SINGAPORE: Singapore’s athletes are prepared and eager to compete at subsequent month’s Southeast Asia Games (SEA Games) in Hanoi, Vietnam, stated chef de mission S Sinnathurai on Wednesday (Apr 27).
“After a year of postponement, our athletes are very eager to compete to put to test the training and hard work they have put in over the past few years,” stated Mr Sinnathurai, a former nationwide taekwondo athlete.
A complete of 427 athletes will characterize Team Singapore at the Games, competing in 33 sports activities.
They embody Rio Olympic champion Joseph Schooling, badminton world champion Loh Kean Yew and three-time Silat world champion Sheik Farhan, who would be the contingent’s flag bearer.
More than half of Singapore’s athletes – 243 of them – will make their debut at the regional occasion which was postponed from December 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The athletes embody 14-year-old diver Max Lee, who’s Team Singapore’s youngest athlete, and billiards world champion Peter Gilchrist, who at 54 years previous, is the contingent’s oldest athlete.
Singapore’s first occasion at the Games will start on May 6 when the seaside handball competitors begins.
“Representing Singapore has always been very special to me, to be able to lead the contingent as flag bearer this time will make this SEA Games a particularly memorable one for me,” stated Sheik Farhan, 24.
“I can’t wait to compete at a major Games again, and look forward to enjoying the experience in Hanoi.”
This is the second time Vietnam is internet hosting the occasion, which can happen from May 12 to May 24. There shall be a complete of 526 occasions in 40 sports activities.
STAYING SAFE AGAINST COVID-19
Measures are in place to put together the contingent to guarantee their well being and security, related to these adopted in the course of the Tokyo Olympic Games, stated the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC).
Athletes will arrive two days earlier than their competitors begins and depart inside 24 hours after their competitors ends.
A “safety and hygiene protocol” can be in place to make sure that they’re in prime form and well being at all occasions, SNOC added.
All members of the contingent who’re eligible to obtain the COVID-19 jab have additionally been totally vaccinated, stated chief medical officer Kelvin Chew at a press convention.
Athletes will every obtain a meals and diet pack consisting of varied meals gadgets in addition to a care package deal with COVID-19 check kits, hand sanitisers and masks.
The Games will function beneath a “bubble” and members of the contingent will solely be allowed to journey between coaching venues, video games venues and their lodging.
Based on the COVID-19 protocol drawn up by native organisers, each athlete will want to be examined 24 hours earlier than competitors and each three days, stated Dr Chew.
Should athletes check optimistic for COVID-19, and are asymptomatic or have delicate signs, they are going to be remoted at their residence, stated Dr Chew. They may even be monitored by group medical doctors.
A recovered athlete will want one unfavourable check outcome and certification by a group physician to compete.
At the 2019 Philippines SEA Games, Singapore’s largest away contingent – comprising 659 athletes in 48 sports activities – introduced house 53 gold, 46 silver and 68 bronze medals.
Team Singapore’s greatest efficiency stays the 2015 Games on house soil with a haul of 84 gold, 73 silver and 102 bronze medals. Its greatest away Games was within the 2017 version in Kuala Lumpur (58 gold, 59 silver and 71 bronze medals).
Addressing a query on what the medal targets for Team Singapore shall be at the Games, Singapore Sports Institute chief Su Chun Wei stated that the athletes will do their greatest and it’s “reasonable” to count on them to register private bests.
Dr Su added: “It’s also reasonable to expect that they do their personal bests … As a process, the medals will come, but I think it is not something that we want to jump ahead of the gun, but let’s focus on the journey so far, the ability for our Team Singapore athletes to go in as one and do their very best, rally Singapore. I think then we will see what medals come through.”
Source : channelnewsasia.com
