Closing of 13th ASEAN Schools Games: Singapore Student Athletes Displayed Tenacity and Sportsmanship

The 13th ASEAN Schools Games (ASG) concluded on 7 June 2024 in Da Nang, Vietnam. Over the six-day competition from 1 to 6 June, the Singapore Schools Sports Team (SSST) displayed resilience, tenacity and sportsmanship, and bagged a total of 32 medals, comprising 4 Golds, 8 Silvers, and 20 Bronzes across Athletics, Badminton, Basketball and Swimming. Please refer to Annex for details.

Valuable Platform for Students' Holistic Development

2.Mr Chua Lek Hong, Chef de Mission and Principal of Kranji Secondary School, said: "Sports play a crucial role in the holistic development of our students, teaching them resilience, teamwork, and leadership. I am glad that the ASG has returned after a four-year hiatus to provide our young student athletes with a unique platform to compete against their peers in the region, forge new friendships, and gain cultural insights. We are grateful to our hosts, Vietnam, for their hospitality and tireless efforts in organising the Games to ensure that it is a memorable and enriching experience for all."

3.Mr Lui Jian Long, Coach of the Swimming team, echoed similar sentiments on the value of the ASG in students' development. He shared: "The ASG has given the swimmers a platform to pit their skills against the region's best and helped take their skills to the next level. It has also allowed them to discover diverse cultures and perspectives. These experiences have helped them build empathy and become a more well-rounded person."

4.For Eshan Kaul, the ASG has allowed him to hone his leadership skills as captain of the boys' Basketball team. The 17-year-old Anglo-Chinese Junior College student said: "Leading a team comprising athletes from different schools was both a challenging and rewarding experience. Within a short period of time, we fostered a sense of unity. Everyone understood their unique role within the team and our collective value. Clear communication also helped us navigate challenges and maintain focus. Losing in the semifinals was tough, but it taught us the importance of resilience. Bouncing back to win the 3rd place match demonstrated our mental strength and determination."

5.Reflecting on her experience in the ASG, Badminton player Li Zheng Hong shared that the ASG has been a memorable experience for her as she competed alongside her sister, Li Zheng Yan, in the doubles event and won the bronze medal. She added that she enjoyed the time spent with the Singapore badminton team as well as interacting with players from other countries. She said: "Competing against players from various ASEAN countries was an enjoyable learning opportunity where I grasped a better understanding of how to deal with different playing styles on court. I also valued the opportunity to get to know friends from other countries through events planned by the Vietnam organisers."

Strong Community of Support for Our Student Athletes

6.As our student athletes strove for sporting excellence in their respective fields, they were backed by a strong community of support from their families, peers, coaches and team managers.

7.Mr Vilau S/O Muniyandhi, Team Manager of the Athletics team, shared: "Together with my assistant team manager and experienced coaches, we try to support our students' well-being and provide guidance during training. More importantly, we always assure them that we will be there for them."

8.Ms Jalene Lee, mother of Swimmers Timothy and Isabelle Cheah, was in Vietnam with her youngest son to support her children and the Swimming team. She said: "I hope our presence would be a way of assuring them that they weren't alone in this sporting journey. In good or in bad, we're all in this together. I hope that they will be proud of themselves for the determination and perseverance in overcoming whatever obstacles they face along the way, and they will have the courage to dream and the confidence to work towards anything they set their minds on."

9.Ms Jeslyn Ang, mother of Basketball player Denise Choo, was also in Da Nang to support the team. She said: "I think it's a significant achievement to represent the country, so I would want to come and support the team whenever I can. Besides learning and appreciating the quality of the competition, I hope that this ASG experience will allow Denise and the team to immerse in a different culture, and to make more friends within and outside of the Singapore team."

10.At the ASG Closing Ceremony at Tien Son Sports Palace in Da Nang, Brunei took over the baton from Vietnam to host the 14th ASG in 2025. For more information on the recently concluded 13th ASG, please visit: https://asg13.vn.

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