13 February 2019 was a night of celebrations, and certainly a night to remember. Singapore Sports School celebrated its 15th year since opening its doors to the first batch of student-athletes on 5 January 2004. Student-athletes, present and past, who had performed outstandingly in sport and studies, and shown themselves to be role models in character and conduct in 2018, were recognised.

Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies, graced the event as Guest-of-Honour. Returning to the Sports School after 15 years since his first visit in May 2004, Mr Tharman congratulated the Sports School for its achievements since the school’s inception. He recognised the school’s effort in developed student-athletes into Learned Champions With Character, so that even after they graduate, they embrace the spirit of giving back to sport and society through various community projects and initiatives.

One way that Sports School cultivates such interest and empathy in student-athletes is through Project Champions Way, a school-wide Values in Action initiative where student-athletes have a share in encouraging sport participation among less-physically able athletes.

Former national hurdler and Olympian Dipna Lim Prasad embodies the spirit of paying it forward and helping the needy. The alumna from the pioneer batch co-founded In My Shoes, a non-profit organisation that collects sports shoes and redistributes them to those in need.

To nurture the next generation of all-rounded sportsmen, Temasek Foundation Nurtures will offer the EW Barker Scholarship to a maximum of 24 talented, high-potential student-athletes each year. Eighteen student-athletes are prospective recipients of the inaugural scholarship that was launched by Mr Tharman. Potential scholars include Raeka Ee Pei Ying (Netball, Secondary 4), Shirlene Hew Yun Ting (Shooting, IBDP Year 5), Clydi Chan (Swimming, Secondary 3), and Shan s/o S Anandan (Track and Field, Secondary 3).

The evening’s rumbustiousness began with a boisterous welcome for Mr Tharman – a liondance performance by student-athletes from Sports School’s Track and Field Academy, before an opening segment put together by student-athletes from Netball, Shooting, Pencak Silat, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Track and Field, and Wushu.

Principal Tan Teck Hock then highlighted Sports School’s achievements over the years, which includes 8 Olympians, 13 World Champions and 460 National Open Representatives – and counting. Mr Tan attributed Sports School’s growth to the collaborations and close partnerships with sport and academic agencies both local and overseas, coupled with the unwavering support from parents, staff of the school, and sponsors.

The Awards Night also recognised student-athletes and alumni who have done well in sport, academic and have been role models in character in 2018. Four student-athletes at the Secondary and Post-Secondary levels were named Moo Soon Chong Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year. Koen Pang Yew En (Table Tennis) and Siti Khadijah Mohamad Shahrem (Pencak Silat) were winners in the Secondary category, while Muhammad Jaris Goh Ali Akbar Goh (Bowling) and Crystal Wong Jia Ying (Badminton) received the accolade in the Post-Secondary category.

Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games double gold medallist Martina Lindsay P Veloso, Jakarta-Palembang 2018 Asian Games silver medallist Roanne Ho Ru’En and pencak silat World Champions Muhammad Iqbal Abdul Rahman, Nurul Suhaila Mohamed Saiful, and brothers Sheik Farhan and Sheik Ferdous Sheik Alau’ddin were among the recipients of 88 other sport, academic and character awards that were presented.

The Celebrations included the cutting of the 15th Anniversary cake by Mr Tharman, Mr Tan, Ms Tan Gee Keow (Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and Sports School Board Chairman), Mdm Kit Gek Wah (Superintendent, N8 Cluster, Ministry of Education), joined by Mr Tan Wearn Haw (Director, National Youth Sports Institute), Mrs Deborah Tan (Sports School second Principal), Dr Moo Swee Ngoh (wife of Sports School first Principal, the late Mr Moo Soon Chong), Ms Janice Yun Hui Wen (Sports School Board Member and pioneer batch alumni), Mr Colin Foo (Chairman, Sporting Parents Network), and Regine Goh Xuan Xuan (Chairman, 4th Council of School Captains).

It takes a village to raise a champion. And Singapore Sports School’s 15th Anniversary Celebrations cum Awards Night 2019 was a homecoming for the Sports School’s village. Current student-athletes and their parents; alumni; sport partners – Sport Singapore, Singapore Sport Institute, National Youth Sports Institute, various National Sports Associations; academic partners such as Ngee Ann and Republic Polytechnics; overseas partner organisations; and sponsors gathered to celebrate Sports School’s achievements over 15 years.

A series of activities were planned to commemorate Sports School’s 15 years, culminating with the Celebrations on 13 February 2019, involving student-athletes, alumni, staff and parents. One such activity was a painted tapestry carrying the names of sports student-athletes and alumni compete in that is displayed at the school’s swimming complex. The school population also rallied together to raise over $73,000 for two Project Champions Way beneficiaries – Singapore Disability Sports Council and Special Olympics Singapore.

SPEECHES

Address by Guest-of-honour Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam

Address by Principal Mr Tan Teck Hock

LIST OF STUDENT-ATHLETE PERFORMERS

Emcee

Rishika Ghanamoorthy, Netball, IBDP Year 6

Lion Dance

Elijah Tan, Track and Field, Secondary 2

Janelle Lum Wai Yan, Track and Field, Secondary 2

Kyan Chong Jun Xiang, Track and Field, Secondary 2

Liau Fong Jun, Track and Field, Secondary 2

Olivia Sallit, Track and Field, Secondary 2

Samantha Theresa Ortega, Track and Field, Secondary 2

Zach Chia Chin See, Track and Field, Secondary 2

Chancey Poon Chan Say, Track and Field, Secondary 3

Jet Goh, Track and Field, Secondary 3

Louisa Helena Janssen, Track and Field, Secondary 3

Oon Ghim Han, Track and Field, Secondary 3

Tertius Zhuo Zheheng, Track and Field, Secondary 3

Wayne Tan Ze Ye, Track and Field, Secondary 3

Act 1: Our Hearts Beat As One

Drums

Allison Margaret Loo Li Houng, Track and Field, Secondary 2

Ezra Nur Iman Zainal, Track and Field, Secondary 2

Dini Irdina Mohamed Akhirudin, Track and Field, Secondary 2

Lim Yong Qi, Track and Field, Secondary 2

Mohamad Afzal Mohamad Zin, Track and Field, Secondary 2

Muhammad Aiman Mohamad Azhar, Track and Field, Secondary 2

Belynda Tan Suang Teng, Track and Field, Secondary 3

Chloe Tan, Track and Field, Secondary 3

Daura Boon Shi Ling, Track and Field, Secondary 3

Jamie El-Redha Ang Norhisham, Track and Field, Secondary 3

Ng Jing Ni, Track and Field, Secondary 3

Raam Kumar Muthukumaran, Track and Field, Secondary 3

Saifuddin Nasrudin, Track and Field, Secondary 3

Shan s/o S Anandan, Track and Field, Secondary 3

Siti Sarah Kamarudin, Track and Field, Secondary 3

Flute

Au Yong Qing Yong, Shooting, Secondary 2

Pencak Silat

Aniq 'Asri Mohammad Yazid, Pencak Silat, Secondary 2

Muhammad Naufal Abdullah, Pencak Silat, Secondary 1

Nadhrah Sahrin, Pencak Silat, Secondary 3

Nur Allyssya Sallehuddin, Pencak Silat, Secondary 2

Nur Hadi Norshamsuddin, Pencak Silat, Secondary 4

Siti Fathimah Mohamad Shahrem, Pencak Silat, Secondary 4

Yusri Mohd Yusoff, Pencak Silat, Secondary 3

Wushu

Cayden Seow Yu Bin, Wushu, Secondary 1

Jowen Lim Si Wei, Wushu, DSLM Year 3

Kassandra Ong Xue Ling, Wushu, Secondary 1

Kimberly Ong Li Ling, Wushu, IBDP Year 5

Act 2: Consider Yourself

Trinity Alcantara Goh, Swimming, Secondary 2

Cheryl Wee, Netball, Secondary 4

Athena Solomon, Netball, Secondary 1

Ianni Wong, Netball, Secondary 1

Hannah Gan Jia En, Netball, Secondary 1

Leow Pei Hann, Netball, Secondary 1

Megan Low Wen Qi, Netball, Secondary 1

Ng Ler Yann, Netball, Secondary 1

Nur Syarah Syazwina Salleh, Netball, Secondary 1

Sofie Abdullah, Netball, Secondary 1

Tisha Jeffrey Lee, Netball, Secondary 1

Wong Xuan Yi, Netball, Secondary 1

Cheyenne Lim Hwee Suan, Netball, Secondary 2

Chloe Tan Chu Ying, Netball, Secondary 2

Faithmaria Ifeoma Mckevin Lawrence, Netball, Secondary 2

Janissa Tan Wei Ting, Netball, Secondary 2

Jernise Moh Jing Wen, Netball, Secondary 2

Kimberly Koh Jing Ting, Netball, Secondary 2

Kristy Tan Wei Lin, Netball, Secondary 2

Mavia Kow Hui Min, Netball, Secondary 2

Wilone Wong Khee Fhee, Netball, Secondary 2

Ameerah Jasmine Mohamed Jeffry, Netball, Secondary 3

Andrea Antasha Mohamad Imran, Netball, Secondary 3

Hannah Low Guan Lin, Netball, Secondary 3

Ho Sue-Ann, Netball, Secondary 3

Kalisa Kaur Williams, Netball, Secondary 3

Preethika Sivakumar, Netball, Secondary 3

Smita Ishana Rai, Netball, Secondary 3

Tham May Xin, Netball, Secondary 3

Valerie Sim Pei Qi, Netball, Secondary 3

Zulfa Rashad d/o Rayhan, Netball, Secondary 3

Aqiilah Nissa Muhamad Nazzim, Netball, Secondary 4

Christy Ng Kai Xi, Netball, Secondary 4

Jolyn Deanne Sim Giak Ying, Netball, Secondary 4

Keicia Seek En-Ting, Netball, Secondary 4

Muneera Noor Fadhil, Netball, Secondary 4

Nurul Ain Mymon Mohamed Ali, Netball, Secondary 4

Raeka Ee Pei Ying, Netball, Secondary 4

Rebecca Lim Ying, Netball, Secondary 4

Act 3: Dreams And Aspirations

Rhythmic Gymnastics

Lim Jia Min, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Secondary 1

Sophia Ho Jin Wen, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Secondary 1

Abie Chi En Shuen, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Secondary 2

Low Yu Yenn, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Secondary 2

Michele Petrova Lau Xin Ling, Rhythmic Gymnastics, IBDP Year 5

Phebe Meredith Lau Zhi Ling, Rhythmic Gymnastics, IBDP Year 5

Lyn Yeo Siew Lyn, Rhythmic Gymnastics, IBDP Extended

Avryl Tan Ying, Rhythmic Gymnastics, DBS Year 2

Celebrate Score18! Winning Dances

Netball Academy