Singapore Canoe Federation

SINGAPORE CANOE FEDERATION 47 National Team with Coach David Bellette at the 2001 Southeast Asian Canoeing Championships in Putrajaya, As the SEA Games in September national coaching accreditations across a Malaysia. approached, things quickly got into gear. On range of sports including squash, swimming 1 June 1997, training to prepare for the SEA and canoeing, Bellette quickly got to work Singapore’s K2 crew at the 1997 SEA Games in Jakarta, Indonesia. Games commenced at Pandan Reservoir rebuilding the National Team, improving the for a small group of male athletes, selected athletes’ technique and strength, and bringing through a time trial at MacRitchie Reservoir. the athletes up to speed on developments in Out of this group, the SNOC eventually paddling technique that had passed Singapore selected two male athletes for the SEA by during the intervening years when Games, whom the Federation sent to the Singapore had vanished from the regional and Asian Canoeing Championships in Sokcho, international paddling scene. South Korea, for exposure shortly before the 19th SEA Games in Jakarta, Indonesia. These Francis Ng, a former national athlete and two competitions marked a return to the SCF the Federation’s current Assistant Honorary sending athletes overseas for competitions Secretary, shared an amusing anecdote: “One since 1993. The athletes, who had been day, not long after he began coaching us, training without any coach, reached the Coach David told us that we had to get foot finals of the K2 500m and the K2 1000m in straps to use when paddling. Despite all of the SEA Games but did not win any medals. us having paddled racing kayaks for several Meanwhile, the SCF renewed efforts to lobby years, none of us had the faintest idea what he for a centralised training site. was talking about, let alone how to use these foot straps. Giving us a bemused look, Coach After the SEA Games, the National Team was David told us to get hold of some unused given a boost with the arrival of Australian seatbelts from a car workshop. We did so and businessman David Eason Bellette, who he then taught us how to modify the footrests had come to Singapore for work and later of our kayaks to fit on the foot straps. That coached the National Team on a voluntary made a big difference to our paddling.” basis from late 1997 onwards. Bellette was a former professional Australian rules football This was the first time the National Team player who had picked up kayaking in 1987 had a foreign coach and Coach Bellette was and made the Australian Team for Canoe to be the glue that would hold it together Marathon in 1995. With extensive Australian over the next few years.

48 A N E W WAV E O F O P T I M I S M In 1999, the National Team moved from Team participated not only in more training at the Pandan Reservoir, where major events like the 1998 Asian Games, the lanes and training facilities had to the Asian Canoeing Championships and be shared with the Singapore Amateur the first three editions of the Southeast Rowing Association, to train at the Kallang Asian Canoeing Championships (SEACC) in Basin. The Kallang Basin, in its pre-Marina 1999, 2001 and 2003, but also smaller races Reservoir days, was a less than ideal in the region, such as in Malaysia and Hong training venue. It was susceptible to tidal Kong to gain more competition exposure flow, there were no lanes or lane markings, as it rebuilt itself. and the National Team, which was based out of the Kallang Water Sports Centre Coach Bellette’s tenure as National (KWSC), frequently had to contend with Coach, which ended in early 2003, was both dragon boats and Police Coast Guard also significant for another reason. vessels leaving and returning to their base, Under him, the National Team saw its which was then located next to the KWSC. first women athletes in nearly a decade. Nevertheless, Coach Bellette and the The core of four women athletes in National Team made the most of it. the Senior Women's Team who trained Many a training session was held in the under Coach Bellette would eventually Geylang River, where distance markers go on to achieve podium finishes in two were painted along the embankments events in the 2003 SEA Games. They to compensate for the lack of buoys to were the start of an unbroken line of indicate distance. Coach Bellette also women paddlers in the National Team, greatly emphasised the importance of which has grown from strength to overseas competition exposure for the strength over the past two decades. athletes. Under his charge, the National Lim Ling Min and Tong Lee Ling achieve bronze in the Women’s K2 200m race at the 2003 Asian Canoeing Championships in Bhopal, India.

SINGAPORE CANOE FEDERATION 49 money” was so radical that it was met with incredulity even from within the SCF. “The committee told me I was crazy,” quipped Chua, “because the SCF was a non-profit organisation.” But like it or not, a reframing was needed; the constant need to scrap money together to run the SCF had proved to be untenable and exhausting for volunteers. Group photo of national athletes at the 2003 Southeast Asian Canoeing Championships in Pattaya, Thailand. A solution was needed, which the new Personal Skills Star Award scheme As the National Team was rebuilding Chua shared that an early priority was to The efforts culminated in the launch of the presented. The Federation began to itself, the Federation too was beginning introduce a certification and curriculum Personal Skills Star Award scheme in April conduct courses based on the new to recover its footing and began drawing for recreational kayaking scheme to ensure 2000. The technical skills, including rescue certification, kickstarting a sustainable up more ambitious plans for the new standardised teaching of the sport. Another techniques, for each level of mastery were income stream for the first time. It could millennium. Chua Kee Huat, the SCF’s pressing matter was to shore up the SCF’s now clearly outlined and coaches had to not have happened at a better time as it President from 1999 to 2012, recounted finances with income-generating services. get up to speed with the new standards. coincided with a surge in interest in water that the Council benefitted from the Eventually, the Federation would stipulate sports in Singapore. The Straits Times guidance of Chan Soo Sen, who became The move to standardise the teaching of a minimum of 1-Star certification for reported in 2001 that the SCF, as well as the SCF’s first advisor in March 1999. The kayaking might have seemed audacious anyone competing in races or renting a other water sports bodies, was flooded then-Member of Parliament for Joo Chiat given the SCF’s low profile in recent years. closed-deck or sprint kayak. with requests for classes. gave the Council ideas, advice, perspective Nevertheless, the new Council pressed on and had helped to nudge things along to gain buy-in from affiliates, which had If achieving national accreditation was behind the scenes, he added. been operating independently before. audacious, then the idea of “making

50 A N E W WAV E O F O P T I M I S M A NEW MILLENNIUM storage area at Kallang; it also received Women’s K4 team at the ceremony for the 2003 SEA Singapore’s canoeing contingent for the 2003 SEA OF HOPE funding to pay part-time coaches and Games in Hanoi, Vietnam. Games. to hire a full-time staff, relieving the The early 2000s was a period of great administrative burdens of the Council. optimism for sports in Singapore. In 2000, the Ministry of Community A year later, it received more funds Development was renamed the Ministry for secretarial support, overseas of Community Development and Sports training, new equipment and – for the to signal the greater attention towards first time in its history – hire a full- sports development. time coach to prepare for the 2003 SEA Games. This eventually led to the This was followed by the SSC’s strategic Federation hiring its first full-time blueprint “Sporting Singapore”, which foreign National Coach on a long-term envisioned Singapore to be among basis, Dr Boris Polyakov from Uzbekistan, Asia’s top 10 sporting nations by 2010. in the same year. Thirteen athletes also received training grants from A key strategy was to expand the “Sports the SSC, with two training full-time Excellence” programme, which was for six months – another first for introduced in 1993 to nurture and produce the sport. high-performance sports talents in some core sports to compete in international competitions and games. Support was thus ramped up for national The nascent efforts brought back sports associations (NSAs), which Singapore’s first SEA Games medals for were recognised as a key factor for canoeing since the 1987 edition – two ensuring sporting success. In 2002, the bronze medals in the Women’s K2 500m SCF secured a permanent office and and K4 500m events. Team Singapore (middle boat) competes in the Women’s K4 500m event at the 2003 SEA Games.

SINGAPORE CANOE FEDERATION 51 2003 SEA Games’ team with Coach Boris Polyakov at MacRitchie Reservoir. The enhanced support also came with In 2003, the newly re-organised Public Kayak Ironman Challenge held at The Paddle Lodge @ MacRitchie Reservoir in 2005. closer scrutiny of how the NSAs were Utilities Board (PUB) gave the approval run and governed since they received for the Federation to use MacRitchie substantial public funding. With support Reservoir for the National Team’s training from the SSC, the Federation began to on a permanent basis. It also allowed introduce more robust structures and the SCF to utilise the canoe sheds, lay processes to ensure good governance. down permanent lanes in the water and Over the next few years, it would begin construct a launching bay. to hire more full-time staff and move away from a volunteer-led model towards Two years later, the SCF adopted one helmed by a secretariat with strong MacRitchie Reservoir as part of the PUB’s leadership and management capabilities. ABC Waters Programme to encourage public ownership and care of water Another positive development was the resources. Together with PUB, it opened change in Singapore’s water management the Paddle Lodge at MacRitchie Reservoir policy. Previously, the government had to much fanfare as the public ventured adopted a protectionist stance that kept onto the waters for the first time in rented people away from water catchment bodies kayaks. As the NSA operating the Paddle to maintain pristine water quality. But in the Lodge, the SCF now had an additional early 2000s, it reversed this mentality and sustainable stream of income – bolstering began to educate and engage the public its financial situation further. into keeping waterways and water bodies clean. This included the gradual opening of reservoirs for water-based recreational activities – a plan which had been in discussion for almost a decade.

52 A N E W W AV E O F O P T I M I S M CHARTING THE COURSE FOR SUCCESS Now that the crucial pieces of the puzzle worked with the Ministry of Education Cheng Kok Hua was one of the earliest were in place – the pressure was on for the to promote the use of kayaks (and later to represent Singapore as a Flatwater SCF to show some results. canoes) among students, in line with Race Official at the 2006 Asian Games in international competition trends, and to Qatar. Fifteen years later, he became the The Federation’s strategy was two- gradually phase out touring kayak events first Singaporean to be an International pronged. It would raise the profile of from the National School Games. Technical Official for canoeing at the canoeing by promoting the Personal Skills Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. Star Award Courses and other public In 2007, there were six national programmes. By enabling more to pick championships, including the Singapore As more Singaporeans began to up paddling at non-competitive levels, it Invitational Kayak Championships that participate in races as athletes and would be able to nurture a healthy talent brought teams from Brunei, Vietnam and technical officials, the Federation pipeline for competitive canoeing. Malaysia to compete against the National gained prominence in the regional and Team. That year, canoes, which were first international canoeing scene. In 2009, Second, it would create a vibrant introduced in the 1980s, and reintroduced the Federation’s President, Chua Kee ecosystem for competitive canoeing, in 2005, were included in the National Huat, was elected as a board member and build a pathway to groom talented Kayak Marathon for the first time. of the ICF while Henry Sim, the SCF’s individuals into elite national athletes. Honorary Secretary, was elected as To further raise the profile of canoeing in Treasurer of the ACC. To this end, the Federation introduced Singapore, the SCF made bold attempts more local meets in the mid-2000s. These to host regional and international events. included the National Junior Canoeing In 2005 it made waves as the first Asian Championship, which appealed to the city to win the bid to host the ICF Canoe growing number of younger paddlers in Marathon World Championships in 2011. In their late teens, and the National Women’s preparation for this event, the SCF started Kayaking Championship for the burgeoning sending volunteers to be certified by the cohort of female competitors. It also ICF as international technical officials. Canoeists race at the 2009 Singapore Canoe Marathon.

SINGAPORE CANOE FEDERATION 53 Cheng Kok Hua officiating at the 2020 Olympics - Canoe Sprint, held in Tokyo, Japan. Women’s K4 race at the first National Junior Canoeing Championship in 2004.

54 A NE W WAV E OF OP T IMI S M GROOMING ELITE ATHLETES It was during the mid-2000s when the Federation upped its ante in athlete development and began taking a longer- term approach. Even as the Federation hired a number The team had its first time trial in early the right gear to tide them through 35km, National Canoe Marathon of foreign coaches to coach the National 2005 to go through a selection for the and feeders to ensure they were properly athletes at the 2006 Canoe Sprint Team following Coach David World Marathon Championships and the hydrated throughout the course. International Kayak Bellette’s stint, it formed the first National contingent debuted in its first overseas Marathon in Sun Moon Marathon Team in 2004, comprising six marathon race at the 13th ICF Canoe Moving forward, the same contingent Lake, Taiwan. young athletes who were then university Marathon World Championships in April participated in the Asian Canoeing undergraduates. Goh Poh Soon led the 2005, Swan River in Perth, Australia. The Championships in the long-distance original team’s final outing, with team as head coach, having experience team competed in doubles — 28km with category, 20km with no portages, in a new contingent eventually in long distance competitions, with the three portages for Senior Women K2 December 2005 in Putrajaya, Kuala representing Singapore in 2008 in assistance of Coaches Graham and Jenny and 35km with four portages for Senior Lumpur, and in 2006 in Sun Moon Lake, the 16th ICF Canoe Marathon World Worthington, who helped share their Men K2. It was an eye opener with world Taiwan, achieving a remarkable 2nd Championships on the Vltava river, expertise on preparation for marathon experts demonstrating their wash riding placing for Senior Men K1 and 4th placing Týn nad Vltavou, Czech Republic. training, having competed in marathon and portaging skills, being equipped with for Senior Women K1. This was to be the races back in their native Australia. The National Marathon Team expanded to a total of ten members by 2007 and A typical training consisted of clocking eventually merged with the National long distances like 10km, 20km and 30km Canoe Sprint Team to train as one team sets, portage practices through the sands for the 2007 SEA Games under then- at the old Kallang Basin, and learning National Coach Toshko Kalpakov. how to fuel oneself through long training sessions. The team even experimented and built their own pump system (bought from a fish aquarium) to last through 20-30km sets without having water accumulating in their kayaks.

SINGAPORE CANOE FEDERATION 55 Coach Balázs Babella with the Men’s K4 gold medallists of the 2008 Southeast Asian Stephenie Chen and Suzanne Seah win the Women’s K2 previous coaches. In 2008, his charges Canoeing Championships, held in MacRitchie Reservoir, Singapore. 200m event at the 2011 SEA Games, held in Indonesia. won an unprecedented nine gold medals at the 5th Southeast Asian Canoeing Senior Women’s K4 team leading at the 2008 Southeast Asian Canoeing Championships. In late 2008, the Federation hired Balázs Championships, with the Senior Women’s Babella, a two-time K4 world champion K4 team making a clean sweep of the from Hungary, as the National Coach on a gold medals in their 1000m, 500m and two-year contract. This was the longest 200m events. Andrea Chen, Annabelle Ng, contract the Federation had offered full- Geraldine Lee and Irene Chua received time coaches so far. the Meritorious Award (Team) Singapore Sports Award in 2009 for their incredible At this point, no one knew how significant feat — yet another first for canoeing. the appointment would be to the development of canoeing in Singapore. In 2011, Coach Babella led his charges to The 30-year-old himself would not have the SEA Games in Indonesia aiming to win guessed that his coaching stint would at least one gold medal – a goal, he said, turn into a series of renewed contracts, that “no one believed … we could”. culminating into a 14-year (and counting) career with the Federation. Proving the naysayers wrong, Singapore finally broke its gold medal drought at the The newcomer made waves quickly, SEA Games with Geraldine Lee triumphing building upon the foundation laid by in the Women’s K1 500m event and duo Stephenie Chen and Suzanne Seah winning the Women’s K2 200m event. The team also brought back five silver and three bronze medals — a tremendous confidence booster for the Federation, which had fielded its largest contingent ever for the SEA Games with 13 athletes who were mostly below the age of 25.

56 A NE W WAV E O F O P T IMI S M That year, Geraldine Lee went on a week, with 5am starts. In the months Geraldine Lee competing at the 2012 Olympics in London, United Kingdom. to finish fourth in the K1 500m leading up to major competitions, race at the Asian Canoe Sprint many took no-pay leave or put their Championships in Iran, which was studies on hold. Their dedication the continental Olympic qualifier for earned them great respect from the next Olympics. This eventually their coach, who told The Straits led to Lee being offered a spot at Times in a 2013 interview that he the London Olympics in 2012, where admired their “extreme commitment”. she made history as the first Singapore kayaker to compete All the sacrifices proved to be at the Games. This surprised even worth it: the athletes were in due Coach Babella who had aimed for course rewarded with podium an athlete to qualify for the 2016 Rio finishes that won them greater Olympics at the very earliest. attention and support from the SSC and later, following the SSC’s In a media interview, Coach Babella renaming, Sport Singapore. They described Lee as “a machine” when received even more support, including it came to training. Indeed, success fully-funded overseas training could not have been possible without camps and access to nutritionists the athletes’ grit, sacrifices and and sports psychologists from the passion for canoeing. Training could Singapore Sport Institute, one of the be as intense as twice a day, six days departments under Sport Singapore. Geraldine Lee prepares for her race at the 2012 Olympics.

SINGAPORE CANOE FEDERATION 57 Women’s K4 team rejoice at their victory in the 500m race at the 2015 SEA Games, held in Marina Reservoir, In 2013, six female kayakers, including Lee, the medal standings for canoeing among Singapore. were among 66 athletes — chosen for their the participating Southeast Asian teams. potential for podium success, training A few months later, another breakthrough commitments as well as good attitude and was achieved when the team won their first behaviour — who received the inaugural K1 and C1 medals at the 16th Asian Canoe Sports Excellence (spex) Scholarship, with Sprint Championships held in Palembang, amounts up to $90,000 being disbursed to Indonesia. Three years later, Mervyn Toh athletes to help them train full time. became the first Singaporean to make a podium finish in Canoe Sprint at the Asian In turn, Coach Babella’s sustained Games, winning the Bronze in the Men’s K1 efforts at lifting the standard of Canoe 200m race. Sprint were given the highest recognition when he was named Coach of The Year on year, the Singapore athletes were Year in 2014 as part of the Singapore closing the gap between them and their Sports Awards. This is Singapore’s most peers. The improved showings were highly coveted honours for sporting testament that the Federation’s many achievements across the various facets strategies were working. of Singapore’s sporting ecosystem. A key move had been to improve the More successes followed as the National athlete-coach ratio with the hiring of an Team forged strong rapport while assistant coach for Canoe Sprint (Kayak) developing unstinting trust for their coach in 2014 and a dedicated coach for Canoe who had been with them since 2008. Sprint (Canoe). In 2016, it recruited Bill Lee, a SEA Games kayak sprint gold medallist, to A dominant Canoe Sprint team swept be the National Junior Development Coach seven gold and five silver medals at the to coach and grow the pool of junior kayak 2015 SEA Games in Singapore, topping sprint athletes in Singapore.

58 A NE W WAV E O F O P T IMI S M Bill Lee and Brandon Ooi triumph in the Men’s K2 1000m race at the 2015 SEA Games held in Marina Reservoir, Singapore. Lucas Teo celebrates his win in the Men’s K1 1000m race at the 2015 SEA Games. Mervyn Toh is the first Singaporean to make a podium finish in canoeing at the Asian Games.

SINGAPORE CANOE FEDERATION 59 A session of ActiveSG Canoe Academy’s Kid-in-a-Kayak (KIAK) programme, held in MacRitchie Reservoir. The Federation also saw the need to process for the first time. Two years nurture the local talent pool of coaches, later, 10 of its graduates met the time trial so in 2019 it established a coach requirements to qualify for the National development framework and launched Junior Kayak Sprint Team – realising the the inaugural Level 1 SG-Coach Canoe vision of KIAK of becoming the talent Sprint Course. It also began to support pipeline for Singapore canoeing. athletes to become coaches by including coach development as a goal in the athlete By 2019, the SCF had proved that the development pathway. KIAK model was viable but it needed to be scaled up. Recognising its potential, By 2019, the Federation had four full- Sport Singapore founded the ActiveSG time coaches – Coach Balázs Babella Canoe Academy in 2019 to augment the (Kayak); Coach Gyorgy Lentuloy (Canoe); high-performance pathway, in partnership Coach Bill Lee (Junior Kayak); and Coach with the SCF. To this end, the ActiveSG Agnes Szabo (Assistant Junior Kayak). Canoe Academy took over the funding and They were backed by a growing roster operation of KIAK in 2020; the infusion of of part-time coaches and volunteer funds and manpower to grow KIAK was coaches passionate about shaping the a boon towards keeping the programme next generation of paddlers, a pool that accessible and sustainable. (See page 62 was growing fast thanks to the successful for “How KIAK was formed”). Kid-in-a-Kayak (KIAK) programme, which had been introduced in 2015 by the SCF to With all the critical pieces of the high- lay the foundation of Canoe Sprint among performance pathway in place, the future primary schoolers. looked promising for the National Team and the SCF. In 2017, five of KIAK’s alumni were placed in secondary schools through the Ministry of Education’s Direct School Admission Inaugural Level 1 SG-Coach Canoe Sprint Course A 2018 photo of Cheryl Tay; Tay, who was one of the in 2019. regular coaches under the KIAK programme, is the first Academy Lead of the ActiveSG Canoe Academy.

60 A N E W WAV E O F O P T I M I S M A DREAM FULFILLED BY GRIT It was the morning of 1 September 2018. In 2014, Toh had set a personal best in the Mervyn Toh was poised at the starting heats of the K1 200m event at the Asian gate of the Men’s K1 200m Canoe Sprint Games. Seeing how it was just milliseconds event at the Asian Games. He focused on away from the silver and bronze medallists’ staying calm, knowing this was a race he times, Toh began to believe that an Asian had visualised countless times in his mind. Games medal was within his reach. When the race began, Toh took off on a He trained hard with this goal in mind: in Mervyn Toh proudly strong start and kept to his race plan. As 2015, Toh successfully captured a SEA holds the Singapore Flag he passed the final 50m mark, his two Games gold medal and an Asian Canoeing after winning his 2015 SEA strongest competitors edged past him. Championship bronze in his pet event. Games gold medal in the Still, he hung on – muscles burning with Men’s K1 200m event. every stroke – refusing to back down, But soon after, tragedy struck: Toh met determined for a podium finish. with a serious motorcycle accident \"... Asian Games medals were within that shattered his right hand and very Singaporeans' reach, and I would be the one ...\" When he crossed the line at 36.314 nearly his career as a national athlete. seconds, less than a second after Korea The emergency doctor told him it would and Kazakhstan, he became the first be months before he could use his hand Singaporean to win a medal in Canoe again; he needed surgery to insert a Sprint at the Asian Games. The euphoria titanium plate that would hold the broken was quickly followed by an immense wave bones together. of relief: he had done it – he had proven that it was possible for a Singaporean to Shocked and dismayed, the athlete win at the regional level. wondered if his hand would ever be the same again. All he could think of was This historic moment could not have whether he would be 100% again. “Without happened if not for some luck and a being at my 100%, would I still be able lot of determination. to reach my goals?” the 23-year-old had asked himself. MervynToh races in the Men’s K1 200m event at the 2015 SEA Games, held in Marina Reservoir, Singapore.

SINGAPORE CANOE FEDERATION 61 Mervyn Toh competes in the Men’s K1 200m finals at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea. There was little choice but to wait. The time, I learned about other areas I could first two months of rest were agony. It focus on. A particular area was my fitness Despite a huge setback, Mervyn Toh raced against all odds to achieve a bronze in the Men’s K1 felt like the nadir of his kayaking career, and endurance, which had always been a 200m event at the 2018 Asian Games - a first for Singapore in canoeing. as he wrestled with depressing thoughts, limiting factor. It was a catalyst to renew low motivation and a lack of confidence my motivation when I got back onto the in his own recovery. When the cast was water,” recounted Toh. removed, the sight of a severely atrophied right arm, which was noticeably smaller With the end goal in mind, he plunged into than his left, dealt him another blow. gruelling training – his obsession driving him to overtrain at times. A few months Yet, he managed to find the will to push before the Asian Games in 2018, he was on with rehabilitation; he had to urgently forced to take time off to rest and take his strengthen and re-train his weakened mind off paddling. muscles if he wanted to have a shot in 2018. Going into the final race on 1 September, Five months after the accident, he went Toh knew exactly what to expect: he knew back on water tentatively. It was not the every one of his competitors well, and how same as before. His injured hand would he compared to them. It was a moment hurt and swell if he exerted it during sprint he had been preparing for since 2014 and training or when lifting heavy weights. there would be no second chance. The pain followed him for years, and his hand would still swell and stiffen when the “I was happy to have proven what I always temperature dips. believed – that Asian Games medals were within Singaporeans' reach, and I would be “Looking back, while the accident was the one to show it,” he said. painful and seemed a huge setback at the

62 A N E W WAV E O F O P T I M I S M HOW KIAK WAS FORMED The Kid-in-a-Kayak (KIAK) programme set up KIAK during his first term as one of (Group photo during KIAK’s gestation period) Leading up to KIAK’s official launch, Coach Wang Nan Feng (2nd was officially launched by the SCF in 2015 the SCF’s Vice-Presidents. He recounts from left) and volunteers figured out how best to teach younger kids about Canoe Sprint. to allow primary schoolers to experience how KIAK was formed: the fun of kayaking and develop an interest in paddle sports, while learning “In 2014, not long after I started the basics of Canoe Sprint technique volunteering with the SCF, I first met under the guidance of dedicated coaches Coach Balázs at MacRitchie Reservoir who enjoy working with children. after a coaching session with the National Team. I had a chat with him Accessibility to sport has been a key about the state of Singapore canoeing as tenet of KIAK. To allow children from I was interested in getting an unvarnished all backgrounds to learn how to paddle, account, from a former world champion it eschews the high-fee model associated with extensive experience on the with picking up many other sports, international canoeing scene, about which naturally results in self-selection what Singapore needed to do to improve of children from middle income and the standards of the sport. Coach above families. Balázs, who started paddling before he was 12, said two things that struck me: In 2020, the ActiveSG Canoe Academy, ‘Singapore must have a programme for which was set up by Sport Singapore, took younger kids to learn how to kayak, like in over the operation of KIAK in partnership Hungary.’ and ‘We’re already a few years with the SCF. Francis Ng, a former national too late.’ kayaker in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Coach Wang Nan Feng interacting with a child during the pre-KIAK days. One of her aims was to let all kids who joined KIAK have a smile like that and develop a love for paddling.

SINGAPORE CANOE FEDERATION 63 The first race involving the children from KIAK - 2016 Singapore Canoe Marathon, held in Marina Reservoir. Immediately I knew we had to urgently kids and kayaks before our official launch start a programme to introduce sprint in October 2015 at MacRitchie Reservoir – kayaking to primary schoolers. This where I had met Coach Balázs a year ago. would fill the gap in Singapore’s flatwater kayaking talent development pathway Our pint-sized participants needed smaller and push Singapore canoeing further. We kayaks and racing paddles but there were named the new programme KIAK, which none in Singapore. To buy our first fleet of stands for “Kid-in-a-Kayak”. Kape junior kayaks and Kajner paddles, we raised funds from friends and family. When KIAK started, we were fortunate to Many donors were not even kayakers get current and former national paddlers themselves but believed in our vision. After as volunteer coaches to give our kids the purchasing our first fleet of junior kayaks proper foundation in the fundamentals of consisting of JK1s and JK2s, we eventually sprint paddling. Trained by Coach Balázs, expanded the fleet to purchase more these volunteer coaches would impart the JK1s and JK2s as well as JK4s, to support coach’s special blend of ‘paddling kung fu’ the running of junior races. In total, we in a fun-filled way. Let the kids fall in spent $50,000 on the specially-designed love with the sport first, before we talk equipment from Hungary. about racing. KIAK would not have gotten off the ground Our first KIAK coach was Wang Nan Feng, without the donors. Their generosity who had represented Singapore in the enabled us to start KIAK at extremely low, inaugural Youth Olympic Games half a affordable fees, which supports our belief decade earlier in 2010. She had to figure that no kid who wants to learn how to kayak out the nuts and bolts of handling young should ever be turned away by cost.” Visit by elite German and Hungarian kayak athletes to KIAK at MacRitchie Reservoir in 2017.

64 A NE W WAV E OF OP T IMI S M Paracanoe paddlers race at the 2018 Singapore Canoe Marathon, held in Marina Reservoir. FEATURE: PARACANOE Paracanoe was introduced to enable SEA Games and served as a member weekly sessions, 40 of the Paracanoe addition to the Paracanoe programme, the people with physical challenges to of the SCF’s Council and Executive paddlers participated in the 2016 SCF also launched the ActiveSG Yes! I Can enjoy the sport. After a successful Committee from 2009 to 2021. Singapore Canoe Marathon for the Canoe programme at MacRitchie Reservoir 10-week pilot in 2014, the SCF Paracanoe The programme brought together first time. in 2019 with participants from the Rainbow programme was launched in August volunteers from all walks of life who Centre. This joint programme with Sport 2014 with SportCares Foundation have dedicated their time every week In June 2017, the SCF introduced the Singapore and SportCares encourages and AWWA. to support the beneficiaries. These Paracanoe Kayak Singles (200m) at the persons with different abilities to take beneficiaries, with various physical 40th National Canoeing Championships on canoeing as a lifestyle sport. Held every Saturday from 3pm to challenges such as cerebral palsy, – giving the discipline a further boost. In 6pm at MacRitchie Reservoir, it muscular dystrophy or autism, are was the brainchild of Qiu Yunru, who paired with trained volunteers to represented Singapore in the 2003 ensure their safety. After undergoing

SINGAPORE CANOE FEDERATION 65 Paracanoe paddler enjoying the race at the GetActive! Singapore Pesta Sukan 2019 Canoe Sprint, SUP & Paracanoe Race. Group photo of the participants and volunteers of the paracanoe event at the 2018 Singapore Canoe Marathon. A session of the ActiveSG Yes! I Can Canoe programme in MacRitchie Reservoir.

FEATURE: Participants waiting for the races to start at the 2014 Singapore Canoe Marathon, held in Punggol Waterway Reservoir. CANOE MARATHON Canoe Marathon is long-distance paddling Punggol Waterway have since been to be selected as the host nation Marina Reservoir, inspiring young with a minimum distance of 20km and used as event venues. of the 19th ICF Canoe Marathon World paddlers who were able to witness 15km for men and women, respectively. Championships in October 2011. world-class canoeing on home ground. The SCF organised its first Canoe The SCM exposes athletes to different The SCM has become Singapore’s Marathon, the Long-Distance Canoeing race formats apart from the traditional It was a proud moment for the SCF largest annual canoeing event with Championship, in 1999 at the Kallang Canoe Sprint events of 1000m, 500m as a National Sports Association as 700-800 local and foreign participants River. In 2002, the race was renamed and 200m. A tactical race, it challenges Singapore became the first Asian taking part in varied events from the Singapore Canoe Marathon (SCM) athletes to strategise while demanding country to host the Championships. canoe sprint to surfski and and different locations such as the endurance. The experience of hosting The event brought top athletes from outrigger canoe. Lower Seletar Reservoir and the marathons paved the way for Singapore around the world to compete in the

SINGAPORE CANOE FEDERATION 67 Singapore’s canoeing contingent for the 2011 ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships in Singapore. Participants of various events race at the 2019 Singapore Canoe Marathon, held in Marina Reservoir. Outrigger canoes and stand up paddleboards (SUPs) race at the 2020 Singapore Canoe Marathon in Drone overview of the starting point of the 2017 Singapore Canoe Marathon, held at the Marina Reservoir. Marina Reservoir.

CHAPTER 4 Rolling with the Punches



70 R O L L IN G W I T H T HE P U N C HE S TACKLING THE ODDS WITH GRIT Canoe Sprint was not the only discipline to see success as the SCF arrived at the cusp of the new millennium. The Federation’s decades-long labour to promote Canoe Polo was also bearing fruit. In October 2019, the Canoe Polo Senior Senior Women’s Team is all smiles after winning the Women’s Team won the gold medal at the 2019 Canoe Polo Asian Cup in Deqing, China. Canoe Polo Asian Cup held in Deqing, China. With adroit skills, unbeatable speed and cunning strategies, they defeated their opponents in an exhilarating 6-1 game; the last goal shot into the net just seconds before the final whistle. Their road to the championship title saw Canoe Polo training session at Mount Emily swimming pool back in the 1980s. them winning every single match to the finals, overcoming worthy opponents FRAUGHT WITH CHALLENGES Singapore to kickstart the development Senior Women’s Team celebrates their first win at the 2015 from China, Hong Kong, Iran, Japan, AT THE START of Canoe Polo. Asian Canoe Polo Championships, held in Hong Kong. and Chinese Taipei. Canoe Polo has had a long but fractured However, the early enthusiasm was A month later, the SSC made the drastic This was the team’s second victory at history in Singapore; it experienced choppy dampened by the SSC’s refusal to allow the announcement of banning the fledgling an international meet. Yet it felt extra waters from the get-go when the then SCF to use the Mount Emily public pool for sport from all public pools. This sunk gratifying as it affirmed that the team’s national coach Bertie Koh tried to launch training. The Straits Times reported in April all hopes of introducing the game to first triumph at the 2015 Asian Canoe Polo it in Singapore in 1981. 1981 that the SSC feared that the canoes the masses. Championships had not been a fluke. would damage the pool walls. Hence, Koh had learnt about the sport during a sessions for the pioneering 20 players were But the allure of the fast-paced game To team captain Chad Ong, the 2015 final, in competition in Hong Kong in 1980. Talks to be held in the sea at Changi Point instead. that demanded great strategies and which they had beaten long-time rival Iran, with the Kagoshima Canoe Union of Japan skills was hard to resist. Very quickly, was the culmination of “a decade of hard resulted in a donation and shipment of interest was sparked among a group of work, dedication and commitment”. 10 Canoe Polo boats, worth $6,000, to early adopters.

SINGAPORE CANOE FEDERATION 71 On the SCF front, a team of Canoe Sprint the discipline had devolved – in some athletes competing at the 1985 Asian quarters – into a game played with Canoeing Championships in Japan doubled oversized on-water goal posts like up as Canoe Polo players for the meet. Then those used for water polo; players national coach Nasiman Karim told The also did not execute the signature hand Business Times that the lack of funds had tackles and skilful rolls that made the restricted the size of the Singapore men’s game an enthralling spectacle of contingent to six, including himself who had athleticism and physicality. to double up as team manager and compete in Canoe Polo. The maiden outing no doubt The discipline sorely needed a central deepened interest among the enthusiasts. body but the 1990s was also the period when the SCF found itself in a state Canoe Polo, though “unseen” in the public of existential crisis. eye, was thus adopted by players who had access to private pools. They were largely tertiary students and staff from Singapore Polytechnic, Ngee Ann Polytechnic and the National University of Singapore, who formed the pioneer Canoe Polo teams in the 1980s. The National University of Singapore’s Canoe Polo team having their training in 1998. But without a national body to oversee the sport, there was scant development to Canoe Polo. Competitions were limited to those within the institutions, with occasional inter-institution friendly matches. In fact, anecdotal accounts suggest that at some point in the 1990s,

72 R OL L ING W I T H T HE P UNCHE S A MUCH AWAITED REBIRTH After the Federation was resuscitated in 1997, it took another stab at reviving Canoe Polo. A sub-committee was formed in June 1998 to re-introduce the sport at a national level starting with the inaugural National Canoe Polo Championships in July 1999 held at the premises of the Singapore Armed Forces Yacht Club in Sembawang. The two decades following the inaugural Senior Men and Women Teams, along with Minister Desmond Lee and officials, at the 2018 Asian Games in Palembang, Indonesia, where Canoe Polo made its debut as a National Canoe Polo Championships saw demonstration sport. the discipline undergo a renaissance in Singapore. Nonetheless, the growth of after graduation. The SCF also faced the discipline, which has yet to make its repeated rejections from the authorities debut in any of the major games save as to secure public pools as permanent a demonstration sport at the 2018 Asiad, training sites, further hampering the faced severe challenges. growth of the sport. One factor was the infrastructural Despite these odds, the stalwarts Canoe Polo teams try to score a goal at the 2001 National Canoe Polo Championships, held at the NIE SSC challenges posed by the game. It requires soldiered on. Volunteers, mostly former Swimming Pool. at least five players per side (each with a tertiary players, juggled career and kayak, paddle, personal floatation device personal commitments to shape the next and helmet), two referees and a playing area generation. Some took on coaching roles on a body of water. at their alma maters, while others organised competitions; a number As such, in the early days, Canoe Polo was continued playing, serving as sparring largely confined to tertiary institutions partners for the younger players. that provided swimming pool access and common equipment to students and staff who were keen on playing. This meant that most players stopped their involvement

SINGAPORE CANOE FEDERATION 73 National Team training at the Singapore River Evan Kong, a Singapore Canoe Polo referee, officiating Sensing the potential of Canoe Polo in The National Team's first outing was the in 2002. at the 2018 ICF Canoe Polo World Championships in Singapore, the Federation approached 2003 Oceania Canoe Polo Championships Welland, Canada. Sean Chan, coach of the Singapore in Australia. More regional and international Polytechnic team, to establish the ICF-sanctioned competitions, such as the ICF Referee Course and Accreditation at the 2019 Canoe Polo Asian Cup. national squad. Chan, who had migrated to Asian Canoe Polo Championships, followed. Singapore in the late-1990s, was a former By sparring with opponents at a much higher player for the Hong Kong team. level, these players rapidly built up their individual skills and developed sound team Together with the sub-committee helmed strategies. They brought these experiences by then Vice-President Yip Kwan Guan, back to Singapore and imparted these he conducted the first selection trials in lessons generously to local players, thereby 2002 to form Singapore’s pioneer Senior raising the level of play domestically. Men’s and Women’s Canoe Polo national squads. Prior to this, the mantle of national The Federation also paid attention to representation for Canoe Polo had, largely grooming technical officials for the fallen on individual Canoe Polo teams discipline. This effort began in 2002 with the that had obtained permission from the first Canoe Polo referee course conducted Federation to represent Singapore and by Raymond Liow and Cheng Lin Chuan, who participate in competitions overseas. had undergone ICF official referee courses in Hong Kong. Other countries were at the At the start, the national teams’ training same nascent stage. In fact, at the 2004 was at a temporary site in the Kallang Basin, ICF Canoe Polo World Championships in with two goal frames suspended from the Miyoshi, Japan, coaches (including those Merdeka Bridge that spanned the Kallang from Singapore) were asked to double up as River. It was a challenging location due to referees to officiate the games due to a lack the strong tidal flow in the area. And like of ICF-qualified referees. The SCF’s efforts the Canoe Sprint team before them, they to support accreditation have encouraged also had to contend with both dragon boats the growth of highly competent officials in and Police Coast Guard vessels frequently Singapore. Since 2014, Singapore referees plying the area. have been selected by the ICF to officiate at the Canoe Polo World Championships.

74 R O L L I N G W I T H T H E P U N C H E S FINDING A BASE In 2004, the SCF made a strong Canoe Polo. Some players formed Canoe National Team training at the Singapore River in 2008. commitment to promote the sport by Polo clubs and were able to train at the tapping its development fund to rent the Pandan Reservoir. The Singapore Canoe Paya Lebar Swimming Pool with another Polo scene flourished steadily against national sports association for a year. this background, gaining prominence But it was an unsustainable solution: if and fostering a loyal following. In 2013, the Federation wanted to grow the sport the Public Utilities Board sponsored an nationally, it had to establish specialised aerial video for the National Canoe Polo venues that would encourage mass Championships, while Channel 5, one of participation, as well as high-performance Singapore’s free-to-air television channels, training and development. showcased the discipline in a series on extreme sports. To this end, it continued to lobby authorities and organisations to establish permanent By the mid-2010s, about 350 Canoe Polo play areas in reservoirs and other water players were participating in three nation- bodies. In 2007, it managed to secure the wide competitions annually – setting the use of the lake at the Singapore Discovery stage for elite Singapore players selected Centre for training. This was followed by for the national squad to perform at the the Bedok Reservoir in 2010, with logistical international level. support from Temasek Polytechnic, and at the Pandan Reservoir in 2011. The latter was the first complete Canoe Polo setup in Singapore not within a tertiary compound. It had two full-sized Canoe Polo playing areas with floating walkways for referees and officials. The Pandan setup paved the way for players Mogui A and Mogui B teams competing for possession not affiliated to tertiary institutions, of the ball at the GetActive! Singapore Pesta Sukan including younger players, to experience 2019 Canoe Polo Championships. National Team training at Pandan Reservoir.

SINGAPORE CANOE FEDERATION 75 DRIVEN BY DOGGED DETERMINATION A group photo of the Senior Men and Women, and U21 Men and Women Teams, along with coaches and officials at Flying the national flag meant a lot of hard After the affirming win, the Canoe Polo the 2017 Asian Canoe Polo Championships, held in Malaysia. The Senior Women and U21 Women Teams won the work and sacrifice on the part of the national Team barely had time to rest before bronze medals in their respective categories, while the Senior Men’s Team achieved 4th placing, and U21 Men’s athletes. On top of juggling their careers and plunging back into training and fundraising Team achieved 5th placing. intensive training, they had to finance their for their next competition – the 2020 Canoe love for the sport – spending thousands of Polo World Championships in Rome, Italy. Senior Women’s Team with their coaches, Jeroen Senior Women’s Team at the 2018 ICF Canoe Polo dollars on personal boats and equipment. To There was also the 2021 Asian Canoe Polo Dieperink and Poh Tai Cong. World Championships in Welland, Canada. They were compete overseas, they raised funds to cover Championships, which Singapore would be placed 9th that year — their highest standing to date. the costs of travel, accommodation, and even hosting, to prepare for. airfreight fees for their equipment. With no budget for dedicated full-time coaches, they In support, the SCF hired two full-time largely made do with volunteer coaches in the coaches, Poh Tai Cong and Loi Heng Foo – form of current and former national players both former Canoe Polo national athletes who stepped up out of passion for the sport – on a one-year contract. The construction to coach the national teams. of a new play court at the Bedok Reservoir, funded by the Federation, was also On some occasions, the SCF secured underway and slated for a 2020 opening. matching grants to support their endeavours The specialised facility, along with boat and but until the inclusion of Canoe Polo at major equipment rental, would lower the barrier of games such as the Olympics or SEA Games, entry to the discipline. This, the SCF hoped, long-term state funding to develop the would encourage the further burgeoning discipline would remain elusive. of the Canoe Polo community, just as the Pandan set up had done before. Despite the odds, the national athletes remained committed, driven by their passion With their confidence at an all-time high, for the sport and their vision of seeing the Canoe Polo teams were riding the wave Singapore succeed on the world stage. of optimism into the new millennium. Now Tackling their challenges tenaciously, they that the Singapore women had become chipped away at the competition at regional Asia’s best, they had set their sights on and continental meets to emerge as Asian being among the Top 8 women’s and Top 24 women’s champions for the second time men’s teams in the world by 2024. in 2019.

76 R OL L ING W I T H T HE P UNCHE S FROM HELPLESS TO VICTORIOUS Patricia Teo Yu Qi has been a member of \"... an unforgettable journey the National Canoe Polo Team for almost I truly enjoyed and will a decade; she was in both the Senior always cherish ...\" Women teams that emerged as Asia’s best in 2015 and 2019.   Today, she is a veteran in the squad but in The entire experience got more intense Singapore Women’s Team at Changi Airport, heading to the 2012 ICF Canoe 2012, when she took part in the ICF Canoe after I changed and launched into my Polo World Championships in ​P​ oznań, Poland (Patricia Teo is 2nd from Polo World Championships in Poland, she first game. It was 13 degrees Celsius, and the right). was a newbie who had joined the team the water felt ice cold. I wore a wet suit only a year ago. Her first taste of the world while the other team was in summer gear. Patricia Teo (first row, on the left) and her teammates in Poland for the championships exceeded her expectations Despite that, only five minutes into the 2012 ICF Canoe Polo World Championships. in every way. game, my fingers felt frostbitten, which robbed me of the ability to feel the ball in “Despite the numerous times my seniors my hand. Eventually I was able to put aside had warned us about the temperature the coldness that I was feeling and focused and our opponents’ size and speed, I kept on the game, but the opponents were much thinking to myself: how bad could it be? stronger than I had expected. I felt helpless They were just regular human like us. These in my first World Championships.”  thoughts vanished the moment I watched some of the ladies’ teams launch their She and her teammates did not allow that kayaks for training and paddle off. I found feeling to overwhelm them. Instead, they myself wondering instead, ‘Was that a returned home to train harder, determined men’s team or ladies’ team?’ to do better for the next competition. In 2013, the team lost to Iran and had to settle for the Silver at the Asian Canoeing Championships held in New Delhi, India.

SINGAPORE CANOE FEDERATION 77 Upon their return, Poh Tai Cong – a player All the hard training, dedication and from the Senior Men’s Team – volunteered discipline of executing the strategies, to coach them regularly. Poh was confident and the chemistry of the team paid off that the Women’s Team could be giant- handsomely in that competition. The team beaters if they learned tactics and skills that took to the playing area in Poland in to counter their physically stronger 2012 was a transformed team, which was opponents. Poh himself had picked up not only blazing with renewed passion new training methods from his frequent and determination but also possessed the participation in major European events, skills and tactics to match. The efforts of including the Internationaler Deutschland the past few years resulted in the ultimate Cup, the biggest Canoe Polo competition in payoff — a 3-1 victory in the finals over Iran, the world, and set about imparting what he the five-time defending champions. had learned to his charges. Even though she now has two Asian titles Senior Women’s Team emerges as the champion in the 2019 Canoe Polo Asian Cup (Patricia Teo is 8th from the right). “Coach spoke to me about how much he under her belt, Teo will never forget that believed in the team and how he was able to very first victory in 2015. see the potential in every one of us,” said Teo. “It was simply indescribable being crowned as the newly minted Asian “He devised new training plans, gave each Champions for the first time. In the end, it of us advice on what we needed to improve was the process, belief and team chemistry on, and ensured the team understood that brought us to this point. It was an and believed in the strategies that he had unforgettable journey I truly enjoyed and introduced. He said that we may not be will always cherish.” physically big like the others, but we could Team Singapore at the win by executing the right strategies. The opening ceremony for the belief he had in us restored the spirit of the 2016 ICF Canoe Polo World team as we trained for the 2015 Asian Canoe Championships in Syracuse, Polo Championships in Hong Kong.” Italy (Patricia Teo is standing 2nd from the right).

78 R O L L IN G W I T H T HE P UN C HE S The 2019 Singapore Ocean Cup also sees a wide range of boats such as surfskis, one person outrigger canoes (OC1) and one man Va’a (tahitian rudderless). FEATURE: CANOE OCEAN PADDLING Canoe Ocean Paddling was introduced Surfski racing, also known as Although Singapore is a relatively safe and Olympian or world champion or share a in 2004 by the Singapore Paddle Club, Canoe Ocean Racing, was recognised calm location to paddle in, its placid waters meal after the event, swapping race which became an affiliate of the by the ICF only recently, with the first belie the strong currents, eddies and rips stories and anecdotes of life. Federation in 2017. It comprises two ICF Canoe Ocean Racing held in created by the many surrounding islands. disciplines: outrigger canoeing and 2016 in Portugal. Due to their design, These conditions demand mastery of a Despite Singapore’s recent embrace of surfski racing. surfskis can reach speeds of more different set of skills. This is why ocean the discipline, it has gained prominence than 30km/h in heaving seas and paddlers from all over the world flock to globally. Singapore placed 2nd in the Outrigger canoeing is governed by the gale force winds. Singapore to pit their watermanship against under-23 category in the inaugural International Vaʻa Federation (IVF), one another as well as nature. Asian Canoe Ocean Racing Championships and has evolved into two subcultures, Since 2004, the Canoe Ocean Paddling 2017 in Hong Kong, and top 10 in the the Hawaiian (Waʻa) and Tahitian (Vaʻa), scene has grown rapidly. Its popularity The 2019 edition attracted more than 450 Masters age category in the World with different heritages, standards and was further boosted with the inaugural paddlers, including former and current Championships 2017, also in Hong Kong. designs. Singapore embraces both Singapore Ocean Cup in 2010, which canoeing world champions and Olympians. More recently, Singapore was among cultures and has imported paddle has become the biggest and most Due to its inclusive nature, the event has the top 20 in the Masters category crafts from Hawaii, Fiji, Tahiti, Australia technically challenging ocean paddling become one of the rare occasions where a in the World Championships 2019 and New Zealand. championship in Southeast Asia. rookie can line up at the start line with an in France. Paddlers of various countries flock to Sentosa to race in the 2019 Singapore Ocean Cup.

SINGAPORE CANOE FEDERATION 79 FEATURE: CANOE SLALOM Slalom is a term used to describe a the athlete uses a single-bladed paddle pioneer Jessica Gwee, who was in turn National athletes competing at the 2016 South sporting event with a winding course and is strapped into the boat with legs guided by the work and teachings of the East Asian Championships, held in Nakhon Nayok, marked out by obstacles. Canoe Slalom – bent at the knees and tucked under the ICF’s Canoe Slalom Development Manager, Thailand. originally modelled on ski slalom – began body, whereas in kayak events, the Pierrick Gosselin, to expand development in Switzerland in the 1930s. By the end athlete is seated and uses a double- of the discipline in Singapore. Faiz Azhar Bin Hazman and Jessica Gwee achieve of the 1940s, the International Canoe bladed paddle. bronze for the Canoe Double Mix Senior event at the Federation (ICF) was governing the With the support of the ICF and its 2017 Asian Canoe Slalom Championships held in sport, the objective of which is to As there are no rapids in Singapore, development programmes to identify Nakhon Nayok, Thailand. negotiate a course, defined by sets of the National Championships for Canoe and support talent in Canoe Slalom, poles (called gates) suspended over Slalom have been run on a flatwater the pioneers were able to drive the water, without fault in the shortest course. Flatwater Canoe Slalom was development and growth of the sport time. Today, Canoe Slalom is one of two featured during the inaugural Youth in Singapore – from grooming national canoeing disciplines at the Summer Olympic Games (YOG) in Singapore in Canoe Slalom paddlers to developing Olympics, the other being Canoe Sprint. 2010. Representation in canoeing at national technical officials. Owing to the YOG meant that an athlete had to Singapore’s geographical limitations, In the early days, the sport was staged compete in both the Canoe Sprint and until such time that Singapore has on flatwater but was later switched to Canoe Slalom disciplines. an artificial whitewater course, the whitewater rapids. Modern Canoe committed national athletes will have Slalom is a timed event where competitors As Singapore then lacked junior Canoe to look to overseas training venues to navigate a whitewater course by passing Slalom athletes who would meet the hone their skills. through a combination of upstream and age criteria for participation in the YOG, downstream gates. Courses can reach Canoe Sprint junior athletes Brandon Ooi Today, the Federation believes that the up to 400 metres in length and contain a and Wang Nan Feng were selected and future of Canoe Slalom lies in a whitewater maximum of 25 gates, with a minimum trained in the new discipline in the months kayaking programme for the everyday of six upstream gates (so named because leading up to the YOG. As host country, paddler – so that more Singaporeans the athlete must pass through these Singapore had to hold a test event to can learn the intricacies of manoeuvring gates in an upstream direction). ensure smooth running of the event at a kayak or canoe over whitewater and the YOG. The test event involved several hopefully go on to bring home glory from Canoe Slalom is contested in two types local schools and sparked interest among Canoe Slalom events around the world. of craft, canoe and kayak. In canoe events, the canoeing community. This prompted the SCF to work with early Canoe Slalom

CHAPTER 5 Ready for the Future



82 R E A D Y F O R T H E F U T U R E A MATURE AND CONFIDENT SCF As it matured and grew from strength to planned hosting of the Asian Canoe Polo strength, a confident SCF entered 2020 Championships in Singapore in 2021. in a buoyant, optimistic mood. It kicked off the year with its flagship Singapore But these grand plans were scuppered Canoe Marathon that saw 750 participants in March 2020 when a mysterious virus taking part in more than 60 categories of began to spread globally. A rapid shutdown events. Stand Up Paddling debuted with 90 of borders and businesses ensued when participants while an ActiveSG Community the COVID-19 outbreak reached pandemic Race brought participants of all ages – status. Singapore imposed a “Circuit including families – together to experience Breaker” period from April to June in a bid the fun in recreational canoeing. to break the virus’s transmission. The rest of the 2020 calendar looked As the situation worsened, canoeing SUP and PAssion Family events at the 2020 Singapore Canoe Marathon. packed to the brim, with courses, competitions were postponed or cancelled programmes and events pencilled in. while the fate of the Tokyo Olympics hung Among the events were competitions in the balance. Uncertainty was the order that would appeal to a broad audience of the day as the world found itself in an to keep interest in canoeing high while unprecedented flux. generating funds for the Federation to continue its work. The Canoe Sprint National Team was Competitors race past the Singapore Flyer at the Participants at the start line looking forward to the local and overseas 2020 Singapore Canoe Marathon, held at the Marina for the 2020 Singapore Canoe training camps lined up to prepare them Reservoir. Marathon. for upcoming meets, especially the Canoe Sprint Asian Olympic Qualifier in Pattaya, Thailand in April. The National Canoe Polo teams too had ramped up training in anticipation of the 2020 Canoe Polo World Championships in Rome and the

SINGAPORE CANOE FEDERATION 83 GRAPPLING WITH A GLOBAL CHALLENGE Men’s K4 teams race at the 2021 Inter-Tertiary Canoe Sprint Championships at the MacRitchie Reservoir. The Federation felt the impact swiftly as resumed activities for a canoeing it grappled with the evolving COVID-19 community that had grown restless restrictions and measures. There were from the halt in paddling. Public immediate concerns: the cancellation rentals, kayaking courses and athlete of events and courses meant significant trainings cautiously recommenced. income loss that impacted the But the evolving COVID-19 situation Federation’s finances; the sudden halt in meant constant adjustments to safe training broke the momentum that had management measures and how trainings been building up nicely and threatened to could be conducted, keeping everyone upset the gains achieved by both senior on their toes. and junior national athletes. Nevertheless, everyone soldiered on, Coaches scrambled to bring daily trainings determined not to let the pandemic online to keep the athletes – frustrated at discourage them. This was especially true being unable to paddle due to the closure for the Federation as 2021 marked the 50th of sports facilities – engaged and in top anniversary of its founding, and it planned shape. School trainings were suspended to celebrate the milestone, COVID-19 or indefinitely, putting a pause on skills not. To this end, it held its first virtual development for junior paddlers. Freelance event, the Go! 50km Paddle Challenge, recreational kayaking coaches who earned and a Logo Design contest, unveiling income only when they conducted courses a new logo in mid-2021. were badly hit. When the situation further improved It was a test of resilience for the in early 2021, the Federation began to Federation, its secretariat, volunteers, organise scaled-down competitions coaches, and athletes alike. When sports despite having to contend with a lack of activities involving small groups were sponsors and higher costs from additional allowed in late June 2020, the Federation COVID-19 safety measures. Junior girl paddlers excitedly race in their JK1s at the 2021 Singapore Kids Kayaking Championships, held at the MacRitchie Reservoir.

84 R E A DY F O R T HE F U T UR E As the pandemic wore on, the Brandon Ooi and Stephenie Chen, along with National Coach Balázs Babella, at the 2021 Canoe Sprint Asian Olympic Qualifier in Pattaya, Thailand. Federation began to worry for its elite athletes, who had been confined NEW BLOOD, NEW HOPES to Singapore for more than a year due to the restrictions on international travel. It is no exaggeration to say that 2020 and 2021 have so far been the most trying years Without overseas training and for the Federation since its revival in 1997. competitions, they were sorely That said, just as Singapore and the world lacking in sparring opportunities have adapted to the challenges posed by and competition experience the pandemic, so too has the SCF proven compared to their peers, especially its ability to adapt to the new normal those in Europe, who were still adroitly and innovatively. competing in regional competitions. Nevertheless, national kayakers Brandon Ooi and Stephenie Chen put in a marvellous show of grit when they raced at the 2021 Canoe Sprint Asian Olympic Qualifier in Pattaya, Thailand. Despite the challenges and interruptions to her training wrought by COVID-19, Stephenie Chen came in second for the K1 500m race at 1 minute 54.649 seconds – less than a second away from qualifying for the Olympics. Brandon Ooi after finishing his race in the Men’s K1 Stephenie Chen cooling down after the Women’s K1 200m event at the 2021 Canoe Sprint Asian Olympic 500m race at the 2021 Canoe Sprint Asian Olympic Qualifier. Qualifier.

SINGAPORE CANOE FEDERATION 85 A number of former competitive paddlers have answered the call to coach the next generation - the KIAK paddlers. The restrictions on overseas travel parents – former school or national have sparked a wave of interest among paddlers – are now reconnecting with the Former competitive paddlers – now Singaporeans in outdoor activities, sport and passing on their love for paddling working professionals – return to their including kayaking. It has become to their offspring. sporting roots on the waters of the increasingly common to see former reservoirs in the mornings before work competitive paddlers – now working With the flourishing of disciplines such or on weekends. professionals – returning to their sporting as Canoe Polo, Canoe Ocean Paddling, roots on the waters of the reservoirs in the Canoe Slalom, Canoe Sport and Stand Up A 2016 photo showing Francis Ng, the SCF’s current Assistant mornings before work or on weekends. Paddling, the paddle sports enthusiast in Honorary Secretary, with his wife and two eldest children in a JK4. Singapore is spoilt for choice. At the same Ng was a former National Canoe Sprint athlete while his wife Their renewed fervour for the sport time, the seeds planted by the founders represented Hong Kong in Canoe Sprint. The two children, who bodes well for future volunteerism on of the SCF’s Paracanoe programme will learned how to paddle with KIAK, are now in the National Junior Team. the Federation’s Council, Executive continue to grow and bear fruit, allowing Committee and its various sub- canoeing to live up to its potential of being committees. New blood will power a an inclusive sport for all segments of virtuous cycle of good management Singapore society. begetting good governance and policies, ensuring that the Federation never As it celebrates its 50th anniversary, reaches the nadir it once did 25 years ago. the Federation therefore has much to be grateful for, thanks to the efforts of its The KIAK programme, which provides a pioneers, while being optimistic about the structured pathway for children to learn future that the new generations will shape. how to paddle, has enabled more children The SCF can confidently look ahead to the than at any time in the Federation’s history next 50 years secure in the knowledge that to pick up canoeing as a sport. KIAK has with continued strong leadership, it will also contributed to increasing numbers flourish and achieve its vision of making of “second generation paddlers”, whose canoeing a sport for all.

86 R E A D Y F O R T H E F U T U R E PASSION FOR PADDLING: FROM PARENT TO CHILD Muhammad Syaheenul Aiman bin Nasiman is one of Singapore’s National Canoe Sprint athletes and a SEA Games silver medallist in the K2 and K4 200m events. Looking at him now, you would not guess Nasiman bin Karim, Syaheenul Aiman’s father, beams that he was once considered “too small” with pride as he holds Aiman’s 2015 SEA Games silver for kayaking when his father, Nasiman bin medal. Karim, a former National Canoe Sprint athlete, first introduced him to the sport at age 13. It was only when Aiman turned 15 that \"What really inspired Nasiman felt his son was finally ready to me was how much train for the National School Games. At that effort he went time, Aiman was in a secondary school that through to train me\". did not offer canoeing as a co-curricular activity so his father naturally took on the coaching role. “Due to my small stature as a kid, I had Syaheenul Aiman and Mervyn Toh achieve silver in Syaheenul Aiman is all smiles while enjoying the sport he grew up in. low self-esteem. During my trainings the Men’s K2 200m event at the 2015 SEA Games in with him, I remembered telling him that Singapore. it was impossible to get a medal when I’m competing against others with way more years of training and experience than me.\"

SINGAPORE CANOE FEDERATION 87 of the initial reasons I was drawn to the Apart from Aiman, there are two other sport was the prospect of being directly “second generation” National Canoeing admitted into a junior college. That athletes: James Goh Shao Jie (son of changed after I made some friends in the Goh Poh Soon, a former silver and bronze sport and started to be competitive”. medallist at the 14th SEA Games in 1987), and Daniella Barbara Lawther (daughter of Having come a long way since the days Lim Teck Yung, who was one of two women of being a scrawny teenager, Aiman is who represented Singapore at the 11th thankful for the strong family support Asian Games in 1990). that has been a cornerstone of his paddling journey. With more children of former competitive paddlers picking up the sport through KIAK Syaheenul Aiman and Mervyn Toh race to finish 2nd in the Men’s K2 200m event at the 2015 SEA Games in “My dad is not one to tell me about his and now the ActiveSG Canoe Academy, Singapore. feelings but what is clear is how the father-and-son pair are optimistic supportive he has been of me being in about the future of the sport in Singapore. “What really inspired me was how much an instrumental role in helping his son this sport. My mom, however, keeps Nasiman hopes to see more paddlers break effort he went through to train me. He overcome self-doubts, inspiring Aiman to telling me that my dad is really proud new boundaries and surpass what previous bought me a K1, a paddle and life jacket, go further than he had imagined. of me with what I’ve achieved”. generations have achieved, while Aiman and would rush down from work daily to hopes to see paddling become even more send me from school to MacRitchie for After only five months of training, Aiman While Nasiman no longer paddles, the accessible to the masses and not just training. He constantly encouraged me finished fourth in the National School development of the sport still has a limited to schools. during our ‘debriefs’ on the way home.” Games, which led to an offer to enter place in his heart. As Aiman shared, National Junior College through the Direct “Every time there’s a major competition Nasiman proved to be a strong influence School Admission scheme. coming, he will ask me if anyone will be on Aiman in his formative years as a representing Singapore. He knows the competitive athlete. His faithful and Aiman recalled what it was like to get paddlers from my generation and how steadfast coaching and mentoring played involved in competitive training: “One far we’ve come together”.

88 R E A DY F O R T HE F U T U R E FEATURE: STAND UP PADDLING Stand Up Paddling (SUP) involves standing In Singapore, SUP started gaining traction after a decision by the Court of with the Academy of Surfing Instructors up on a board and paddling. Apart from as an official sport in 2018. SUP’s current Arbitration for Sport that the ICF since November 2016) to introduce world-class competitions, paddlers also form and popularity originated in Hawaii in can stage SUP events. To support quality training and education programmes enjoy the sport as a fitness activity and as the 1900s; since then the sport has evolved the fast growth of new paddlers and for all levels of SUP in Singapore. a unique way to sightsee. under the influence of boardmakers, the development of SUP activities Activities that have been organised surfers, fishing enthusiasts, tourers, yoga in Singapore, the Federation’s SUP or are in the works include club level The versatility of SUP allows paddlers and fitness enthusiasts. committee has been working with races and short expeditions like to practise on rivers, lakes, canals, PAssion WaVe and Constant Wind Sea touring the Sungei Khatib Bongsu whitewater, and the ocean – anywhere In October 2020, the SCF formed a SUP Sports (which has been partnering mangroves in the north of Singapore. there is a body of water. committee under its auspices, shortly Over 90 participants for the debut of Stand Up Paddling at 2020 Singapore Canoe Marathon, held at the Marina Reservoir. ASI SUP WISE Level 1 graduates embark on an expedition to the Sungei Khatib Bongsu mangroves. Graduates of ASI SUP WISE programme compete in a SUP paddlers doing their parts to bring in 48.3kg of 3000m medal race where each turn makes a ocean trash on International Coastal Cleanup Day difference to their final timing. in 2021.

SINGAPORE CANOE FEDERATION 89 A Note from... I hope to see the everlasting I hope to see SCF grow the ocean longevity of the sport which will racing community and extend Congratulations on your 50th anniversary. Many pioneers and I have inspire the next generation of organisational support to the sport witnessed the growth of canoeing/kayaking from the early days of wooden paddlers to bring Singapore's of outrigger canoeing and surfski! sampans, canvas canoes and the clumsy fibreglass `Queen Mary’ to today’s kayaking to the next level. Let the Having been a C1 paddler and now Olympic class canoes and kayaks. While our teams have done well in regional Singapore flag fly forever high, both transitioning to OC1 racing, the and international competitions, our officials too have grown in experience as regionally and internationally. joy of ocean racing is drastically seen by their appointments in regional and international organisations. I see different from the flatwater version great potential in the Kid-in-a-Kayak (KIAK) programme in reaching out to all Tan Choon Hau and there is a huge opportunity young boys and girls in Singapore. With strong partnership and collaboration Athlete for SCF to play a bigger role in with the right organisations as well as strategic approaches, I look forward National Junior Team promoting ocean racing in our to the realisation of the vision, `Every kid a Canoeist’ in the next 50 years. island nation. Be it through holding Hopefully, this will provide the broad base for canoeing/kayaking to achieve SCF has been instrumental in a national championship and greater success in regional and international competitions in the years developing the sport of canoeing sponsoring races for selected ahead. The SCF’s plan for leadership renewal is a step in the right direction. in Singapore and the region for the teams for national representation I applaud the current team under the capable leadership of Mr Yip Kwan Guan past 50 years. I wish for the SCF at international events, there is for all the achievements to date and look forward to a new team to bring the and the canoeing community to great potential and opportunity for SCF to greater heights by laying new foundations for the next 50 years. remain ever united and continue SCF to lend its weight behind the Once again, congratulations and best wishes to the SCF in the exciting to bring this sport, including all its ocean racing discipline, alongside years ahead. disciplines, to greater heights the canoe sprint, canoe slalom and and beyond. canoe polo disciplines of the sport! Goh Ek Piang Honorary Individual Raymond Liow Kong Member Volunteer, Canoe Polo Paddler Singapore Paddle Club

90 F L O W - M A K I N G WAV E S S I N C E 1 9 7 1 Canoeing has been an integral part of my life and continues to be A Note from... a sport that allows me to be close to nature and my dearest friends. Congratulations SCF on your 50th Celebrating 50 years during this In the next 50 years, I’d like to Truly hope that the sport continues anniversary! pandemic couldn't have come see more people participating in to flourish at all levels. Good job SCF at a better time, with athletes, canoeing and more clubs to open in for all the work that you do! Your community of canoeists and coaches, SCF staff and even the Singapore! As this sport is not very kayakers are one of a kind; the general canoeing enthusiasts common, many do not know clubs Linnet number of individuals engaged; and adapting to the new normal to keep like ACA KIAK exist so I hope that Paddler the facilities, crafts and training the sport going. I strongly believe more people will grow interest in Invictus you offer to all paddlers. that this has allowed the canoeing this sport and more clubs will open. family to really grow and many This is a very fun sport for both Nothing beats being on the waters In the next 50 years, we hope that would have developed a stronger individual or team boats and in the early morning with a low mist these initiatives that SCF has love for the sport. I hope that more people will be hanging over the reservoir, where introduced over the past 50 years able to enjoy and discover more the razor sharp blade of the paddle may flow to other Asian countries, Here's wishing the Federation a about canoeing! drives into the depths, and the giving individuals the opportunities happy 50 years and for canoeing to sliver of the boat cuts through the to engage in kayaking. keep going strong year after year. Velinda Soo mirror-like surface to create ripples Athlete that would travel to the far shores. Mark Steward Moring Tan Si Hao Gan Eng Seng School It's a feeling only a select few Paddler Affiliate Canoeing Team who have chosen to be kayakers Kayakasia Nanyang Polytechnic and canoeists will understand. I hope many more will get to enjoy this sport for many years beyond their schooling days and develop a deeper love for this beautiful sport. Yuan Seng Ho Paddler

SINGAPORE CANOE FEDERATION 91 Congratulations on your 50th Canoeing opened up adventures In 2014 I completed a 1,500 km, As SCF turns 50, I hope the anniversary. Kudos to all who have to unexplored parts of our islands two-month solo kayak trip through canoeing family will grow in both unselfishly contributed towards and rivers. It provided fun with the French rivers and canals. Soon size and strength, be it in the your current success. The pursuit friends and families. Sometimes after I came to Singapore and was number of athletes, or families for excellence is a never ending it was lazy rowing, performing taught by the SCF how to paddle and friends who support us. I challenge. The Olympics should stunts, racing and camping. One of properly and safely! The group believe everyone will reach greater be the next milestone to strive for. my more exciting memories is the of highly experienced coaches heights in the time to come and Mass participation at competitive challenging Round Singapore and paddlers who willingly and despite the current pandemic and recreational levels should also Island Expedition. unselfishly give their knowledge greatly affecting all of us, I’m sure be your other top priorities as you and time to the sport is exceptional we can strive through it together move forward. Good luck and best Today, canoeing is popular and and a national treasure in itself. and come out stronger. I wish the wishes as you strive towards it continues to provide social This is only made possible due to SCF family all the best and happy these goals. activities for recreation, adventure the dedicated people providing 50th anniversary! and sport. I would like our canoeing boats, equipment, and the Robert Tan athletes to reach new heights Federation that make the courses Tan Yu Xin SCF pioneer and win more medals at run seamlessly and effortlessly. Athlete international competitions. National Junior College First, a very happy 50th anniversary The Federation is willing to to SCF! I think SCF has done well so Balbir Singh Nagpal embrace the future challenges far and I am grateful that we’ve still SCF pioneer of the changing nature of paddle been allowed to paddle throughout sports. It is evolving to make the pandemic. It’s been a source of teaching and coaching relevant but comfort for me! As we move out of still keeping the foundations and the pandemic, I hope we can spread values that have made the SCF and our love of canoeing/kayaking to other providers of paddle sports in more Singaporeans and residents Singapore, the force it is. of Singapore through various events and activities. Looking Chris Topping forward to more 50 years to come! Recreational Coach Huang Huiping Paddler Lightning Kayaking Club

92 F L O W - M A K I N G WAV E S S I N C E 1 9 7 1 A Note from... Would love to see more colours Congratulations on your 50th Thank you for paving my path in I hope for canoeing to become an in local canoeing, which could anniversary! As you enter the next the sport of canoeing, supporting even more popular sport which include Round Ubin/Singapore 50 years, I wish the Federation will me and my team throughout more people like me will join canoeing events and annual become a “household name” for these tough times. I am greatly willingly and enjoy the sport to their regional invitational races (many the people of Singapore. With so appreciative of the hard work fullest. I hope that the Federation top and emerging paddlers in Asia many paddling disciplines under that goes into taking care of will continue to have the most and Oceania). Many working adults the SCF, you are in a good position all members of the canoeing caring and friendly coaches I would love to learn canoeing and to be the leader of the sport. With community, old or young, have ever met to teach us certain this would allow a more sustainable Stand Up Paddling (SUP) coming experienced or just a beginner. skills to help us become better in coaching career. under SCF in its 50th year, it will 100 words aren't enough to canoeing. Happy 50th anniversary! be an exciting time as more people describe the gratitude I have for Brendon Kho take up the sport. the extraordinary cultivation of Megan Loo Athlete's parent canoeing culture that SCF has Paddler To all past and present members, brought about. I hope that there KIAK U14 & Gan Eng Seng Wishing the SCF a bright future congratulations again on your will be many more years to come School Canoeing Team for the next 50 years by developing 50th anniversary! for SCF to promulgate the values top athletes of tomorrow and and morals that canoeing can instil spreading the joys of paddling to Tony Lee in a person. Everyone deserves more people. SUP Paddler a chance to have a go at such an Constantwind amazing sport, and SCF has not Nicholas Yap been short of welcoming! Chairperson, SCF Canoe Ocean Paddling Committee & Affiliate, Yoong Rui En Natalie Singapore Paddle Club Athlete Hwa Chong Institution (College)

SINGAPORE CANOE FEDERATION 93 ROSTER OF SINGAPORE CANOE FEDERATION NATIONAL ATHLETES (UP TO 2021) Abdullah bin Parsed Mohd Kasim Chen Jiexian Stephenie Chong Wan Cheong Chris (Canoe Sprint) Foo Ryan (Canoe Polo) (Canoe Sprint, Canoe Polo) (Canoe Sprint, Canoe Marathon) Fu Jian Sheng (Canoe Marathon) Chen Jieyi Abigail (Canoe Sprint, Canoe Marathon) Chong Zu Quan Jonathan (Canoe Sprint) Ganiish Leeroy Ang Hui Ping Merilyn (Canoe Polo) Cheng Kok Hua (Canoe Sprint) (Wildwater Canoeing, Canoe Slalom) Cheng Lin Chuan (Canoe Polo) Choo Jia Yi (Canoe Sprint) Goh Eng Pong (Canoe Sprint) Ang Jia Ming Daniel Cheng Ryui-Wern Reuven (Canoe Sprint) Goh Han Kim (Canoe Sprint) (Canoe Sprint, Canoe Marathon) Cheng Wei Xiong Desmond (Canoe Polo) Choo Yuzheng (Canoe Polo) Goh How Hiap Francis (Canoe Sprint) Choo Nguk Tin (Canoe Sprint) Goh Jia Ling Sherlyn (Canoe Polo) Ang Jun Heng Jairus (Paracanoe) Chew Ryan (Canoe Sprint) Chu Yiu Tak (Wildwater Canoeing, Canoe Slalom) Goh Keng Lin (Canoe Sprint) Chew Shawn Wei (Canoe Sprint) Goh Peng Khoon (Canoe Sprint) Ang Ke Xin Magneline (Canoe Polo) Chew Shun Xing Benjamin (Canoe Sprint) Chua Cheng Bee Samantha (Canoe Marathon) Goh Poh Peng (Canoe Sprint) Chew Zhang Jia (Canoe Marathon) Goh Poh Soon (Canoe Sprint, Canoe Polo) Ang Lin Jing Lovell (Canoe Polo) Chia Han Yong Timothy (Canoe Sprint) Chua Ghee Soon (Canoe Marathon) Goh Shao Jie James (Canoe Sprint) Chia Jiaqi Perlina (Canoe Polo) Goh Shyan Yang Joseph (Canoe Sprint) Ang Teck En Klinsmann Chia Peiyun Christine (Canoe Sprint) Chua Lip Heng Clarence Goh Tze Siang (Canoe Polo) (Wildwater Canoeing, Canoe Slalom) Chia Zhe Li Bernice (Canoe Sprint) (Canoe Sprint, Canoe Marathon) Goh Wei Long Jackson (Canoe Polo) Chiew Javier (Wildwater Canoeing, Canoe Slalom) Gwee Shou-Fung Jessica Ang Yi Peng Cecil (Canoe Sprint) Chiew Xi Jie Victoria (Canoe Sprint) Chua Pei Xuan Irene (Wildwater Canoeing, Canoe Slalom) Chin Jia Kai Samuel (Canoe Sprint) (Canoe Sprint, Canoe Marathon) Hallimi Lisa Marie Joy (Canoe Polo) Ang Zhong Jun Ryan Chin Wei Tieng (Canoe Polo) Han Song Jing (Canoe Sprint) (Canoe Sprint, Canoe Marathon) Chin Xiang You Eugene (Canoe Sprint) Chua Poh Choo (Canoe Sprint) Handover Joshua Gregory Chng Ee Ling (Canoe Sprint) (Wildwater Canoeing, Canoe Slalom) Bagein Mathilde (Canoe Ocean Racing) Chng Leon (Canoe Sprint) Chua Siew Lan Gracie (Canoe Polo) He Chong Zhan (Canoe Marathon) Chng Si’en Tabitha (Canoe Sprint) Heng Fu Sin (Canoe Sprint) Becker Kwan Loong Sean (Canoe Sprint) Chong Jie Jun Adrian (Canoe Sprint) Chua Swee Heng Derwin Heng Hwee Krystal (Canoe Sprint) Chong Koi Kiat (Canoe Sprint) (Canoe Sprint, Canoe Marathon) Heng Kok Leong (Canoe Sprint) Boon Kai Lun (Canoe Polo) Heng Wang Cong (Canoe Sprint) Chua Teck Yan (Canoe Sprint) Chan Bee Yang (Canoe Sprint) Chua Wei Zheng Lloyd (Canoe Polo) Chan Chi Hin (Canoe Sprint) Chua Wen Ping Sean (Canoe Sprint) Chan Jian Yang Scott (Canoe Polo) Eng Ding Wen Gervin (Canoe Polo) Chan Sik Lung Sean (Canoe Polo) Eng Pang How Mark (Canoe Polo) Chan Sun Yip (Canoe Sprint) Eu Kum Wah Dominic Shawn (Canoe Sprint) Chan Wai Kay Shona (Canoe Sprint) Faiz Azhar bin Hazman Chan Wern Min Rachel (Wildwater Canoeing, Canoe Slalom) (Canoe Sprint, Canoe Marathon) Fang Mi Xue Michelle (Canoe Polo) Chan Yi Wen (Canoe Sprint, Canoe Marathon) Fong Jia Rou Cherol (Canoe Polo) Chan Yong Sheng Hugo (Canoe Polo) Fong Whye Chong Patrick Chen Jiemei Sarah (Canoe Sprint) (Canoe Sprint) Chen Jiewen Andrea (Canoe Sprint) Foo Jing Ting (Canoe Sprint)

94 F L O W - M A K IN G WAV E S S IN C E 1 9 7 1 ROSTER OF SINGAPORE CANOE FEDERATION NATIONAL ATHLETES (UP TO 2021) Ho Guan Meng Benjamin (Canoe Sprint) Kua Zhizhen Jean (Canoe Sprint) Lee Wen-Jin Adrian (Canoe Sprint) Lim Jia Yi (Canoe Polo) Ho Hin Yang (Canoe Sprint) Kuik Tze Cheng (Canoe Sprint, Canoe Marathon) Lee Yan Jin Lionel (Canoe Marathon) Lim Jin John (Canoe Sprint) Ho Jie En (Canoe Sprint) Kwek Cher Gek Angela (Canoe Sprint) Lee Yang Jing Wilona (Canoe Sprint) Lim Jing Kai Gabriel Evan (Canoe Polo) Ho Jin Hui Hester (Canoe Sprint) Lai Yue Yun Carmen (Canoe Sprint) Lee Yi Liang (Canoe Marathon) Lim Kay Teck Ivan (Canoe Sprint) Ho Jun Wen Nicholas Lam Ai Ting Maxine (Canoe Sprint) Lee Yinjie (Canoe Sprint) Lim Kwee Yan (Canoe Sprint) (Canoe Marathon, Canoe Ocean Racing) Lam Chin Loong Jonathan (Canoe Polo) Lek Hui Xuan (Canoe Polo) Lim Ling Min (Canoe Sprint, Canoe Polo) Ho Pan-Wei Shaun (Canoe Sprint) Lam Weng Ngai (Canoe Marathon) Lek Mary (Canoe Polo) Lim Peck Har Agnes (Canoe Polo) Hong Jun Mervyn (Canoe Ocean Racing) Lam Weng Yee Faith (Canoe Sprint) Leo Han Yu Sylvia (Canoe Sprint) Lim Teck Yung (Canoe Sprint) Huan Zhi Kai Lucas (Canoe Sprint) Lange Paul Scott (Canoe Polo) Leo Zhi Kai (Canoe Sprint) Lim Tiong Yong (Canoe Sprint) Huang Jingquan (Canoe Polo) Lau Wee Hong (Canoe Polo) Leong Teck Hao Marcus (Canoe Polo) Lim Tong Lee (Canoe Polo) Hung Wei Chen (Canoe Polo) Lawther Daniella Barbara Leong Yuin Ning Vivien (Canoe Polo) Lim Wee Teck (Canoe Sprint) Hung Yu Cheng (Canoe Polo) (Canoe Sprint, Canoe Marathon, Canoe Slalom) Leow Fang Hui (Canoe Polo) Lim Wei Jie Timothy (Canoe Polo) Ismail bin Mohamed Tahir Lee Ci En Clifton (Canoe Sprint) Leow Lay May (Canoe Sprint) Lim Yan Yu (Canoe Sprint) (Canoe Sprint, Canoe Polo) Lee Jia En (Canoe Marathon) Ler Alden (Canoe Sprint, Canoe Marathon) Lim Yi Shou Marcus (Canoe Sprint) Jovi Jayden Kalaichelvan Lee Jian Ying Marcus (Canoe Marathon) Leung Choi Ying Michelle (Canoe Polo) Lim Yuan Yin (Canoe Sprint, Canoe Marathon) (Canoe Sprint, Canoe Marathon) Lee Kai Yang (Canoe Sprint) Li Tze Hay Marjorie (Canoe Marathon) Lim Yun Kuan (Canoe Sprint) Kamis bin Morshib (Canoe Sprint, Canoe Polo) Lee Koon Leong (Canoe Sprint Canoe Polo) Liang Han Ting (Canoe Sprint) Lim Zeyuan Shawn (Canoe Marathon) Kee Zhi Hao (Canoe Sprint) Lee Kwee Yan (Canoe Sprint, Canoe Polo) Lieow Hong Rui Keefe (Canoe Marathon) Lim Zhe Yee Samuel (Canoe Sprint) Kho Hao Yuan (Canoe Marathon) Lee Lai Bay (Canoe Sprint) Liew Wei Zheng (Canoe Polo) Lim Zheng Fei (Canoe Sprint) Khoo Zong Han Brian (Canoe Sprint) Lee Ruo Zun Andrew (Canoe Sprint) Lim Chee Hian Joshua (Canoe Sprint) Lim Zhi Quan Emmanuel (Canoe Sprint) Koh Hui Ping Emily (Canoe Sprint) Lee Shi Hui (Canoe Polo) Lim Congyu Benjamin (Canoe Polo) Lim Zhi Wei (Canoe Polo) Koh Kuan Hong John Paul (Canoe Sprint) Lee Tze Wee Andrew (Canoe Polo) Lim Han Yong (Canoe Polo) Lin Guo-Xin Gary (Canoe Sprint) Koh Kuang Zhong Walter (Canoe Polo) Lee Wan Sie (Canoe Polo) Lim Heng Hwee Dylan (Canoe Sprint) Lin Hong Tai (Canoe Sprint) Koh Lin Lynn (Canoe Sprint) Lee Wei Liang Bill (Canoe Sprint) Lim Hong Sheng Paul (Canoe Sprint) Lin Zeyun Alexis (Canoe Polo) Koh Seng Wei (Canoe Polo) Lee Wei Ling Geraldine Lim Jia Li Jori (Canoe Sprint) Lina (Canoe Polo) Koh Teck Wai Daniel (Canoe Sprint) (Canoe Sprint, Canoe Marathon) Koh Zongjie Fernando (Canoe Polo)

SINGAPORE CANOE FEDERATION 95 Liow Chin Win Raymond (Canoe Polo) Ng Chen Rui Leon (Canoe Polo) Nur Nabihah binte Salim Png Hui Lian Elizabeth (Canoe Polo) Loh Chin Yee Aloysius (Canoe Polo) Ng Choo Meng (Canoe Sprint) (Wildwater Canoeing, Canoe Slalom) Poh Chee Kiat (Canoe Sprint, Canoe Marathon) Loh Wei Guo (Canoe Sprint) Ng De Pang (Canoe Polo) Nur Syazana binte Megat Yusof (Canoe Polo) Poh Chuin Hern Nicholas Loi Heng Foo (Canoe Polo) Ng Georgia (Canoe Sprint, Canoe Marathon) Omar bin Jantan (Canoe Sprint, Canoe Polo) (Canoe Sprint, Canoe Slalom) Loo Kee Wei (Canoe Sprint) Ng Hui Li Kelly (Canoe Polo) Omar bin Osman (Canoe Sprint, Canoe Polo) Poh Tai Cong (Canoe Polo) Low Szi Wei (Canoe Sprint) Ng Hui Xuan (Canoe Polo) Ong Han Loong (Canoe Polo) Poh Yu Xuan (Canoe Polo) Low Ting Wei (Canoe Sprint) Ng Jacquelyn Elizabeth (Canoe Polo) Ong Jie Xian Lavender (Canoe Sprint) Puah Geok Tin Josephine (Canoe Sprint) Low Wei Fu Benjamin Ng Jenn Yang (Canoe Sprint) Ong Jun Hao Davis (Canoe Polo) Puah Siang Mui Shirley (Canoe Sprint) (Canoe Sprint, Canoe Marathon) Ng Ji Yan Bobby (Canoe Sprint) Ong Jun Yi (Wildwater Canoeing, Canoe Slalom) Qiu Yunru (Canoe Sprint) Low Weining Kasxier (Canoe Polo) Ng Lay Wen Janice (Canoe Sprint) Ong Khe Wat (Canoe Sprint, Canoe Marathon) Qua Bi Qi (Canoe Sprint) Mak Zhi Hao Keloysius (Canoe Marathon) Ng Si Ya Sylvia (Canoe Polo) Ong Kok Tong (Canoe Polo) Quah Cher Lee (Canoe Sprint) Michalewicz Marek Tadeusz (Canoe Marathon) Ng Sier Han (Canoe Sprint) Ong Mingjie (Canoe Sprint) Quah Ming Jun (Canoe Polo) Moh Yap Heng Simon (Canoe Polo) Ng Sze King Felicia (Canoe Polo) Ong Meng Yean (Canoe Sprint, Canoe Marathon) Quah Tin Hwa Anthony (Canoe Sprint) Mohamed Ramli bin Sariman (Canoe Sprint) Ng Wei Jian Benjamin (Canoe Polo) Ong Muah Lay Carin (Canoe Sprint) Quak Zhihao (Canoe Polo) Mohammad Ezwan bin Kamis (Canoe Polo) Ng Xiang Ru Annabelle Ong Pei Fern Chad (Canoe Polo) Ro Kian Wee Hadrian (Canoe Sprint) Muhamad Fahmi bin Supian (Canoe Polo) (Canoe Sprint, Canoe Marathon, Canoe Slalom) Ong Ruo Ning (Canoe Sprint) Sahuji bin Kardi (Canoe Sprint) Muhammad Fareed bin Hashim (Canoe Sprint) Ng Xiao Hui (Canoe Marathon) Ong Shu Wen (Canoe Polo) Sam Zhi Yong Leonard (Canoe Sprint) Muhammad Syaheenul Aiman bin Nasiman Ng Yan Leng (Canoe Sprint) Ong Siew Leng (Canoe Sprint) Saw Jia Ning Deborah (Canoe Sprint) Ng Yong Kiat Francis (Canoe Sprint) Ong Teck Li Terry (Canoe Polo) (Canoe Sprint, Canoe Marathon) Najihah binte Zaki (Canoe Sprint) Ng Zhi Qiang Joshua (Canoe Polo) Ong Weili (Canoe Sprint, Canoe Marathon) Say Li Ling Lindy (Canoe Polo) Nakanishi Masateru (Canoe Polo) Ngiam Ban Sin Francis (Canoe Sprint) Ong Yi Peng (Canoe Polo) Seah Cohen (Xie Zherong) (Canoe Sprint) Nasiman bin Karim (Canoe Sprint, Canoe Polo) Nio Qing Xia Amanda Ong Yu Bryan (Canoe Marathon) Seah Si Han Jasmine (Canoe Polo) Neo Gim Siong Bennett (Canoe Sprint) (Canoe Sprint, Canoe Marathon) Ooi Ming Sheng Seah Suzanne (Canoe Sprint) Neo Hong Giap (Canoe Polo) Noraini binte Bahri (Wildwater Canoeing, (Canoe Sprint, Canoe Marathon) Seah Yujie David (Canoe Sprint) Neo Kester (Canoe Sprint) Canoe Slalom) Ooi Wei Cheng Brandon See Rui Xiao Angelica Neo Yu Rui Gary (Canoe Polo) Nur Carmellia Kiong binte Mia (Canoe Polo) (Canoe Sprint, Canoe Slalom) (Canoe Sprint, Canoe Marathon) Ng Chen Hsiang Shawn (Canoe Polo) Phang Demei Syabiqah Seow Huimin Katherine (Canoe Polo) (Wildwater Canoeing, Canoe Slalom)

96 F L O W - M A K I N G WAV E S S I N C E 1 9 7 1 ROSTER OF SINGAPORE CANOE FEDERATION NATIONAL ATHLETES (UP TO 2021) Seow Weijun Julian (Canoe Sprint) Tan Hong Gay (Canoe Polo) Tan Xueli Rachel (Canoe Polo) Teo Hui Wen (Canoe Polo) Seow Yan May Collette (Canoe Sprint) Tan Hun Boon (Paracanoe) Tan Yan Rong Ken (Canoe Polo) Teo Jia Jun (Canoe Sprint) Shari bin Sikin (Canoe Sprint, Canoe Polo) Tan Hwee Huang (Canoe Sprint) Tan Yan Sheng (Canoe Sprint) Teo May Wei (Wildwater Canoeing, Canoe Slalom) Siak Aixing (Canoe Sprint) Tan Ian (Canoe Sprint) Tan Yew Guan (Canoe Sprint) Teo Ming Yi (Canoe Marathon) Sim Henry (Canoe Sprint) Tan Jia Jing Roy Tan Yong Ann Raymond (Canoe Marathon) Teo Puay Liang Matthew (Canoe Sprint) Sim Mun Megan (Canoe Polo) (Canoe Polo, Wildwater Canoeing, Canoe Slalom) Tan Yu Hui Gina (Canoe Polo) Teo Rui-Zhe Lucas (Canoe Sprint) Sim Sijie (Canoe Polo) Tan Kheng Nong (Canoe Sprint) Tan Yun Feng (Canoe Sprint) Teo Wei Jie Sean (Canoe Sprint, Canoe Marathon) Sit Weng San (Canoe Polo) Tan Lai Chian Alan (Canoe Sprint) Tang Fu Sheng John (Canoe Sprint) Teo Xuan Kai Xavier (Canoe Polo) Smith Jack Benjamin (Canoe Sprint) Tan Lee Kiaw (Canoe Sprint) Tang Jia Jia (Canoe Marathon) Teo Yu Qi Patricia (Canoe Polo) Soh Kian Hong (Canoe Sprint) Tan Li Ling (Canoe Polo) Tang Jiaren Bryan (Canoe Marathon) Teo Zhan Rong (Canoe Sprint) Soh Sok Moey (Canoe Sprint) Tan Liong Eng (Canoe Sprint) Tang Jie Xiang Justin (Canoe Sprint) Teoh Zhi Ern (Canoe Sprint) Soh Sze Ying (Canoe Sprint) Tan May Ching Audris (Canoe Polo) Tang Ming Xue (Canoe Polo) Teoh Zhi Wei (Canoe Sprint) Soh Zhong Sheng Matthew (Canoe Sprint) Tan Ren Jie (Canoe Polo) Tay Geok Tin (Canoe Sprint) Tey Kai Ze Sherwin (Canoe Sprint, Canoe Marathon) Sun Ming Fa Jeremy (Canoe Marathon) Tan Shuean @ Kyo (Canoe Ocean Racing) Tay Hui Ling (Canoe Sprint) Tham Guo Feng (Canoe Polo) Sung Yun Lai Kenny (Canoe Polo) Tan Sin Aun (Canoe Sprint) Tay Ing Jaey (Canoe Sprint) Thng Hong Foo Kenneth (Canoe Polo) Tan Bee Teng (Canoe Sprint) Tan Teck Nam (Canoe Sprint) Tay Lin Teck (Canoe Sprint) Thng Kang Jun (Canoe Polo) Tan Boon Pheng (Canoe Sprint) Tan Tee Ming Jimmy (Canoe Sprint, Canoe Polo) Tay Sihui Cheryl (Canoe Sprint, Canoe Marathon) Ti Tze Hong (Canoe Polo) Tan Cheong Heng (Canoe Polo) Tan Teng Ee (Canoe Polo) Tay Wee Kuang (Canoe Sprint) Ting Tin Keong David (Canoe Sprint) Tan Chia Boon (Canoe Sprint) Tan Tessa (Chen Xi) (Canoe Sprint) Tay Zi Qiang (Canoe Sprint) Toh Hong Pang (Canoe Polo) Tan Chin Chuen (Canoe Sprint) Tan Tze How Jasmond (Canoe Sprint) Teh Jun Jie Gilbert (Canoe Polo) Toh Hong Wei (Canoe Polo) Tan Choon Hau (Canoe Sprint, Canoe Slalom) Tan Wee Chye Teng Ying Qing (Canoe Marathon) Toh Peng Kwong (Canoe Sprint, Canoe Polo) Tan Chun Leng (Canoe Sprint) (Canoe Polo, Wildwater Canoeing, Canoe Slalom) Teng Wen Ling Eunice (Canoe Polo) Toh Yan Ting (Wildwater Canoeing, Canoe Slalom) Tan Fu Wei Ryan (Canoe Polo) Tan Wee Jin (Canoe Sprint, Canoe Marathon) Teo Feng Feng Brenda (Canoe Polo) Toh Yingjie Mervyn (Canoe Sprint) Tan Geok Lan (Canoe Sprint) Tan Wei Wen (Canoe Sprint) Teo Guang Yi Lucas Tok Cheng Lim (Canoe Sprint) Tan Guo Jie (Canoe Polo) Tan Wen Chian (Canoe Sprint) (Canoe Sprint, Canoe Marathon) Tong Lee Ling (Canoe Sprint) Tan Xiao Wei (Canoe Sprint) Teo Hui Lin (Canoe Sprint) Vinish Ramanathan (Canoe Sprint)