- PHOTO: HDB THEY came, they saw, they liked what's coming up in their estates. Most of the 13,000 who visited the Housing Board's $1 billion Remaking Our Heartland (ROH) plans for Hougang, East Coast and the Jurong Lake areas have given their resounding support in a survey, said the HDB in a statement on Tuesday. They were among the 77,000 visitors who went to the exhibitions showcasing the transformation plans for the three areas, held in January, after National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan announced them. 'Close to 100 per cent of some 13,000 survey respondents during the exhibition period are looking forward eagerly to the plans to transform these areas,' said the HDB. For Hougang, residents most look forward to enhancements of the town centre, which will see a mixed commercial and private development offering shopping, dining and entertainment facilities, waterfront housing and flats upgrading, and the heritage corridor along Upper Serangoon Road. Over at East Coast, a popular recreational spot for many Singaporeans, residents are most keen to see a direct link between Bedok Reservoir and the East Coast park to the Bedok Town Centre via a dedicated cycling and pedestrian path, lined with community gardens, recreational points and exercise corners. For Jurong, residents are most interested in the proposal to create new water playgrounds with edutainment attractions, waterfront hotels, new parks and promenades around the Jurong lakeside. Read the full report in Wednesday's edition of The Straits Times. Photo gallery Compiled By M KAM
An Auspicious 8818 What do you know - I've made an auspicious 8818 mark today in the number of postings in this forum. Of course my next target will be ---- you guessed it and I hope to see you then.
Indoor Stadium could stage clash of the titans Badminton superstar Lin Dan will be here for S'pore Open, signs are world No 1 Lee will also come by Low Lin Fhoong 04:46 AM Apr 27, 2011 Badminton Li-Ning Singapore Open 2011 SINGAPORE - They currently stand head and shoulders above everyone else in men's badminton, two great rivals who look set to battle for the sport's top honours over the next couple of years. At 27, China's Lin Dan is already hailed as one of the all-time greats of his sport. Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei, 28, is in the form of his life, as he works towards fulfilling a dream at next year's Olympic Games. And they could well stage one of the great match-ups in the sport at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in June. Organisers of the US$200,000 (S$247,000) Li-Ning Singapore Open, which will be held here from June 14 to 19, announced yesterday that Lin Dan, the current world No 3, will play in the tournament. Lee, the world No 1, is also likely to be in the main draw. Singapore Badminton Association (SBA) vice-president Ng Yoke Weng, the organising chairman, said: "I promise you this year the Li-Ning Singapore Open will be ... exciting and will draw the best shuttlers from all over the world. "The world's top players will be coming down, and we will definitely see a lot of exciting matches ... they (Lee and Lin Dan) always get great support and hopefully we can see them perform well and meet in the final." The last time they clashed, Lee overcame a huge psychological barrier when he beat his Chinese arch-rival 21-17, 21-17 in the All-England final in March in Birmingham. It was the first time Lee beat Lin Dan to win a major title, and he became the first Malaysian to retain the All-England crown since the great Eddy Choong (1957, 1958). Revenge will be very much on Lin Dan's mind. The shuttler, one of a handful who have won the Grand Slam of Olympic gold, All-England, World Championships and Asian Games gold, will also look to land his maiden Singapore Open win. In a statement yesterday, he said: "Li-Ning Singapore Open is one tournament that I want to win and add to my collection of trophies. "Singapore is also somewhere I'd like to visit, the food is good, people are friendly and the place is very clean." One big reason fans here will get to see the world's best shuttlers is because the Singapore Open is the first super series event that will offer qualifying points for next year's Olympics. The qualifying period for the London Games starts on May 2 and will end on April 29, 2012. With the Indoor Stadium holding a capacity of 8,000 for the tournament, organisers expect a near full house for the semi-finals and finals. In the women's draw, China's All-England champion and world No 1 Wang Shixian and newly-crowned Asian champion Wang Yihan (world No 2) are expected to feature. India's world No 4, Sania Nehwal, has yet to indicate if she will be back to defend her singles title. Fans will see all the women play in skirts for the first time after the introduction of the new code by the Badminton World Federation, who want to ensure an elegant presentation of badminton. The new dress code was scheduled to take hold on May 1, but was postponed for a month to allow players more time to adapt to their new attire. Ticket details Daily tickets Adult: S$12 qualifying, preliminary rounds, S$24 quarter-finals, S$26 semi-finals, S$28 finals) Senior citizen/student: S$6 qualifying, preliminary rounds, S$8 quarter-finals, S$12 semi-finals and finals Child: 2-12 years, free until semi-finals. S$5 for the semi-finals and finals) Daily ticket (premium): S$17 qualifying, preliminary rounds, S$35 quarter-finals, S$40 semi-finals, S$50 finals Season tickets Early bird (April 12-May 12) Adult S$25 Senior citizen/student S$15 Premium S$80 Normal period (May 13-June 19) Adult S$45 Senior citizen/student S$22 Premium S$120 Tickets can be purchased at all Sistic outlets and online at www.sistic.com Yao Lei and Shinta in the spotlight by Low Lin Fhoong Yao Lei and Shinta Mulia Sari will draw much attention at the Li-Ning Singapore Open, as the Republic's highest ranked women's doubles pair (world No 10) look to defend their title at the Indoor Stadium. The pair created history last year after defeating South Koreans Lee Hyo Jung and Kim Min Jung 21-17, 22-20 in the final, becoming the first from the Republic to win a Singapore Open title in 20 years. With the world's top players expected in town for the tournament, the local pair will face an uphill task. All-England champions Wang Xiaoli and Yu Yang (Chinese world No 2 pair) and Japan's Satoko Suetsuna and Miyuki Maeda (3) will be among the favourites for the Singaporean pair's crown. Shinta, 22, and 21-year-old Yao Lei are currently in New Delhi and will start play in the second round today in the India Open Superseries event. Said Ng Yoke Weng, Singapore Badminton Association (SBA) vice-president: "No doubt there will be some pressure on them as defending champions, but I'm sure with home support, they will give their best and hopefully do equally well this year. This will definitely be a good start on their road towards the Olympics in 2012." Gu Juan - who qualified for the All-England quarter-finals in March - and Fu Mingtian, who are ranked 32nd and 39th in the world, respectively, will lead the hosts' charge in the women's singles, while Yao Lei and Chayut Triyachart (world No 31) will do battle in the mixed doubles event. The Republic will likely not be represented in the men's singles. Only the world's top 44 players are eligible for the competition and Singapore's highest ranked men, Derek Wong and Ashton Chen, are currently 66th and 70th in the world. LOW LIN FHOONG
Eagles nest on executive condo site Apr 28, 2011 IN THE ST NEWSPAPER TODAY By Grace Chua The white-bellied sea eagles were spotted last week by Choa Chu Kang resident Boris Chan and his family, after which he posted some photographs of them taken by his 10-year-old son on Facebook. It is not a rare species, says the Nature Society. -- PHOTO: COURTESY OF BORIS CHAN A PAIR of eagles have built a nest in a tree in Choa Chu Kang Drive, on a site slated for building an executive condominium. Pictures of the breeding pair of white-bellied sea eagles, posted on Facebook, have raised a flutter on citizen journalism website Stomp, with a number of netizens asking what will become of the eagles when the piling starts.
ACJC debaters score abroad The Straits Times Apr 28, 2011 By Neo Wen Tong A TEAM of five Anglo-Chinese Junior College (ACJC) debaters had to quickly adapt to a different debating style during a four-day competition in Slovakia earlier this month. But their efforts paid off, and they took the top spot in the international Bratislava Schools Debating Competition 2011, which ended on April 11. 'The other teams had a different debating style. While in Singapore, we are used to content- based debates, they used tactical strategies, such as pointing out weaknesses in other teams' arguments,' said David Aw, 17. His teammates were Toh Ghee Wei, Joshua Jesudason, Natalie Wang and Su Jia Zhe, all 17. The competition, held in Bratislava, saw 20 teams taking part. They included teams from Slovakia, Romania, Germany, Turkey, Croatia and Slovenia. A second five-person ACJC team managed to reach the semi-finals.
Wage growth "very moderate": Lim Boon Heng Channel NewsAsia By Lois Calderon | Posted: 27 April 2011 1735 hrs Singapore workers (file picture) SINGAPORE: Retiring minister Lim Boon Heng has said that the pace at which wages has been rising has been "very moderate", even as he pointed out that wage hikes should still lag productivity growth. He made the assessment on the sidelines of an industry conference on fair employment practices on Wednesday, ahead of deliberations of the National Wages Council (NWC) slated for April 29. "From the workers' perspective, the last 10 years have been difficult -- (it is like) riding a roller coaster with many different ups and downs," Mr Lim said "The result of which was that wage increases have been quite modest; were very moderate. And at the same time, prices have increased." However, Mr Lim pointed out that rising wages would mean higher labour costs which could hurt labour competitiveness. Mr Lim said to strike the balance, "wage increases should lag productivity growth. "When that happens, then we will still remain competitive. If wage growth outstrips productivity in the long term, then we become uncompetitive and we lose out to other countries," Mr Lim said. Latest government statistics show that Singapore's wages rose by an annual 7.5 per cent in the fourth quarter of last year to a monthly average of S$4,474, faster than the 5.4 per cent witnessed a quarter earlier. On the other hand, labour productivity growth was an annual 7.8 per cent during the same period, accelerating from the third quarter's 6.2 per cent rate. Honorary treasurer of the Singapore Business Federation Bob Tan, who is a member of the NWC, said higher wage costs would be inevitable if tight labour market conditions persist. Mr Tan noted that Singapore's current workforce would not be enough to keep pace with an expected robust growth in the economy. Wage pressures would come from stronger labour demand, he said. "With the recent government announcement to curtail the inflow of foreign workers, we're going to see a very tight market situation and that means we need to find more workers," Mr Tan said. "If the economy does well, we would expect wages to go up," he added. The government reiterated the need for "inclusive" labour market policies for Singapore to continue to prosper. Mr Lim said: "If we employ on the basis of merit, it doesn't matter whether you are a man or woman, young or old or what race you are or what religion that you practise. "That's the meaning of inclusive growth. That everybody has a chance for a job and therefore participate in the economy".
here in BC, we do not allow politics posts. kindly adhere to the policies that we are practicing here. thanks.
Maybe the eagles will relocate to another forested site in Singapore, but the Sungei Buloh Wetlands Reserves with its marshes and mangrove swamps may not be suitable. Though there are other big birds like the stork and ibis that can be found in the tall trees surrounding the reserves. There were some exciting moments when Singapore found itself with unexpected visitors. Apart from migratory birds that flew in from northern Asia to escape the winter, to feed on the menu table at Sungei Buloh, animals such as a young elephant and the occasional wild boar, swan across the waters from neighbouring countries. I think our scientists also found thought-to-be-extinct reptiles, insects, flora and birds which could have surfaced from elsewhere. But it is becoming a big problem when man intrudes into animal territory under the 'guise' of development and progress. Just the other day, I watched a TV documentary on this subject. In Mumbai, while the leopard population is growing, their habitat has become smaller when human activity encroaches into their territory and take away their space and sources of food supply. The leopards are forced to venture into homes in the dark for food and as they grow bolder, they attack people as well and the kids are the most vulnerable. Even in Los Angeles, cyclists who rode alone on mountain tracks especially, have been attacked by mountain lions which pounced on them and dragged them into their lair with their powerful jaws over their neck and head. Their bodies are cleverly camouflaged with leaves and eaten for a meal.
Thank you mod. For those who are interested to follow the news on "Singapore General Elections" please refer to: Channel NewsAsia http://www.ge.sg/news/ and/or Straits Times www.straitstimes.com/ge2011
I follow Animal Planet and Nat Geo Wild everyday on TV. In this region a lot of potential problems will stem from the result of opening up forests for Palm Oil and Rubber which are enjoying good prices.
ST wins big at regional media awards Apr 29, 2011 IN THE ST NEWSPAPER TODAY Photojournalists and artist scoop gold and silver By Cheong Suk-Wai, Senior Writer Straits Times winners (from left) Mugilan Rajasegeran, Jaster Ngui and Neo Xiaobin at the 10th Asia Media Awards in Bangkok last night. -- PHOTO: MUHAMMAD NIZAM ADLI SAPARIN A SPLIT-SECOND encounter with a teen swimmer from Madagascar scored Straits Times (ST) photojournalist Mugilan Rajasegeran a gold gong for sports photography at the 10th Asia Media Awards in Bangkok yesterday. Mr Rajasegeran, 30, took his winning shot of "the Malagasy lunging towards him while lying flat on his belly on the edge of the Singapore Sports School" pool at the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) last August. He recalls: 'I'd been covering YOG swimming for six days and suddenly, here he comes in bright yellow goggles, swimming towards the light. It was exotic and exciting.' Last night's win was his third international accolade since he joined The Straits Times seven years ago. Fellow photojournalist Neo Xiao-bin, 27, won a silver for feature photography at the same gala, for her poignant photograph of the sea burial of the young woman who drowned accidentally in Sentosa Cove last year. She captured the dead woman's father throwing her ashes out to sea in Dalian, China. Ms Neo, who had won his trust to document his final farewell to his daughter, said: 'We were in very choppy waters and there was almost no space for me to move about in the boat. It was all very emotional, with the father wailing throughout.' Their colleague, executive artist Jaster Ngui, 33, struck gold too with a Best in Magazine Infographics award for her work with The Straits Times' IN, a weekly print magazine which about 100,000 teens here read today. Ms Ngui, who once used spices to illustrate the world map for IN, was thrilled to win for work she relished doing. The newspaper's editor, Mr Han Fook Kwang, said: 'We're very proud of our three winners who've shown that their work is up there with the best in Asia. Our readers expect high standards from The Straits Times and we're committed to making it the quality paper they deserve.' The trio's haul made media group Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) - whose flagship publication is the ST - the biggest winner at the annual awards this year, with five wins in total. The remaining two awards went to SPH Magazines' MG/Zine (gold) and The Peak Selections: Gourmet & Travel (bronze). SPH has traditionally dominated these annual publishing awards, which are organised by the World Association of Newspapers and Newspaper Publishers (Wan-Ifra) and which recognise excellence among individuals and organisations that have embraced new technologies and creative and innovative thinking in the global media industry. Last night's gala was graced by Thai Premier Abhisit Vejjajiva who, in a speech, told his 500-strong audience of mostly foreign journalists that it would be the last time he spoke to them before dissolving his country's parliament next week for polls in June or July. SPH's largest Wan-Ifra win to date was in 2005, when it romped home with 12 awards in total, also in Bangkok. The night's second biggest winners were Hong Kong's South China Morning Post Publishers and Indonesia's PT Jakarta Globe Media, which won three awards apiece in the newspaper and magazine design, and news feature writing and photography categories respectively. It was a signal night for SPH as it reaffirmed its power in print with three other major awards and four Highly Commended citations - including Best Single Advertisement, Best Print Campaign and Best Advertising Feature or Supplement - from the Pacific Area Newspaper Publishers' Association. Mr Patrick Daniel, editor-in-chief of SPH's English and Malay Newspapers Division, said: 'Newspapers face threats from many quarters. Our best response is to deliver quality on a daily basis. This is why these awards mean so much to us. ' Added SPH chief executive Alan Chan: 'I would like to thank our staff for their hard work and tireless pursuit of excellence.'
The Straits Times May 1, 2011 IN THE ST NEWSPAPER TODAY Couple find 19th century shipwreck Research at National Library here led Aussies to site of wreck By Feng Zengkun The Viscount Melbourne, a British cargo ship, was stranded on a coral reef after being hit by a squall. The wreck was recently discovered by Australian part-time marine archaeologists Hans and Roz Berekoven. -- PHOTOS: THE BEREKOVENS A SHIP that sank more than 150 years ago in Borneo waters after visiting Singapore has been found by two Australians. Part-time marine archaeologists Hans and Roz Berekoven - who are married to each other - said their find was unlikely to yield any treasures as the ship had been a British cargo vessel, but it could add to knowledge of trade then.
About 2.4m Singaporeans to receive 'Grow & Share' payments by May 1 Channel News Asia Posted: 30 April 2011 1322 hrs A Singapore family cycling in the park SINGAPORE: Singaporeans who are entitled to their growth dividends and CPF Medisave top-ups will receive their payments by this weekend. The Ministry of Finance (MOF) said about 2.4 million adult Singaporeans will get about S$1.5 billion in growth dividends. About 1.3 million Singaporeans aged 45 and above will receive about S$500 million in CPF Medisave top-ups. The payments are part of the 'Grow & Share' package announced by the government in the 2011 Budget. The majority, or 80 per cent, of the 2.4 million Singaporeans will get the higher Growth Dividend of S$600 and S$800. About 800,000 servicemen who have served or who are serving National Service would have also received an additional S$100 by Sunday. For the CPF Medisave top-up, a 55-year-old earning S$60,000 annually living in a four-room HDB flat will receive S$300, while a 70-year-old retiree living in a three-room HDB flat will receive S$600. The finance ministry said the 'Grow & Share' package, together with other benefits in Budget 2011, will help Singaporeans cope with higher costs of living this year. It said the benefits that most lower-and middle-income Singaporean households get will be much larger than the increase in the cost of their household consumption baskets this year. It added that a typical two-generation household living in a three-room HDB flat receives benefits of about S$3,500, which is significantly more than the cost increases they are expected to face. For a typical three-generation household living in a five-room HDB, the benefits amount to about S$4,000. To date, 97 per cent of Singaporeans have signed up for the payments. Singaporeans who have signed up for their payouts previously (GST Credits) will not have to do so again. Those who have not signed up have until Dec 31, 2011 to do so at www.growandshare.gov.sg . They can also fill in forms available at any community club, community development council or CPF Service Centre.
NTUC to name new campus after late Devan Nair By S Ramesh | Posted: 01 May 2011 1649 hrs SINGAPORE: The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) will name the new e2i campus at Jurong Lake after the founding Secretary-General of the labour movement in Singapore, the late C V Devan Nair, who was also Singapore's president. Announcing this at the 50th anniversary May Day Rally, NTUC Secretary-General Lim Swee Say said the new campus will be named the Devan Nair Institute for Employment and Employability, and it will be ready by 2013. Mr Lim reminded unionists that the late Mr Devan Nair had played a pivotal role in the birth and growth of NTUC and the labour movement would not be where it is today if not for his pioneering leadership. This year's May Day Rally also recognised all the past union leaders and also thanked Singapore's two former prime ministers Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, together with current Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong for their role in evolving a close relationship between the ruling People's Action Party and the Labour Movement. All three of them were present at the May Day Rally on Sunday evening.
MOE may review 30% target for university admissions: Ng Eng Hen Channel NewsAsia By Hoe Yeen Nie | Posted: 02 May 2011 1953 hrs Dr Ng Eng Hen SINGAPORE: Education Minister Ng Eng Hen said the ministry may review upwards, its targets for university admissions, so long as the quality of degrees are not compromised. It's currently 30 percent of each Primary 1 cohort to attend universities. Currently, the aim is to have 30 per cent of each cohort in public universities by 2015. Dr Ng also said no child will be denied a good education, because they cannot afford it. Dr Ng also focused on how the ministry has tried to address the anxieties of parents, teachers and students, mainly about the opportunities available to all. The Education Minister discussed how over a decade ago, the decision was made to shift Singapore's approach to education, and that the focus was beyond just academic achievements. Dr Ng said: "What everyone was saying was, 'yes, grades do matter but it cannot overshadow everything'. "What they were really concerned about in the subtext was, if my child doesn't get into the popular school, if they don't meet the right teachers, if we don't give them the right tuition, will they be disadvantaged? Will they be set so far back that they can never catch up? "It was really an issue about opportunities." Thus, flexibility was given to schools - resources to hire more teachers, build more schools and facilities and to shrink class sizes. With that, weaker students could get more attention in groups as small as four to five. Stress and pressure were one often cited issue, and Dr Ng said some students and parents he spoke to accepted the competition from foreigners, and added that the government has policies to calibrate their numbers. This includes giving Singapore parents double the number of chances when balloting a place in Primary 1 for their child. He also noted that there is a quota system in place that keeps foreign students in public schools at about 10 per cent of the student population. At the universities it is about 20 per cent. Dr Ng said: "We want to continue to listen to Singaporeans, to parents. "We ought to listen to what people want, and we need to be able to adjust when we can. But at the end of the day, we want to make sure it's a good system overall." Some political parties have spoken on education during the hustings. When asked if the changes - for instance the move towards smaller class sizes - were motivated by the General Election, Dr Ng disagreed, saying education is a long-term venture. "Education is not something that is a quick fix. If you look at every election campaign in every other country, they talk about the election, and quick throwaway lines, and it's not something you can do. You want to do something, you have to find teachers," said Dr Ng. More degree options have also opened up, with institutions here partnering foreign universities.
Brothers chase spot in history books TODAY Rahul and Rishi could become first Indian players in waterpolo team by Tan Yo-Hinn 04:46 AM Apr 29, 2011 SINGAPORE - The Singapore men's waterpolo team will look to extend one of the most remarkable runs in the history of the SEA Games, by winning their 24th consecutive gold medal in Indonesia in November. And if 19-year-old Rahul Shankar Pandey makes the squad, he will become the first Indian Singaporean to don national colours. Brothers Alexander and Wiebe Wolters, and Barry, Keith and Derrick Mitchell were of Dutch and English heritage, respectively, when they played waterpolo for Singapore in the 1950s and '60s. The others who have represented the country in the sport have been Chinese Singaporeans. Rahul and his brother Rishi, 18, hope they will make history. "Being first in something is always nice," Rahul told MediaCorp. "It will be a great moment if it happens. "Ultimately, though, it's about representing Singapore. Hopefully, one day, we can represent Singapore at the Asian (Games) level and eventually the Olympics." Rahul is a third-year marine offshore technology student at Ngee Ann Polytechnic while Rishi is currently a second-year student at Raffles Institution Junior College. When contacted, national coach Lee Sai Meng hinted that at least one of them could get the nod this year. "Both have good potential. Rahul is a very good finisher with good strength, while Rishi is more of a creative type of player," Lee told MediaCorp. "Rahul has the potential, but only after seeing him train with the national side can we assess him and consider him for selection." Right now, Rahul is already training with senior national players at Toa Payoh Swimming Complex. A 25-strong provisional squad will officially be selected by June, and it will be culled to 13 by October, ahead of the SEA Games, which will be held in Jakarta and Palembang from Nov 11 to 22. The two brothers, who both play in the "driver position", hope this could be their breakout year. "Making the next SEA Games (in 2013) might be more realistic, but I will still give it my best shot. Who knows, I may just get selected (for this year's Games)," said Rahul, who stands 1.78m tall and weighs in at 70kg. Their waterpolo adventure started when older brother Ravi Shankar, a former rugby player, noted their swimming ability and encouraged Rahul and Rishi to try the sport. They picked it up as a co-curricular activity five years ago at Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road), and have not looked back. Rahul, a southpaw, led his school to national "B" division titles in 2007 and 2008. Rishi was part of the team in 2008 and was crowned ACS (Barker Rd) Sportsboy of the Year and Most Promising Young Player that year. He also helped the school defend the title a year later. The duo earned call-ups to the national under-14 and under-16 sides, respectively, in 2007. Now, they want to make the senior side. Rishi, who is 1.73m tall and weighs in at 61kg, feels he will have a better chance of playing in the 2013 SEA Games. He knows what he has to do, when he said: "The national players are a lot bigger and stronger than us, and in waterpolo, that's vital. That is why I'm now working on bulking up." Former national coach Tan Eng Bock, a member of the 1954 Asian Games gold medal-winning side and the 1956 Melbourne Olympics team, was happy to hear of the exploits of the Pandey brothers. "It's definitely a good thing, and I hope they can do Singapore proud," the 75-year-old said. "But they must have the passion and commitment. That's the most important." Promising Singapore waterpolo player Rahul Pandey (pictured), together with brother Rishil, hope to become the first Singaporeans of Indian heritage to represent their country at the senior level. PHOTO COURTESY OF RAHUL AND RISHI PANDEY
