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Find out the health, emotional and mental benefits for youth who take part in the sport of basketball PHOTO: SPORT SINGAPORE Basketball is a hugely popular team sport, and in Singapore it is no different. In its most recent survey studying participation trends locally, Sport Singapore estimated basketball to be the second most popular team sport for activities most enjoyed and most participated in a year, ranking only behind football. While Covid-19 put an abrupt stop to team sports, Singapore is bringing team sports back in 2022 with the inaugural edition of the ActiveSG Cup 2022 Basketball Tournament. You can sign up for the tournament here! Whether you play basketball socially or embody a competitive spirit when you approach the game, we share five top reasons, including health benefits, for those who choose to play basketball. PHOTO: SPORT SINGAPORE 1. Physical Benefits Perhaps the most obvious benefits for playing basketball is that it not only improves physical strength and muscular endurance but it also improves heart health. In a study in 2018, researchers found that those who play basketball had a positive effect in their overall body composition. The need to move quickly and change directions in game which requires high-intensity, short-duration muscle contractions also led to better muscular endurance and cardiorespiratory fitness, improving resting heartrates. 2. Teamwork As cliché as it sounds, basketball is one of the best sports to understanding teamwork. How does basketball teach teamwork? On offense, the game provides great opportunities to teach young players to be unselfish as they work together to score and win. When you’re selfish on the basketball court, the entire team suffers. When defending, rotation is key. Leaving an offensive player open and unmarked would allow them to create a scoring opportunity for the opposing team. Taking the initiative to step in and provide a second layer of defense is required, while trusting your teammates to step in and defend the open space that you leave behind while trying to break up the play is essential. Therefore looking out for each other and supporting one another are essential. PHOTO: SPORT SINGAPORE 3. Develop Self Confidence Learning to find your voice in the team is also a great way to learn self-confidence, an important life skill that can be brought into other areas of life. The game of basketball has many scenarios, and with each developing situation each player learns more about who they are and how they need to adapt. Overcoming obstacles and achieving success on the court will help teens uncover newfound belief in themselves and their abilities, which leads to positive growth in other areas of life. 4. Social Development and Stress Management Studies have proven that those engaging in sport and physical activity generally have better people skills and also have better abilities to handle stress. At a time of home-based schooling and a lack of social interactions, the opportunity to come together and training to play in a basketball tournament would have numerous benefits in the social development of youth, while physical activity releases endorphins, which are the feel-good, or happiness, hormones - boosting mood and promoting relaxation. PHOTO: SPORT SINGAPORE 5. Communication Skills Problem solving on the court requires both analytical and good communication skills. As student athletes interact with their teammates, they learn new ways to communicate both verbally and non-verbally. This is an essential skill that can be translated off the court into school and even the workplace eventually. These are just five of many other benefits for teens to play basketball. Sport Singapore is launching the inaugural ActiveSG Cup, a fun and inclusive competition where everyone has an opportunity to compete and bring forth a vibrant basketball scene in Singapore. This will be the first of a vibrant annual sporting event calendar with different sports through seasonal competitions and leagues which are accessible, affordable and inclusive. Sign up now for the Central and East Zones of the ActiveSG Cup 2022 Basketball 3x3 Tournament here ! Follow us on our Facebook Page for the latest updates. #SportPlusSG #ActiveSGCup #Basketball #SportsEvents

In addition to the On-Ground Race participants of POCARI SWEAT Run Virtual Race ran an accumulated distance of almost 350,000km, raising $2,000 for Silver Ribbon PHOTO: OTSUKA PHARMACEUTICALS (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD 10 January 2021, Singapore - Jeevaneesh Soundararajah and Goh Chui Ling broke the Men and Women’s national best timings over 2.4km respectively in the POCARI SWEAT On-Ground Race held at the Home of Athletics over the weekend (8-9 Jan). The winning time (6:52.96) set by Jeevaneesh in the men’s race was 0.21 seconds faster than the previous best (6:53.18) set last September by national long-distance runner and fellow competitor, Soh Rui Yong, who holds four national records. Thiruben Thana Rajan set the early pace, but retired from the race on the third lap. Subas Gurung, Singapore’s Gurkha Contingent 2.4km record holder, then inherited the lead for the fourth and fifth laps, with Jeevaneesh and Soh hot on his heels. It was only at the start of the final lap that Jeevaneesh made the winning overtake on Subas. Subas finished in second (6:54.530), while Soh came in third (6:55.498), meaning that the top three finishers beat the challenge of running 2.4km in less than seven minutes. The final runner was Ethan Yan who clocked 7:09.093. PHOTO: OTSUKA PHARMACEUTICALS (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD Goh Clinches Women's Title In the women’s race, national middle distance runner Goh took the race lead on the opening lap and maintained a comfortable margin throughout the entire 2.4km. She claimed the victory with a timing of 7 min 58.50 secs over Vanessa Lee (8:14.18), who held the previous best timing (7:59.69), while Joyceleen Yap took third place clocking 8:48.72. “It was a privilege to be able to race during such times, and I’m really happy to have gotten my third national record in Singapore,” Goh told SportPlus.SG. PHOTO: GOH CHUI LING INSTAGRAM Regarding the unique 2.4km challenge in this year’s POCARI SWEAT Run, Joshua Lee, POCARI SWEAT business manager (nutraceuticals), said: “The pandemic forced us to rethink how to engage runners with our partners as many mass running events have been put on hold. “We worked on the insight that 2.4km is a distance all Singaporeans are familiar with as both males and females would have gone through it as part of their fitness tests in school or National Service. Tapping into this familiarity, we hope to encourage the community to come together, get healthier through running and achieve their personal best.” PHOTO: POCARI SWEAT FACEBOOK In addition to the On-Ground Race, the participants of the POCARI SWEAT Run Virtual Race ran an accumulated distance of almost 350,000km, raising a total of $2,000 for Silver Ribbon (Singapore). This hybrid race format was organised by POCARI SWEAT and their partners Otsuka Pharmaceuticals (Singapore), Singapore Athletics and Silver Ribbon (Singapore), with the aim to promote the importance of mental and physical health wellness. With an eye to the future, Lee added: “Hopefully with relaxed safe management measures in 2022, we will be able to expand the scale of POCARI SWEAT Run 2022 and have more like-minded partners come alongside so that more runners can come sweat together, motivate each other to get healthier and achieve their fitness goals.” #SportsNews #Running #PocariSweatRun

Underdogs Hee and Tan upset Malaysian counterparts Chen and Peck in New Delhi to win seventh mixed doubles title as a partnership PHOTO: BADMINTONPHOTO 16 January 2021, New Delhi, India - Singapore shuttlers Terry Hee and Tan Wei Han have won the YONEX-Sunrise India Open badminton tournament, claiming their biggest victory in the mixed doubles category after defeating Malaysia's 40th-ranked duo Chen Tang Jie and Peck Yen Wei 21-15, 21-18 on Sunday. The married couple's most recent mixed doubles title came at the Li-Ning Czech Open last October, and they sealed a perfect possible start to the new year by recording an upset against their fancied Malaysian counterparts to win the US$400,000 event. PHOTO: BADMINTONPHOTO The championship win is the couple's seventh title as a partnership, and their first Super 500 triumph, the fourth tier of the Badminton World Federation World Tour circuit, which is likely to see them make a swift return to the top 100 in the world rankings. At the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, the Singaporean duo, who are ranked world No. 182, handled their nerves better and were more aggressive as they recorded the upset in 40 minutes. PHOTO: BADMINTONPHOTO Hee and Tan had earlier reached the final after the semi-final was declared a walkover when Russian opponents Rodion Alimov and Alina Davletova had to withdraw from the tournament after Alimov tested Covid positive. They had also needed to navigate their way past homeground favourites Nithin and Ashwini Bhat in the quarter finals, winning 21-15, 21-19. PHOTO: BADMINTONPHOTO Hee and Tan, who tied the knot last October, were once ranked as high as 33rd in the world in 2017. #SportPlusSG #Badminton #YONEXSunriseIndiaOpen #TerryHee #TanWeiHan

The Arena Games Triathlon powered by Zwift will see real-life and virtual reality blended racing, providing an immersive viewing experience for fans PHOTO: SUPER LEAGUE TRIATHLON 20 January 2022, Singapore - Super League Triathlon (SLT) will adopt a new format when the action returns to Singapore later this year. Singapore has been selected as the host city for the Grand Final of the Arena Games Triathlon powered by Zwift, a global esports World Championship series, on 7 and 8 May. The event organisers and the relevant authorities are in discussion on the details for staging the event safely in accordance with Singapore’s prevailing safe management measures. The series, which will feature real-life and virtual racing action, was launched after a groundbreaking partnership between SLT and international governing body World Triathlon. The series kicks off in Munich, Germany and will move to London before its finale in Singapore. Arena Games Triathlon 2022 Locations: 9th April 2022: Munich, Germany at Olympia-Schwimmhalle 23rd April 2022: London, UK at London Aquatics Centre 7th May 2022: Singapore Grand Final PHOTO: SUPER LEAGUE TRIATHLON Super League Triathlon’s inaugural season started in September 2018, with the series finale held in Singapore. The Singapore stop, which took place in February 2019, saw two days of action-packed races whose highlights included overall champion Vincent Luis staging a remarkable comeback to recover from a flat tyre and clinch the title. The Arena Games Triathlon (AGT), which made its debut in Rotterdam in 2020, is a trailblazing concept pioneered by SLT, grown from an ambition to drive competitive triathlon throughout the global pandemic. In 2021, the first multi-city version of the Games took place in Rotterdam and London, featuring three-time Olympic medallist Jonathan Brownlee and European champion Beth Potter among the field of competitors. Fans can expect a bigger and better experience next year, boosted by SLT’s recent partnership with World Triathlon. The swim leg of the AGT will see the triathletes take to the water, while the bike and run disciplines are completed on smart trainers and self-powered curved treadmills with the power and speed of the athletes turned into a visual race via Zwift’s online platform. This combination of real-life and virtual racing provides an immersive viewing experience that allows fans to get up close and personal with the best triathletes in the world without having to leave the comfort of their seat. PHOTO: SUPER LEAGUE TRIATHLON The AGT also gives esports fans and lovers of sports statistics, the chance to enjoy live data from the athletes in real time. Born in the COVID era but promising a new generation of stars, the Arena Games Triathlon is the future of indoor racing. Each stop of the event will contribute points to the WT World Ranking, and the athletes who collect the most points over the course of the series will be awarded the first-ever triathlon esport World Titles in Singapore. All three venues will see the return of fast and furious elite racing, offering an incredible spectator experience for the fans. “We are delighted to welcome these three amazing cities to our roster of hosts, and to end our season in Singapore. This is a great line-up of events for our 2022 season, with our three host cities each boasting a strong and unique sporting culture, experience at the Olympics and expertise in organising high quality sporting events. I am sure that both athletes and fans will enjoy it. We look forward to watching the action,” said World Triathlon President and IOC Member, Marisol Casado. “We have continued to innovate during the pandemic, and the pinnacle of that is our Arena Games Triathlon. PHOTO: SUPER LEAGUE TRIATHLON Following our recently-announced partnership with World Triathlon, we’re very excited to see this event come together at these iconic locations! This series will be a milestone in the history of triathlon, and these venues are great places to mark this significant step,” said Michael D’hulst, CEO and co-founder of Super League Triathlon. “Singapore was an impressive host during SLT’s debut season, staging a superb finale in February 2019 with top-class facilities and organisation. We are happy to be back again to bring the Arena Games Triathlon to our friends in Singapore, and are confident that you will have a good time being a part of the experience.” World Triathlon and Super League will collaborate on all aspects of Arena Games Triathlon powered by Zwift, including scheduling, participating athletes, involvement of national federations, promotion, broadcasters, host venues and amplifying the reach of the events. The first series will be announced shortly, with the first official World Champions set to be crowned in 2022. #SportPlusSG #Triathlon #SuperLeagueTriathlon

National Open provides important competition experience for local shuttlers unable to compete overseas over the past year due to COVID-19 Women's Singles Champion Nur Insyirah Khan. PHOTO: TIM NG, SPORTPLUS.SG 11 January 2021, Singapore - The week-long Singapore Sports Hub National Open Championships 2022 held at the OCBC Arena concluded last Sunday, with seven different shuttlers clinching a winners’ medal across five events. Women’s Singles In the Women’s Singles, world-ranked 477 Insyirah bested Lim Ming Hui 16-21, 21-11, 21-14 in the final to emerge as champion. She was fueled by a desire to not leave empty handed in this edition of the championships, having been knocked out at the semi-finals stage of the previous two editions. Despite losing the first set, Insyriah managed to keep her composure and play more aggressively to come from behind to win the event 2-1. The Ngee Ann Polytechnic student said:” At the start, I was a bit unclear of my gameplan…but then I tried to keep my composure and focus at every point.” Men’s Singles Men's Singles Champion Vega Vio Nirwanda. PHOTO: TIM NG, SPORTPLUS.SG Over in the Men’s Singles competition, Vega Vio Nirwanda, a sparring partner with the Singapore Badminton Association (SBA), proved too strong for top seed Joel Koh, who was defeated 21-3, 21-14. It was not the usual performance from Joel, who felt that he played well in the week leading up to the day. Men's Singles Runner-up Joel Koh. PHOTO: TIM NG, SPORTPLUS.SG The full-time athlete said: “Only today (when) my performance (was) not up to the standard. After yesterday’s match, my focus and physical (capacity) dropped and my opponent was more ready.” Men’s Doubles Men's doubles winners Albert Saputra (left) and Jason Wong. PHOTO: TIM NG, SPORTPLUS.SG Jason Wong and Albert Saputra overcame Alistaire Chua and Sng Ming Wei 21-7, 21-13 in the Men’s Doubles event. Having competed together since young, Jason, an alumnus of the Singapore Sports School, was well aware of his opponent’s capabilities on the court. He attributed the convincing win to their intense training schedule. “Me and my partner have been training every day for the past whole month in preparation for this competition.” Women’s Doubles Crystal Wong and Jin Yu Jia won their second women’s Doubles National title together after defeating Bernice Lim and Lim Ming Hui 21-8, 21-12. The duo have been doubles partners for two years but were unable to participate in many competitions due to COVID-19. Crystal, who is world rank No. 220 with her partner Yu Jia, said:” I’m very happy that we won today and it’s been a long time since we last competed so we also can have a feel of how the competition atmosphere will be like.” Women's doubles champions Jin Yu Jia (left) and Crystal Wong. PHOTO: TIM NG, SPORTPLUS.SG Crystal and Yu Jia, along with their national teammates Insyirah, Ming Hui and Bernice Lim will feature in the upcoming Yonex Estonian International 2022 from 13 - 16 January. Mixed Doubles Mixed doubles final featuring (from Left to Right) Crystal Wong, Wesley Koh, Bernice Lim, Jason Wong. PHOTO: TIM NG, SPORTPLUS.SG Lastly, the Mixed Doubles’ event saw Jason Wong and Bernice Lim take the lead in the first set, winning 23-21 at the expense of their opponents Wesley Koh and Crystal Wong. However, Wesley and Crystal regrouped to win 21-17 and eventually took home the Mixed doubles’ title taking the third set 21-14. This year’s edition of the National Open Championships was an important competition for the local shuttlers, as many of them had not been participating in competitions due to COVID-19 restrictions. Alan Ow, CEO of SBA said:” Being able to pull off the National Open this year, I think (it) is not just for SBA, but more (for) the athletes to show the hard work over the past couple of years training behind closed doors.” As there were no spectators allowed at the event, live streaming of all matches online was introduced this year, garnering around a thousand sign-ups to do so. #SportPlusSG #Badminton #SingaporeSportsHub #NationalOpenChampionships

TRI-Factor organises first race in Singapore since the Pandemic, with first physical race during the Covid-19 era held in Vietnam in April 2021 PHOTO: ORANGE ROOM ASIA Singapore, 27 January 2022 – After two years of the pandemic, Asian multisport series TRI-Factor is back with its first race in Singapore – the TRIFactor Bike Asia Virtual Challenge 2022. Sporting a new logo and renewed vision, TRI-Factor’s goal is to enable people to live their best life through fitness, by making available easy access to a spectrum of health and wellness resources, tools and events. One of TRI-Factor’s core values is inclusivity, thus the focus is to continue bringing people together through swimming, cycling, running and triathlon. “Cycling has tremendously picked up in popularity since the pandemic started, with people turning to two wheels as a way of staying fit and healthy. We want to give them a purpose to their efforts, hence we decided to create a virtual cycling challenge as our first event in Singapore,” said Elvin Ting, co-founder of Orange Room Asia that owns the TRI-Factor brand. PHOTO: ORANGE ROOM ASIA “The pandemic has created emptiness in many communities, thus we hope an event like this TRI-Factor Bike Asia Virtual Challenge can bring communities across borders together in a single event.” Kicking off on 29 January all the way through to 27 February, the TRI-Factor Bike Asia Virtual Challenge 2022 allows you the opportunity to enjoy the sights while getting some exercise in, or challenge yourself to see how quick you are on a bicycle. There are two categories – competitive or open – which must be completed within a month. You may sign up as an individual or in a team of two to four. In the Competitive category, the aim is to complete 500km by yourself ($55) or 1,000km as a team ($55/pax). Over in the Open category, which targets more recreational riders, the objective is to complete 100km on your own ($5) or 500km as a team ($5). Participants of the Competitive category will receive an exclusive TRI-Factor cycling jersey, sport bottle for cycling, a towel and a medal. Throughout the course of the challenge, there will be prizes to be won on top of weekly contests and event challenges. PHOTO: ORANGE ROOM ASIA “I’ve always enjoyed TRI-Factor’s events and I’m excited about this virtual cycling challenge. I like that the competition here is really myself, to see how fast I can go on the bike. I also like how there is a non-competitive category so people can truly enjoy the sport, yet achieve new milestones for themselves,” said Nicholas Rachmadi, national triathlete and TRI-Factor ambassador. This is part of a blended event initiative, supported by the government, that comprises the virtual challenge and a physical community cycle event scheduled for 26 February 2022 at Singapore Sports Hub. Registration opens today at http://bike.trifactor.asia with an early bird promo till 28 January. #Cycling #TRIFactorSeries

Organised by Singapore Badminton Association in collaboration with Singapore Sports Hub, the event will witness 48 hours of non-stop AirBadminton across 36 sand courts PHOTO: SINGAPORE SPORTS HUB 27 January 2022, Singapore - Fancy playing a game of AirBadminton with friends on sand? Well you will be able to do that as early as next month, thanks to the AirBadminton Marathon that is slated to take place inside the iconic National Stadium at the Singapore Sports Hub. Singapore Badminton Association (SBA) announced the event in a media release today, sharing that the AirBadminton Marathon, which is organised in collaboration with the Singapore Sports Hub, will be held over 48 hours from 6pm, 25th February 2022, Friday to 6pm, 27th February 2022, Sunday. The event promises to provide participants the rare experience of playing badminton on one of 36 badminton courts set up on the grounds of Singapore's iconic National Stadium for the first time. PHOTO: SINGAPORE SPORTS HUB Not only that, but you will also get to play on sand courts, another first for badminton players and enthusiasts in Singapore. The event is expected to attract sports fans who would wish to share in the unique experience of battling it out with family or friends into the wee hours of the morning on the National Stadium field of play, and be part of two record setting attempts. SBA Chief Executive Officer Mr. Alan Ow shared, "We are very excited to be working with the Singapore Sports Hub to organise a mass participation sporting event like AirBadminton Marathon, at the iconic National Stadium no less." "In addition to allowing people the opportunity to be a part of a record setting endeavour, we hope this event will also get the word out that AirBadminton is an excellent way for people to enjoy the sport of badminton in Singapore." Singapore Sports Hub Chief Executive Officer, Lionel Yeo added, “Badminton has always been a popular sport in Singapore, and now even more so given the recent successes of our national players in international badminton championships." "Singapore Sports Hub is delighted to partner with the Singapore Badminton Association to further fuel interest in this sport by introducing fans to AirBadminton and offering them the unique experience of playing it inside the National Stadium for the first time,” Yeo said. The AirBadminton Marathon will allow players to enjoy the sport of badminton through the adoption of an innovative new shuttle known as the AirShuttle, which will allow people to play the sport outdoors without the constraints of playing in an indoor court. PHOTO: BADMINTON WORLD FEDERATION The SBA is looking to leverage on this event to urge all sports lovers, especially badminton enthusiasts, to be part of this once-in-a-lifetime experience through the attempt to set the following two national records: Most Number of People Playing AirBadminton Most Number of People Playing AirBadminton Continuously for 12 Hours Court bookings for The AirBadminton Marathon are priced at $20 per court per hour. Registrations have opened since 21st January 2022 and are strictly on a first-come-first- served basis. #SportPlusSG #MySgSportsHub #AirBadminton #AirBadmintonMarathon

In line with Phase 2 of Singapore’s GOAL 2034 target, ActiveSG Cup is a tournament looking to groom youths to play a Singaporean brand of high-tempo, possession-based football PHOTO: SYUHAINI AZLIN, SPORTPLUS.SG National hurdler Kerstin Ong, 24, never kicked a football in her life. Trading her track spikes for football cleats, she joined female pencak silat exponent Nurul Suhaila, triathlete Cheryl Tay, women’s national football captain Ernie Sulastri, as well as men’s footballers Hassan Sunny and Anders Aplin in a promotional video shoot for the ActiveSG Cup Football 4v4 Tournament on 30th January. “I had a lot of fun playing with actual footballers. They were very patient with me, and I think we did well as a team,” Kerstin said. The athletes were split into two equal groups and played a series of football-related mini games including a modified penalty shootout challenge. PHOTO: SYUHAINI AZLIN, SPORTPLUS.SG The full episode will be made available on SportPlus.SG's new video and podcast entertainment platform, Studio Plus, in the coming weeks. Starting from 12 February, the ActiveSG Cup Football Competition will comprise a total of seven age groups from 13 to 19 – with five categories for boys and two for girls. PHOTO: SYUHAINI AZLIN, SPORTPLUS.SG The format will be four versus four, with two substitutes per team allowed. Participants can pick from five geographical zones (North, Central, Northeast, East, West) to compete in. Local sports event organisers Dare To Dream Enterprises (D2D Sports), popular organisers of amateur football and futsal leagues since 2007, are hosting the East Zone tournament, with excitement brimming within the camp ahead of the first non-professional sanctioned football competition since 2019. "Two years is a long time, and we are pleased to be part of the Bring Sport Back initiative. Football has always been the most popular team sport in Singapore, and we can't wait for it to be back on a regular basis for the masses." In line with Phase 2 of Singapore’s GOAL 2034 target, the tournament aims to groom youths to play a Singaporean brand of ‘high-tempo, possession-based’ football in hopes of qualifying for the 2034 World Cup. PHOTO: SYUHAINI AZLIN, SPORTPLUS.SG As part of one of the eight-pillar strategies – to increase football participation among youths in the country – the ActiveSG Cup also intends to promote inclusive growth for males and females alike. Women’s national football captain Ernie Sulastri, 33, said the tournament is a good starting point for youths to be exposed to competitive football. “At least they will now have motivation to train in their academies or schools, and they can work harder to play in their respective teams,” said the veteran with 40 international caps. Men’s national football custodian Hassan Sunny, 37, echoed her views in cultivating a competitive spirit from a young age. “I think our youths need more games, more competitions. The more games they play the more they will experience different game situations,” said Hassan. “When I was young, I played many youth level tournaments where I really saw myself improve. That can only be done if ActiveSG organizes more tournaments like these,” he added. Sign-ups for the tournament has been extended to February 7th. Interested youth participants and teams can sign up for the East Zone via this link here! There is also a chance to win a pair of football boots of your choice worth $300 when you take part in the ActiveSG Cup2022 x D2D Sports giveaway on Instagram here, while FootLocker vouchers of up to $500 are up for grabs for participants. #ActiveSGCup2022 #SgFootball

Meet the 52 year-old runner who clocks over 6,000km in a year, ran all 365 days of 2021, and has his own YouTube Channel PHOTO: KOK CHIN TEOW He began running in 2014, when he was in his mid forties. Back then as an avid badminton player, Kok Chin Teow felt he was lacking on-court stamina to complete a regular 2-hour match, and decided to turn to running as a way of improving his cardiovascular endurance. What happened next surprised even him, as he enjoyed the runners' high that came after his regular runs. It was then that his running journey began. These days running is no longer just a hobby of Kok's, but has instead become a way of life. In fact, if he does go a day without running, it would feel like something was amiss or incomplete. PHOTO: KOK CHIN TEOW Known endearingly by his online YouTube moniker "Run Uncle Run", the 52 year-old who works as a Gaming Display Development Manager, clocked over 6,668km in 2021. He did not miss a single day of the 365. He is now looking to equal that target this year, as well as compete in two overseas Ultra Trail Marathon races: the CULTRA Cameron Ultra Trail 100km and TMBT Kota Kinabalu Ultra Trail 109km. Kok initially documented his runs on video as a means of capturing his adventures and races for memories' sake, and to share with friends and family. He was then encouraged by friends to upload them onto YouTube to share his experiences with other like-minded people in the running community. Taking inspiration from Hollywood blockbuster Forrest Gump, he named his YouTube channel "Run Uncle Run". It now has over a thousand subscribers, with videos featuring beautiful sights from hidden spots in Singapore's running and hiking trails. He prefers running on his own than running in groups and recommends Mandai T15, Chestnut Nature Park, MacRitchie Reservoir, Pipeline Trail, Rail Corridor and Bukit Timah Nature Reserve as ideal running routes for trail runners in Singapore, with the Mandai T15 and Chestnut Nature Park being his personal favourites. And what of his running shoe rotation? We were curious given the amount of mileage he goes through in a year. Kok shared: "I am using four pairs of running shoes for rotation. The Hoka SpeedGoat 4 and Hoka Challenger ATR 4 for trail running; and Hoka Arahi 2 and Hoka Rincon 2 for road running." PHOTO: KOK CHIN TEOW He prefers running on trails than on the road, particularly as he has a love for running in nature, and also because trail surfaces feel much softer for him to run on than on concrete. When asked what his recovery routine would look like, Kok shared: "After long distance running I will take an hour to an hour and a half's nap, after refueling with a balanced meal that comprises both protein and carbs." "I will also do a slow and easy paced recovery run the next morning to get the blood flowing for faster recovery." For newer runners who are looking to begin trail running, Kok suggests that beyond investing in a good pair of trail specific running shoes, you might also want to consider investing in a hydration vest to carry water and food for refueling, particularly if you plan to cover longer distances. He also suggests starting out at a pace suited for you and your current fitness level, instead of comparing yourself to more seasoned runners. "Start with a relax and easy pace, or even use run/walk/run method that suits your current endurance level," Kok shared. PHOTO: KOK CHIN TEOW "There is no definition for a runner to only be able to run a particular distance or pace. You are the captain of your running journey." Find out more about Run Uncle Run Kok Chin Teow's running journey or catch his running adventures on his YouTube channel here. #SportPlusSG #Running #KokChinTeow #RunUncleRun

Former Standard Liege left winger adds European pedigree to Sailors' AFC Champions League drive PHOTO: STANDARD LIEGE Singapore, 8 February 2022 – Singapore Premier League champions Lion City Sailors have announced the signing of Maxime Lestienne from Belgium's top tier side Standard Liege ahead of the club’s defence of its Singapore Premier League (SPL) title and maiden participation in the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) in the 2022 season. Lestienne brings valuable UEFA Champions League (UCL) experience to the Sailors squad as Kim Do-hoon’s charges ramp up preparations ahead of the 2022 season that will see the club defend its Singapore Premier League (SPL) title and make its debut in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League (ACL). PHOTO: STANDARD LIEGE The 1.77m left-footed wide player joins from Belgian top-tier side, Standard Liege, on a free transfer and will join the club on a two-year contract, and becomes the fourth foreign signing for the Sailors, following in the footsteps of Brazilian playmaker Diego Lopes, centre-back Pedro Henrique, and former South Korean captain and striker Kim Shin-wook. The move was completed ahead of the closure of the European transfer window on 31 January – the SPL window closes on 25 March – with Lestienne expected to arrive in Singapore prior to the opening of the domestic football season on 19 February when the Sailors face Albirex Niigata in the AIA Community Shield. PHOTO: STANDARD LIEGE Lestienne was a part of PSV Eindhoven’s 2015/16 UCL squad that fell at the Round of 16 to eventual finalists, Atletico Madrid. The Dutch giants came out of Group B at the expense of Manchester United, with Lestienne recording two goals and two assists for PSV during that European campaign. He has a record of 29 appearances and six goals in UEFA’s second tier regional competition, the Europa League, with Standard and fellow Belgian side Club Brugge. #SportPlusSG #Football #SingaporePremierLeague #SingaporeFootball

Despite being new to the running community, third year university student JX's colourful running adventures have lit up the online space PHOTO: HAW JIA XUAN What started off as a way to lose weight from late night suppers while staying on campus has turned into a fierce passion for runner Haw Jia Xuan , who now clocks 25km - 30km weekly. Known by most as JX, Haw regularly shares her running adventures through social media, with beautiful sunrises and landscapes captured via @WorldThroughJX , her Instagram page. She recounts how she first started running due to the Covid-19 lockdown in early 2020. Back then, she had just moved home from campus housing when Singapore announced its 8-week Circuit Breaker. PHOTO: HAW JIA XUAN "I was looking for a reason to get out of the house. I found that running allowed me to keep my mind off schoolwork and spend some time to reflect on my day. I especially love easy run days where I am able to let my mind wander off," said the 22 year-old. Her brother and boyfriend are both huge running enthusiasts, and both played a huge role in helping her start on her fitness journey. Running was also a common activity they were able to do together. Her parents are also runners, with the Haw family running together at least four times a week. They would go for their runs at their own pace and meet after for a meal together. PHOTO: HAW JIA XUAN Favourite Running Route Haw's favourite running route is just around the neighbourhood of Punggol, and one can understand why: tucked away in Singapore's northeast with gentle streams running alongside the greenery that line beautiful footpaths for pedestrians. "Punggol has many scenic routes including inside Coney Island and along Punggol Waterway. Let’s not forget the fact that you can run to other neighbourhoods like Sengkang and Hougang via the park connectors too," Haw shared. She added: "I really like the versatility of the running routes here – you can choose to go for a 3k or 10k run; you can choose to do intervals at the straighter paths; you can do some trail runs inside Coney Island – many types of runs are possible! There are also plenty of water points littered around the area so you do not have to worry about hydration points." PHOTO: HAW JIA XUAN Running Mileage The third year NUS student's usual weekly mileage adds up to about 25km - 30km, which includes a speed session and a long run every week. The rest of her runs are easy runs to help her build her aerobic base. "One simple way that I use to check whether the effort is indeed an easy one is by checking if I can sustain a conversation during my run. My runs usually range from 3km - 10km on average," Haw shared. On special occasions, Haw would aim for a specific distance, such as a half marathon (21km) on her 21st birthday and 8.88km on Chinese New Year. PHOTO: HAW JIA XUAN Running Shoe Rotation She has a few daily trainers on rotation, but would choose the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v2 if she had to pick one to run with for the rest of her life. She finds the FuelCell Rebel v2 super lightweight, with FuelCell foam one of the softest she's ever tried. The Fuelcell Rebel v2 are the first pair of running shoes she's tried outside of Nike, and she doesn't regret it at all. PHOTO: HAW JIA XUAN For faster runs, Haw would reach for her New Balance FuelCell RC Elite v2, the shoes that she feels help propel her forward with every stride. She isn't usually a fan of carbon plated shoes because she finds them too stiff, but the RC Elite v2 was a game-changer for her because of the soft cushioning from the FuelCell foam, making it the most comfortable pair of carbon plated shoes she's worn, and it helps that she loves the colourways too. Running Solo vs Running with Friends As it is usually tough to arrange a time to run with others, Haw usually runs solo. The benefit of that choice is also because it allows her to decide on the pace she prefers. To help her along her running journey, she uses audio-guided runs on the Nike Run Club App. Despite this, she does occasionally run with friends, whom she's very thankful for. PHOTO: HAW JIA XUAN "I’m not going to sugar-coat it but picking up running was far from easy," she recalls. "Within my circle of friends, I actually create a monthly challenge where the goal is to run 1k for every day in the month. So, let’s say there are 31 days in January, then the monthly challenge would be to complete 31k that month." "Even though this is a virtual challenge, it is still heart-warming to see my loved ones complete the challenge and continue loving the sport. Aside from this, it was my pleasure to run with my closest friend on her birthday – her longest run yet – and I cannot express how proud I am!" Diet and Food Choices Haw has an obsession with Chocolate Soya Milk and Yakun Kaya Toast, which she shares regularly on her social media platforms. Not being someone who watches her diet very strictly, she believe that it’s okay to eat what you like to eat, but in moderation. "I find that restricting yourself and avoiding food you love is a recipe for disaster. You will inevitably give in to your cravings and overeat when you have the chance, so I choose to eat what I want to in watchful amounts instead." PHOTO: HAW JIA XUAN Cross Training Outside of Running Haw recently also picked up jump rope, after coming across content from the jump rope community on instagram. She was impressed by how other jumpers gracefully nailed down sick moves and eye-catching tricks, and began challenging herself to learn them too. It also offered her an excellent all-weather cardio workout option. Her running journey was also made easier after she tried out free home workout programs by Caroline Girvan. She began to explore group fitness more recently at F45 Pasir Ris West where she frequents. "I had the opportunity to try out group-based functional training classes at F45 Pasir Ris West and I got to meet so many amazing people! I want to give a shoutout to Amyn, who has been my workout buddy since my very first class. These classes vary from strength training to cardio sessions with many variations so there’s never a dull day." PHOTO: HAW JIA XUAN Personal Goals and Targets Haw hopes to inspire more people to lead an active lifestyle and to make it a sustainable lifestyle choice, not just temporarily. "I want people to embrace the fun of working out instead of seeing it as a chore," said Haw. "I am also honoured to be part of the RunNUS 2022 planning committee, which aims to spread the joy of running to the NUS population and members of the public." With physical and hybrid running events expected to make a return to Singapore in 2022, Haw hopes to be able to take part in another race and hopefully complete a full marathon. "I was lucky enough to have taken part in Our Tampines Hub 2.4k challenge and Standard Charted 10k race in 2021, so I can’t wait to be on the starting line again." Get inspired by Jia Xuan's running and fitness journey by heading over to her Instagram page , and stay tuned for more stories from our local fitness community here on SportPlus.sg! #SportPlusSG #Running #WorldThroughJX #HawJiaXuan

Founded in 2020, Zharbor.cc is an all-women cycling club comprising experienced cyclists who share a common love for cycling PHOTO: ZHARBOR.CC Amidst the covid-19 pandemic, cycling became a popular Singaporean past-time. Driven by the desire to stay active during a period of inactivity, long-distance cycling groups have experienced an influx of new blood. Despite this, the sport remains a male-dominated one owing to outdated stereotypes such as women being “bad drivers''. Shifting the needle is Zharbor.cc , an all-women cyclist group that is showing no sign of slowing down. PHOTO: ZHARBOR.CC Inspired by the colloquial term, Zharbor which translates to ‘girls’ in Hokkien, Zharbor.cc (ZBCC) began in 2020 with three women who wanted to ride together. Dorothy, a pioneer member of the club, fondly recalls how they got to know each other through massive cycling rides with the boys a decade ago. As word of an all-women cycling club got out, in the blink of an eye, they became a club of 17 local women who share a love for the sport. In fact, ZBCC consists of experienced cyclists – a number of them have even represented Singapore in the competitive racing arena. PHOTO: ZHARBOR.CC The social club is an amalgamation of members from various competitive teams i.e. Cycling Training.cc , Yap Racing and Garcia Test Team . Described as both a social group and a space to train for competitive events, ZBCC organises and hosts weekly rides that clock a typical mileage of 60-100km – an impressive distance! Dorothy emphasises that planning for the routes is usually minimal, it’s more about bringing everyone together for a good ride, nothing too fancy. PHOTO: ZHARBOR.CC “Some want to hoot (attack), some want cafe pace. So it’s really up to the pack,” she says. These challenging rides where the members push their limits together and egg each other on, breeds a strong sense of camaraderie. Over the years, the close-knit group has come to resemble a family, making it a point to hang out over meals as well. “Some of us used to do massive, crazy rides at LH5, Esso, and Crazies prior to Covid. That’s how we know each other, because we were suffering together,” Dorothy recalled fondly. Using old-timer lingo to allude to the cycling routes frequented by riders over the years, Dorothy gives us a peek into the peculiarly-named popular routes. LH5 or Long House 5am, a meeting point in the past at a Hawker at Upper Thompson called Long House – usually a weekday event. PHOTO: ZHARBOR.CC Esso quite literally refers to the petrol station, it is also a meeting point for cyclists. ‘Crazies’ refers to a group or weekend ‘event’ that was, to say the least – crazy intense. Pre-covid, there was an unsaid agreement between riders to turn up at these spots and just ride together. As opposed to the handful of female riders back in the day, the marked increase in numbers today is an encouraging sight. However, considering that the traffic is heavier and there are more errant drivers today, it is also a cause for concern. PHOTO: ZHARBOR.CC Understanding Traffic Laws Dorothy remarks that being aware of the traffic rules and learning how to handle tire punctures or accidents is of utmost importance for newer riders. Recently kick-starting a Zharbor Developmental Team initiative (ZB/DT), ZBCC strives to build an inclusive space for girls to ride better and to share their valuable cycling experiences. While the initiative is still in its starting stages, the future for female cyclists is looking more hopeful than ever! Looking to pick up cycling? Follow SportPlus.sg's cycling series as we bring you cycling tutorials from the experts, bring you around the best cycling routes, and showcase some of Singapore's most popular cycling groups! #SportPlusSG #Cycling #SgCycling #ZharborCC