3 minute read
Sports & Games Committee
Reported by: MR JOHN CHEW Chairman
INTRODUCTION
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Sports at our Club took a backseat this year as the COVID-19 pandemic gripped the whole world. Our immediate concerns were the safety of our members while keeping them engaged and active during the circuit breaker. It came as a pleasant surprise that our sports facilities were more utilised than ever after reopening because of the travel restrictions and reduced facilities' capacity for other premises.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR
The year started brightly with great results achieved by our members in national competitions:
•Loh Kean Hean - Badminton National Open Men’s Doubles Champion •3rd Runner-up at the National Veteran Table Tennis Team Championship
•73 top three positions at the Singapore Swim Series 1, 2020.
We also had our Club’s activities in early 2020, like the Badminton New Year Gathering, Billiards & Snooker Lohei, Contract Bridge Open Pairs, Golf Medals, the bi-monthly Fun Run, and Table Tennis March Holiday Camps.
The pandemic situation took a turn for the worse and eventually our Club was temporarily closed on 7 April 2020 in line with the circuit breaker. This did not deter our Sports Section as they moved their activities and trainings online. The members met over Zoom meetings to check on each other’s well-being while the Club kept members engaged and updated through social media postings and videos.
With comprehensive planning by our Sub-Committees and the Sports Administration Team, the Club resumed operation smoothly on 19 June 2020 when Phase 2 began. The service staff had to work doubly hard to manage the new normal and I appreciate the cooperation of members attending their regular training.
Trainings for various sports resumed in phases to ensure a seamless transition and maintain a safe environment for a greater peace of mind. I am pleased to note that the intake for our training programmes at the end of the year was even more robust than the beginning of the year! That being said, our Club also faced challenges to balance the facilities required for training our future generation with the social usage by general members.
Activities and competitions were modified with safe practices in mind for members to partake in. The National Sports Association also resumed their events and I am proud to report the following achievements of our teams:
•Aloysius Yapp – National Pool 9-Ball and 10-Ball Champion •Jonah Goh – Singapore Bowling Federation Own Time Virtual Tournament (OTVT) Men’s Open Singles Champion •100% passing rate for Singapore Taekwondo Federation Quarterly Grading
•Singapore Tennis Association Inter-Club Doubles League Men’s B Champion •Took part in the Singapore National Olympic Qualifier, Comeback Meet 1 and 2, and achieved 47 top three positions in total.
Year-end is usually a quiet period to recuperate after a hectic year, but December 2020 would be remembered as the most vibrant month. In part due to the travel restrictions, all the holiday training camps for Badminton, Basketball, Bowling, Swimming, Table Tennis, and Tennis were fully subscribed.
National Pool 9-Ball and 10-Ball Champion, Aloysius Yapp Singapore Bowling Federation OTVT Men's Open Singles Champion, Jonah Goh Badminton National Open Men's Doubles Champion on 5 to 11 January 2020, Loh Kean Hean (Right; holding trophy)
Action shots of land training sessions conducted by CSC A and B group swimmers via Zoom
LOOKING AHEAD
The Club is working closely with the Singapore Land Authority on the Sports Complex land lease renewal. A large part of the plan is to upgrade the current Sports facilities and add on relevant amenities for the new generation and their families. We will be working closely with the sports fraternity to fulfil their dreams and potential to the best of our ability.
APPRECIATION
The support of the Management Committee plays a crucial part in the development of our Sports & Games activities and trainings. I would like to thank my Convenors and their Sub-Committees for their invaluable contributions. Hats off to our athletes for maintaining their motivation and camaraderie throughout the circuit breaker to come back stronger than before.
