All posts tagged: Team Singapore

Commentary: Singapore bets on home ground advantage at SEA Games 2029

Commentary: Singapore bets on home ground advantage at SEA Games 2029

Published by Sam Flores

DREAMING BIG At the 2015 SEA Games in Singapore, our athletes delivered the country’s best SEA Games performance to date, coming in second at the final medal tally. As Team Singapore’s chef de mission in 2015, I remember clearly the euphoria and pride felt across the nation as we placed ahead of other regional sporting powerhouses. But I also recall feeling a mild pang of regret. After all, most other host nations of the SEA Games often leverage the home-ground advantage to take aim at the top step of the podium. As a former national athlete, it was always clear to me that our regional rivals often invested relatively more into sports, which made it challenging for us to dominate the regional games as we would have liked to. The government’s preparations for the 2029 Games are heartening for the sports community for a number of reasons. For one, the full-time equivalent training support is meant to provide what an athlete needs to be able to commit fully to his or her sport, without needing to …

Singapore beat Bangladesh, end Asian Cup qualifying campaign unbeaten

Singapore beat Bangladesh, end Asian Cup qualifying campaign unbeaten

Published by Sam Flores

In front of a crowd of about 30,000, both sides struggled to keep sustained possession early on, with clear-cut chances proving difficult to come by. The Lions looked to rely on the flanks to provide service for striker Ikhsan Fandi and Ryhan Stewart did just that with 20 minutes played, but his cross was pushed clear by Bangladesh goalkeeper Mitul Marma. And just as it looked as if the Lions were starting to look ponderous, they got their goal. A raking cross-field switch from Irfan Fandi found Glenn Kweh and while his shot was pushed clear, the onrushing Harhys slammed home for his first international goal. But the physical away side was not without threat as loose play from Singapore saw possession lost in a dangerous area. A superb block from Safuwan Baharudin saw the first attempt saved, but there were strong calls for a penalty after he appeared to have caught a Bangladesh attacker charging onto the rebound.  Referee Benjamin Abraham however, was unmoved. Source link

Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew beats Japan’s Naraoka in marathon match, advances to All-England last 16

Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew beats Japan’s Naraoka in marathon match, advances to All-England last 16

Published by Sam Flores

SINGAPORE: Singapore’s Loh Kean Yew overcame Japan’s Kodai Naraoka in a 93-minute thriller on Wednesday (Mar 4) and advanced to the men’s singles round of 16 at the All-England Open. At the Utilita Arena Birmingham, world-ranked 10 Loh came back from 15-19 down in the decider and saved three match points to claim a 14-21, 21-19, 24-22 victory. He is now unbeaten against the world number 9 in all eight career meetings. Loh will next face France’s Christo Popov, whom he has a 3-4 head-to-head record against. At last year’s edition, the Singaporean made the quarterfinals before he was eliminated by world number 1 Shi Yu Qi. Earlier in the day, Loh’s compatriot Jason Teh went down 11-21, 21-10, 15-21 to Indonesia’s fourth seed Jonatan Christie. Teh, ranked 34th in the world, has yet to beat the world number 4 in five meetings. In the women’s singles, Singapore’s world number 38 Yeo Jia Min also progressed to the round of 16 after Thailand’s seventh seed Ratchanok Intanon retired due to injury.  Yeo had fallen behind …