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Hilly course and rising spring temperatures fail to stop enthusiasm as 17,000 marathoners cross the finish line in Sydney Sydney, 19 September 2023 - Not even a challenging and hilly course could turn away a record number of participants in the Sydney Marathon presented by ASICS, as some 17,000 runners ran the main 42-kilometre race in Australia's largest marathon to date. Hazy conditions that shrouded the city a week before the event and soaring temperatures in the late mornings were deemed as a concern in some quarters, as organisers buckled down for the final lap ahead of the flag off of this year's Abbott World Marathon Major candidate event. PHOTO: HANIDA HUSSEIN, SPORTPLUS.SG According to the Bureau of Meteorology, temperatures reached 30 degrees along the course with warnings sent to runners prior to the start of the full marathon on 7:10am on Sunday. This however did not stop the vast majority of the record number of participants from completing a marathon with an electrifying atmosphere which saw over 100,000 spectators line the streets for a significant portion of the course and at its most challenging points. Sydney Marathon ambassador for Singapore Melvin Wong, who completed the 21.1KM half-marathon race distance and came in sixth overall with a time of 1:15:17, reflected on his own race and the event as a whole said: "The camaraderie across our Singapore runners at the shakeout run, the glorious PBs and milestones achieved and the spectacular backdrop of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, this was a trip with many firsts." Singapore runner Rachel Chua also soaked in the atmosphere after completing what she deemed to be a "hilly and challening" course, saying: "Slopes were brutal as we already had to climb up a slope at the start of the race, and the weather was scorching hot. Thank god hydration points were enough, an amazing experience still and I got to run past many scenic places here." Sebastian Cheong, co-founder and captain of Singapore running club Superhero Runners added: "Exciting, electrifying and entertaining. Exciting leading up to race day with the opportunity to run through the beautiful city of Sydney which included incredible views of Harbour Bridge, Darling Harbour and Sydney Opera House. "Electrifying course with spectators cheering their lungs out with handmade sign boards for extra motivation, and entertaining with local musicians, DJs and performances which kept us going and making the distance feel more manageable." Meanwhile in the Full Marathon's elite category, 31 year-old Moroccan Tokyo Olympian Othmane El Goumri took top spot wit ha time of 2:08:20. Laban Kipngetich Korir from Kenya came in second, with a time of 02:08:43 and Ethiopian runner Getaneh Molla Tamire crossed the finish line in 02:11:20. For the women's category, Betsy Saina of the United States finished first, with a time of 02:26:46, ahead of Rahma Tusa Chota from Ethiopia (02:26:52), and Gladys Chesir Kiptagelai from Kenya (02:28:39). Australian Madison de Rozario won the wheelchair marathon 13 minutes ahead of the second placed Kina Tsubasa from Japan. It was the first time de Rozario competed on Australian soil, after taking out the London Marathon and second place in Boston, in April. Looking to join an overseas race? The Sydney Marathon, presented by ASICS, is a candidate race to become the seventh Abbott World Marathon Major. Offering one of the world's most scenic courses, participants who join the Sydney Marathon from 2022 to 2024 will gain automatic entry into the event when it becomes a WMM major in 2025. Sign up for the Sydney Marathon and find out more about Australia's biggest marathon here. #Running #SydneyMarathon #FeelNewSydney

The Lion City Sailors hosted Johor Darul Ta'zim in an international friendly at Bishan Stadium which ended in a 2-1 win for the away side A highly anticipated pre-season friendly, Lion City Sailors and Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) did not disappoint the 2,474 strong crowd. At the end of the 90 minutes, it was the Malaysian Super League champions who dominated Bishan Stadium. The energy from the seats transcended down to the pitch as the record 10-time Malaysian champions defeated Lion City Sailors 2-1. It was nine minutes in when Nicolao Dumitru broke ground. Following up on a precise cross by his teammate, the Italian international's header was too strong for a diving Zharfan Rohaizad. While The Sailors fans were boisterous at the start, they were quickly eclipsed by the The Johor Southern Tigers' ultras who had marched in in the 17th minute. Parking themselves in JDT's half of the pitch, The Sailors' attackers — Maxime Lestienne and Richairo Zivkovic — were caught in the wrath of the fans despite playing on home ground. JDT doubled their lead in the 23rd minute in fashionable style when Romel Morales' aerobatic bicycle-kick finish stunned the home team. Despite the boos whenever he took a corner near the travelling fans, Lestienne's unwavering determination paid off. In the 37th minute, the Belgian struck back against the run of play through a left footed strike. With The Crew in the stands now fired back up, the team went into the second half with newfound courage. Shawal Anuar , who replaced Zivkovic in the 52nd minute, came close to an equaliser just five minutes after his entrance. With the ball slid into the box from the right flank, Johor's custodian Syihan Hazmi had left the net wide open for an onrushing Shawal. The ball however was too quick for the forward, resulting in a mistimed shot that went wide. All confidence trickled away in the 64th minute, when Hami Syahin was shown a red card for a sliding challenge on Safiq Rahim. Having to defend an onslauhgt of JDT attacks, Lionel Tan and Bailey Wright were crucial in maintaining the one goal deficit and keeping the team in the game. With Zharfan giving commands and maintaining composure, the goalkeeper denied Malaysian star, Corbin Ong from getting on the scoresheet in the 77th minute. Having held on with 10 men, The Sailors took the 2-1 loss and now prepare to travel to Johor for a rematch at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium next Monday (8 April). For more pictures, visit the gallery here . #SgFootball   #LionCitySailors #JohorDarulTazim

103 spexScholars across 26 sports inducted into the programme this year, marking a steady increase since the inaugural batch of 61 spexScholars Singapore, 2 April 2024 – The Sport Excellence Scholarship (spexScholarship) and the new Sport Excellence Potential (spexPotential) programmes offered by Sport Singapore (SportSG) provides an enhanced level of support for athletes within Singapore’s High Performance Sports (HPS) system. Today, the spexScholarship programme adds 103 new spexScholars across 26 sports. Additionally, the new spexPotential programme inducts its inaugural batch of 48 athletes across 22 sports. spexScholarship – a key pillar of Singapore’s HPS system The spexScholarship has been a key pillar of Singapore’s HPS system, offering financial and programmatic support for athletes within our HPS system since its inception in 2013. Its comprehensive suite of support includes a monthly stipend; support for local and overseas training and competitions; sports equipment; access to a sports science team in areas such as such as biomechanics, physiology, physiotherapy, strength and conditioning, and sports nutrition; a curated coaching programme which helps athletes with diet, sleep, recovery and preparation and other aspects required to get them competing at peak condition. Over the years, it has grown our base of sporting talent while enabling more athletes to achieve breakthrough successes at the elite level. For instance, national sprint queen Shanti Pereira, who returned to the programme in 2022 has seen steady improvement in her performances — going from podium finishes at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games-level to breaking records and topping the podium at the Asian Championships and Asian Games. National para swimmer Toh Wei Soong who joined the programme in 2018 has also grown into a key medal hopeful at the Asian level and beyond, most recently bagging four medals at the Asian Para Games last year en route to becoming Team Singapore’s most bemedalled athlete at the continental showpiece. SpexScholars comprised just 10% of Team Singapore's contingent at the 2023 SEA Games but contributed 52% of our medal tally. Similarly, they comprised 14% of our contingent at the 2022 Asian Games but contributed 62% of our medal tally.  At the ASEAN Para Games 2023, spexScholars made up 28% of the contingent but contributed to 41% of our medals while they made up 23% of our 2022 Asian Para Games contingent and clinched 63% of our medals. To help more athletes achieve their potential, we have 103 spexScholars across 26 sports in the programme this year, marking a steady increase since the inaugural batch of 61 spexScholars in 2013. Inaugural batch of spexPotential athletes First announced in August 2023, the spexPotential programme aims to strengthen the support during youth-to-senior athlete transition and develop promising athletes to achieve sustainable high-performance outcomes. It bridges the gap in our athletes’ journey towards the spexScholarship by preparing them for sporting excellence at SEA Games level, so that more can aspire to higher levels of sport excellence beyond that – at Asian and World levels. SpexPotential athletes will also receive support to prepare them for sporting excellence at the Major Games, including financial and programmatic support. They will receive a monthly stipend, as well as financial support to cover the costs of coaching, training and competition, as well as equipment. These are on top of education, career and personal development support. The programme, which aims to prepare athletes for gold medal success at the SEA Games level and beyond, welcomed its inaugural cohort of 48 athletes across 22 sports today. Holistic Support for National Athletes Beyond spexScholarship and spexPotential, SportSG also provides their athletes with a comprehensive suite of support. Apart from supporting their training needs, SportSG facilitates their sporting journey throughout their education and employment through various spex initiatives such as spexBusiness, spexEducation, spexGLOW (Grant for Loss of Wages) and spexTAG (Training Assistant Grant). Mr Alan Goh, Chief Executive Officer of SportSG, said, “Singapore’s High Performance Sports (HPS) system nurtures our local athletes at different stages of their development pathways, with the aim of helping them to realise their fullest potential and represent Team Singapore. This new spexPotential programme provides our young, budding athletes with both the support to kickstart their careers and the opportunities to succeed in their journey.” He added, “The programme will also help to establish better youth-to-senior athlete transitions, develop successors to our older Team Singapore athletes when they retire, and allow our sporting successes to be sustainable. SportSG will continue to partner our National Sport Associations (NSAs) in athlete pathways development, and we look forward to having more high performing athletes join the spexPotential programme in the coming years. Congratulations to our very first batch of spexPotential athletes!” Mr Kon Yin Tong, Chairman of the spexScholarship Selection Committee and Chairman of SportSG, said, “My heartfelt congratulations to all the recipients. There are a couple of major competitions this year, including the Paris Olympics and Paralympics. We trust that the holistic and personalised support provided under the spexScholarship, which takes care of their training needs, will give the athletes a boost in their preparations for these competitions. As we begin a new milestone with the introduction of spexPotential this year, we hope that more promising talents will perceive sports as a viable career option and strive for sustained sporting excellence on the world sporting stage.”

Festival of Basketball, held in conjunction with the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup, brought Singapore Sports Hub to life The Singapore Sports Hub was re-energised last week as it championed basketball with its “Festival of Basketball” in collaboration with youth culture giant Hypebeast. The partnership highlighted Singapore’s athletic dynamism and cultural vibrancy underlining Singapore Sports Hub as the go-to place for sports, lifestyle and entertainment. The experience unfolded around Singapore Sports Hub starting at the level 3 Skate Park which features creative art installations on a skate halfpipe and skate ramps, alongside a high jump measuring tool for athletic challenges. Singapore Sports Hub is gearing up for a year filled with top-tier spectator sports, which kicked off with the FIBA 3×3 Asia Cup 2024 from March 27 to 31, followed by the FIBA Intercontinental Cup in September. For enthusiasts eager to get into the game, Singapore Sports Hub’s outdoor courts are open to all at no charge, and the indoor courts at OCBC Arena – the training ground for national athletes from Basketball Association Singapore – are available for booking. Central to the installations is the “Garden City Slam” mural by Alvin Tan, a celebrated Singaporean artist known for his boundary-pushing work. Inspired by iconic local symbols—the Orchid and the Merlion—merged with the essence of the First Slam Dunk Movie, the artwork encapsulates Singapore’s green identity and the collective spirit of its people. Alvin was chosen for his profound connection to Singapore’s artistic community and his fresh perspective, qualities that make his work a fitting tribute to the city-state’s resilience and unity. Hypebeast plays a critical role in this partnership, serving as both curator and trendsetter, seamlessly connecting artistic vision with youth culture. Through its choice of Alvin Tan and influence on the festival’s visual theme, Hypebeast ensures the collaboration vibrates with the energy of urban life and basketball. This strategic involvement deepens the bond between Singapore Sports Hub and its community, galvanizing contemporary youth and street culture. The “Festival of Basketball” is set to be a landmark celebration that spotlights Singapore’s rich cultural tapestry and the unifying power of sports. It represents a commitment to strengthening community ties through engaging activations and is testament to Singapore Sports Hub’s role as a beacon of lifestyle, culture, and sporting excellence in the heart of the city. #mySgSportsHub #FestivalOfBasketball

Singapore Women make bold statements with inspired runs amidst the cold of Nagoya City Nagoya, 13 March 2024 - Even the cold temperatures and chilly weather could not deter Singapore's runners from a spirited performance at the 2024 Nagoya Marathon , as some 31,000 runners crossed the finish lines in the charming Japanese city. A total of 18,000 runners took part in the 13th edition of the Nagoya Women's Marathon , which flagged off at 9.10am (JPT), with the women-only full marathon ending off at the Vantelin Dome Nagoya, as each female participant received a beautiful Tiffany and Co. medal pendant as reward for their marathon achievement upon crossing the finish line. In the mixed gender Nagoya City Marathon , 10,000 runners took part in the 21.1km half-marathon distance, while 3,000 runners completed the 10km distance, with both categories flagging off an hour after the Nagoya Women's Marathon at 10.20am. Singapore’s female runners who formed the New Balance contingent performed admirably with national distance runner Vanessa Lee clocking a new personal best of 1:20, which also earned her overall fourth place in the race. Lifestyle influencer Shannon Taylor Wong also completed her half-marathon with an impressive sub-2 hour finish in her first 21.1km race effort. Tiniest but Most Beautiful Finisher's Medal Melissa Foo , who took on the 42.2km Nagoya Women's full marathon, was estatic after crossing the finish line, despite braving a cold. "The crowd support was phenomenal with people lined up all the way in various costumes. And yes, the weather was cold but still bearable except for when the wind blew," she shared on her Instagram. She was also rewarded with the Tiffany and Co. necklace which she was looking forward to the most, calling it the "tiniest but prettiest finisher’s medal". Bold and Breaking Boundaries Despite facing strong headwinds throughout her race, Vanessa Lee surpassed her own expectations and was happy with her results at the finish. "I am super ecstatic! I just wanted a personal best (PB) but I came back with a high glimmer of hope that I’m much closer to my sub 80 dreams than I previously thought," said Lee. She added: "I’m not built for cold weather. Below 10 degrees I’ll wear long tights to race, I thought I would regret it as I assumed it would get warmer as I raced, but I ended up not sweating at all.” “I was honestly pretty bold in this race, going out hard from the start so much that I positive-split by quite a bit which I’ve never done before cause I’m actually quite a conservative runner." "I was inspired by the interview moderator Stephen Roach had with Japanese distance runner Nozomi Tanaka at the panel talk yesterday, he mentioned that Tanaka has a front running style which means that she usually likes to take the lead in races. So I thought ‘why not, go hard or go home’ right?” Women Empowering Women There were also a number of other runners from Singapore who took part in the New Balance Nagoya Women's Marathon and Nagoya City Half-marathon, some of whom completed their first full-marathon while others achieved their personal bests. Regular marathoner Cherlynn Sim , who managed to shave off 12 minutes from her personal best to become a sub 5-hour marathoner, shared: "Reflecting on the race, I reckon I could have managed my hydration better but the trade off is that I managed to avoid going to the loo so perhaps that helped trim off some time!" She added: "Nagoya Women’s marathon was super inspiring as the women, young & old, just kept fighting on. I hardly saw anyone walking at all. The race was also super well organised with zero hiccups. Reflecting on the race, reckon I could have managed my hydration better but the trade off is that I managed to avoid going to the loo so perhaps that helped trim off some time!" New Balance Run Club’s Jenelle , who completed her first ever full-marathon, was moved to tears at the finish. She shared: "Crossing the finishing line in Nagoya felt emotional. I arrived with the simple goal of completing the marathon. Despite my limited training, injury, and doubts from others who said it was impossible to finish without running a 30km during training, I chose to believe in myself, and had completed it way better than my expectation." For more content in this New Balance x Nagoya Marathon series, visit our New Balance page here . #NagoyaMarathon #NewBalanceRunning #NewBalanceSG

Both Australia's men's and women's teams lifted the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup trophy after dominating performances at Singapore Sports Hub SINGAPORE, 31 MARCH 2024 – For the third straight year, Singapore hosted Asia's biggest 3x3 event with the seventh edition welcoming over 6,000 people from March 27 to 31 — with Singapore’s men’s and women’s national teams taking center stage in the main draws on March 29 (Friday) and 30 (Saturday) Singapore’s women’s team were up first on Friday, putting up valiant efforts with the help of the crowd. The team ended their campaign on the same day after two unfortunate losses to powerhouses China and Chinese Taipei, 20-12 and 18-8 respectively. The home side’s men’s team followed suit the next day. Cheered on by a boisterous local crowd — who without a shadow of a doubt showed up for both the men’s and women’s teams — the men’s team fell to an in-form Iran and China 21-12 and 21-15. Singapore’s famed Delvin Goh featured alongside his three teammates for the first time since the city began hosting the tournament in 2022. As one of the senior players alongside Kelvin Lim, Goh said that calmness was key in facing teams of Iran and China’s quality. “I try to tell my teammates to stay calm because at the end of the day, it’s basketball! It’s not that hard, you just have to come here and play your game. The nerves are always going to kick in but all you have to do is stay composed and try to strike a balance. No noise, no nothing. I just focus on myself. That’s what I tell them, focus,” the 28-year-old shared with Sportplus.sg. “This year, I finally have the chance to play with the guys so I’m really happy and at the same time, I got to play in front of my family and the fans. It’s always nice to have the fans behind you. I hope they know that we are trying our best and give us some time. We’ll come back stronger,” Goh added. The finals the next day were nothing short of an exciting display of Asia’s best. Australia cemented their status as the region's 3x3 basketball powerhouse after winning both titles at the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup 2024 on Sunday (March 31). They dominated the half-court at the famous Singapore Sports Hub to win men's and women's for the second time having achieved the feat in 2019. Playing in their fifth straight men's final, Australia reclaimed their crown and won a fourth Asia Cup title overall with a dominant 21-7 victory over Iran at the OCBC Square, stifling Iran in a spectacular performance as they pulled away early and never eased up.  MVP Todd Blanchfield fittingly hit the two-pointer to seal Australia's triumph. Though Iran's giant-killing run from the qualifying draw ended, they still clinched their first medal since winning bronze in the tournament's first edition in 2013. Defending champions Mongolia had the consolation of a bronze medal after a thrilling 21-18 win over New Zealand.  Superstar Anand Ariunbold produced a brilliant performance with 15 points and sank two free throws to seal Mongolia's fifth men's medal. In the women's final, all-conquering Australia successfully wrapped up their title defence with a tough 18-13 victory over New Zealand in a repeat of last year’s final. Australia held a slim 15-13 lead in the final minute before MVP Alex Wilson hit a clutch two to effectively end the New Zealanders’ resistance. "We just played super hard so I just hope that if you've never heard of The Gangurrus before, you know us now," smiled a proud Anneli Maley in her post-match interview. Australia had blitzed their way to the final, dominating all their matches including a 22-9 thrashing of New Zealand in the pool phase. But on Sunday’s final, they were seriously threatened for the first time during their back-to-back title run. Still, they did enough to add to their triumphs in 2017, 2019 and 2023. Mongolia won the bronze medal after beating Chinese Taipei 17-10 for the country’s first women's Asia Cup medal since they claimed silver in 2013. It was goosebumps all around as an emotional Khulan Onolbaatar took the time to speak to the fans at OCBC Square and those back home, “We had a medal in mind when we came here and having this medal for the first time for Mongolia women’s team is historic for us. Thank you Singapore, thank you to the Mongolian fans. We’ve worked so much for a long time and getting this piece of metal to prove that we’ve improved is so big for us and thank you Mongolians for all your support.” For more Day 2 and 3 pictures, visit the gallery here. For more day 4 and finals pictures, visit the gallery here. #FIBA3x3AsiaCup #Basketball

Powerhouse badminton nations Thailand, Chinese Taipei and South Korea have submitted a  strong player lineup for the 28 May – 2 June tournament 28 March, Singapore – The KFF Singapore Badminton Open 2024 is gearing up to host the  world's top players from 28 May to 2 June 2024 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Among the  highly anticipated matchups is the potential clash between defending champion An Se Young and world No. 3 Tai Tzu Ying in the women’s singles category. This encounter is expected to  be one of the final showdowns between the world-class duo, with Tai's retirement on the  horizon. Both players have had a fine start to 2024, with Tai securing victory at the India Open in  January, while An clinched titles at the French Open and Malaysia Open, where she overcame  Tai in a thrilling three-set encounter (10-21, 21-10, 21-18). Should both players meet in this year’s KFF Singapore Badminton Open, it will be a rematch  of last year's semi-finals, where the South Korean delivered a commanding performance to  claim victory with a score of 21-16, 21-14. Ahead of her expected retirement after this year’s Paris Olympics, Tai expressed her  anticipation, stating, "This would probably be my last Singapore Badminton Open, and I’m  looking forward to performing my best for the fans here." In addition to the potential marquee matchup between An and Tai, fans can expect a display  of top-level badminton across all categoriesfeaturing some of the most in-form players. South  Korea’s women’s doubles pair Baek Ha Na and Lee So Hee, who recently captured the All  England Open Badminton Championships title, will hope to go one better at this year’s KFF  Singapore Badminton Open after losing to China’s Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan in last year’s  finals. Thai duo Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai, currently ranked 6th in the  world, will aim to capture their third mixed doubles title of 2024 after securing victories at  the India Open and Thailand Masters earlier this year. South Korea’s Kang Min Hyuk and Seo Seung Jae, who are the reigning men’s doubles world  tour finals champions, will also be ones to watch after their triumph at the India Open in  January. Other notable players that will be competing include Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn (world no.  8), and 2020 Tokyo Olympics men’s doubles champions Lee Yang and Wang Chi-Lin. Early bird season tickets for the world-class tournament are on sale now until 8 April 2024,  starting from $90. Fans can also opt for The Champion Club, a new ticket category offering  exclusive privileges designed to enhance their KFF Singapore Badminton Open experience,  priced at $1,000. #KFFSBO2024 #Badminton #SgBadminton

From a Meet and Greet with New Balance Athletes Camille French and Nozomi Tanaka, to the New Balance Shakeout Run and Nagoya Women’s Marathon 2024’s Race Expo, women were empowered through New Balance’s ‘Run Your Way’ message. Where there’s a marathon, there’s a party – and this was no different at the 2024 Nagoya Women’s Marathon and Nagoya City Marathon.  In support of the highly-anticipated annual mass participation event, New Balance Japan opened its doors to a ‘Run Your Way. Park’, the running community base in Nagoya’s Sakae district. The space also played host to the Nagoya Marathon's shakeout run and subsequent after-party, where some 200 by-invite-only attendees celebrated their achievements. New Balance’s ‘Run Your Way’ campaign has gained significant traction all over the world including Singapore, with a powerful message of breaking down the sport’s stereotypes one run at a time.  Open for only a limited time, the park promotes the pure joy of running without the pressures of timings and results, encouraging the marathon’s participants to simply enjoy the event to the fullest and improve their relationship with running. A day before the space was transformed into the shakeout run’s start point, Sportplus.sg sat down with New Balance Camille French and Nozomi Tanaka to uncover the impact running has had in their lives and what ‘Run Your Way’ meant to them. Tanaka, who hails from Japan’s Hyōgo prefecture, is the current national record holder in the women’s 1000m, 1500m, 3000m and 5000m categories. The 24-year-old also made her Olympic debut on home soil in 2020. What is one trait you have as a runner which you feel defines you most? Tanaka: I always get nervous during competitions, which I dislike. To help with that, I have small steps that I take to prepare myself to achieve the big goal. It's a precious time where I enjoy being a runner. After the competitions, I'll do some easy jogging to feel safe and happy. You broke the Japanese 3,000m record in 2020 , which was held for 18 years. During these long and very tough runs, how do you usually push yourself? Tanaka: Year 2020 was the year I wanted to be the Number 1 in Japan. But now, making records is not my biggest motivation. I want to be equally fighting with other world class athletes like the kenyans. So that’s my motivation now. If you could tell one thing to aspiring runners who are afraid to start running because of stereotypes, what would it be? Tanaka: Don’t push yourself too hard. Just know that it’s not necessary to be a fast runner. Don’t forget to enjoy and have fun. Always take it easy, from there you’ll be able to run faster. New Zealand’s French, who is also a Tokyo Olympian, is a nine-time national champion. The New Balance athlete doesn’t only specialise in 5km, half marathon and marathon categories, she is also a coach at Pulse Running – a community for aspiring runners based in Melbourne. Having guided countless hopeful runners, Run Your Way has been instilled in her. How do you as a coach help them to celebrate their individuality? French: Trying to make a plan around what works for them helps as a lot of people work full-time or have kids.Trying to find a balance that suits their training helps as well.  Sometimes, people want to train with others and other times, they want to do it on their own. As a coach, I have to try to figure out what suits each person as well as trying to focus on what they are trying to achieve at the same time. In line with celebrating individuality with runners, as an athlete who excels in 5k, 10k, Half-Marathons and the Marathon itself, what about yourself as a runner do you feel proudest of? It’s probably the first time I qualified for the Olympics. I was so proud of myself. I ran a PB of 31:13 for the 10K at the world championships too and ran a PB for 5K of 14:58 for the 5K qualifying world championships. Those are probably some of the proudest moments before having my daughter, Sienna. Since having her, I remember I ran under 70 minutes in the half-marathon, a year after having her and I was so proud of that. What is one trait you have as a runner which you feel defines you most? I guess it’s my love for racing. Also, I just love running and that’s part of who I am. It’s more like a lifestyle to me. It just makes me really happy. Tanaka and French weren’t the only ones enjoying what the park had to offer. The Run Your Way. Park was filled with elite and amateur runners alike participating in a variety of activities and services such as running-shoe fittings, test runs with New Balance’s latest drops could be found. ‘Run Your Way’ at the Race Expo The fun didn’t stop at the park. Over at the Nagoya Marathon Race Expo, runners and race participants swarmed the expo booths, with exhilaration at a high with a good variety of activities and New Balance products on show.  Arguably the most sought-after was the Nagoya Women’s Marathon 2024 Limited Edition FuelCell Rebel v4. Exclusively sold at the Expo, its pretty turquoise colourway turned heads and tempted potential buyers with its limited availability. Spruced up with booths providing ‘Run Your Way’ body paint stickers, short videos on running tips, and ‘Run Your Way’ photo frames, the lively Expo was opened until race day for all runners to enjoy and to soak in the true meaning of what it meant to celebrate individuality and break down stereotypes. To read up on how the Nagoya Women’s Marathon and Nagoya City Marathon race day went, read our race day highlights and summary article here .

Spend your Easter weekend at Decathlon’s very first Circular Bazaar Looking for a fun, sporty, and sustainable way to spend your Easter weekend? Decathlon has got you covered! Happening from 29 to 31 March from 10am to 8pm at Decathlon Singapore Lab is Decathlon’s very first Circular Bazaar. From a series of free sport activities and exciting upcycling workshops, to a variety of eco-conscious pop-up booths by Decathlon’s partners and free goodie bags for new members, everyone is invited to enjoy the wonders of sports while shopping consciously at Decathlon’s Circular Bazaar. Here’s what you can look forward to! Sell your preloved bike back to Decathlon Decathlon is so excited to officially launch its newest eco-conscious initiative, Decathlon Buy Back, where you can sell any preloved Decathlon bike in exchange for a Gift Card. The value of the Gift Card will be dependent on the condition of the bike which will be evaluated by Decathlon’s team of seasoned experts. With this initiative, you can get up to 60% of your bike’s retail value in the Gift Card! To find out how much you can get for your bicycle, visit this site to book your free online valuation! Top tip: Be sure to use the Buy Back service at the event. Exclusive to the 3 days of Decathlon’s Circular Bazaar, event-goers get to enjoy 10% more value for your Decathlon bicycles that we buy back – so you’ll get to enjoy up to 70% of your bike’s value! If you’re looking to purchase second-hand products, Decathlon will also have refurbished products as part of their Second Life range. Enjoy free sport activities In collaboration with ActiveSG, participants of all ages are invited to join in the free sport activities. From zumba to soccer for kids and piloxing, experience the joy of staying active with our top picks from Decathlon Activities! For parents looking to keep the little ones occupied, consider signing them up for the Kids Athletics or the Introduction to Kids Football. If you’re looking to try out a new sport or to get into the active lifestyle, we have Piloxing classes, KpopX Fitness sessions, and also a Learn-to-Cycle class! Decathlon definitely has more to offer. To view the full list of activities available during the circular bazaar, simply view this list here. Thrift some preloved apparels Indulge in your love for thrifting at Decathlon’s Circular Bazaar with REFASH! Come on down and sell your preloved apparel* and walk away with Decathlon Gift Cards. If you’re bringing a minimum of 5 accepted pieces, enjoy a $10 Decathlon voucher and other extra rewards for additional pieces! * Terms and Conditions apply. For more information, please visit the Decathlon website. Get creative with upcycling With the goal of making slow fashion more accessible without compromising on style, Commenhers excels in upcycling textile waste into unique, retail-ready products. Discover Commenhers' exclusive range of goodies crafted from upcycled Decathlon products at the Circular Bazaar. Join in on the upcycling fun and learn how to make your own stylish pouch using Decathlon materials at a free workshop hosted by the Commenhers team! With so many exciting activities and workshops in store, be sure to mark your calendars and sign up here for a day of unforgettable sports and sustainability at Decathlon Circular Bazaar. #DecathlonSG #DecathlonTogether

Finishing the tournament as Asia's number 1 with two medals, Valencia also climbed three spots to world number 6 in the world rankings. Italy, 25 March 2024 – The second edition of the Italian World cup in Jesolo, Italy, saw nearly 1,500 athletes from 43 countries over the 5-day tournament, a whopping 36% increase from the inaugural event in 2023. The increased participation was felt not only in terms of numbers, but also in terms of the competition intensity and quality of competitors. Singapore's Valencia Yip settled for silver in the Musical Forms (MF) category, falling 0.1 point short of the gold which went to world number four, Hungary’s Fanni Udvarhelyi. The same 0.1 margin would haunt her performance in the Creative Form (CF) category, where she lost narrowly to world number 2, Cintia Halustyik and world number 5, Germany’s Cora Reuttinger, who won the gold and silver respectively. Valencia would go on to claim the bronze in the CF category. In the hall filled with more than 3,000 people, Valencia was initially left in tears and was comforted by her coach, Brian Beck. “It was really crushing to know I was so close to winning golds in both categories. I was really really heartbroken. I held it in all the way until the competition was over before I allowed myself to let the emotions flow," she recalls. "Could I have done better to bring up my score by 0.1? Maybe yes, maybe no. Though I’m disappointed, I tell myself that I’m competing against athletes who’ve been training all their lives. Me, I’ve only trained for a year. So to be just 0.1 point behind these top athletes, I know I’m almost there, I know I’m catching up to them. I’m going to take in all these disappointments to spur me on to train harder and do better at my next competition.” It wasn't all doom and gloom though, as Valencia beamed with pride when she found out that she was the first overall Singaporean and Southeast Asian female to clinch Asia’s number one spot in the Musical Forms (MF) division. Valencia shares, “It’s an honour to achieve this for my country. One year ago if you asked me if I could achieve this, I would tell you no. I had doubts along the way, like whether I was good enough or whether I could win despite starting out at age 33. I’m really thankful to everyone who’s believed in me and supported me on this journey. Their belief in me has pushed me on.” Kickboxing compatriots Abraham Oh and Alexavier Koh competed for the first time in the Senior category at a world cup. Abraham won two rounds in both his 63kg Light Contact and 63kg Kick Light category but was defeated in the quarter finals. Alexavier lost to his British opponent Ryan Evans in the 63kg Point Fighting category before sustaining an eye injury which forced him to pull out of his remaining two categories. Kickboxing head coach Brian Beck shares, “I’m really happy with the performance of the team. For Valencia, she’s been training for a year and she’s really close to the world standard. With one more year of intensive training and competitions, I am positive she will become a world contender." "She’s the only athlete I’ve trained so far that’s become top in the continent in such a short time. I am genuinely impressed. For the boys’ performance, they’re just stepping into the Senior category where the pace, technical ability and skills have all gone up from what they’re used to in the Junior category (ages 16 to 18). They’ll need some time to adjust, but at the same time, train and compete more so they can rise up to the exacting standards the Senior’s category demands.” The team returns to Singapore on 26th March and will train for their next competition in May. #MartialArts #Kickboxing

43 male and female teams stake claim to be crowned champions of Asia and Oceania in FIBA's 3-aside Tournament Singapore, 25 March 2024 – The highly-anticipated FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup 2024 has reached the Lion City and the atmosphere at the Singapore Sports Hub is palpitating as 43 male and female teams stake their claim to be crowned champions of Asia and Oceania. Organised by Kallang Alive Sport Management (KASM) and supported by Sport Singapore, the 2024 edition of FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup will see youths play an integral part in this world-class event. Through purposeful programming, youths are provided with a platform to pursue their aspirations both on and off the court. Marcus Tan, Chief, Sport Development Group, Sport Singapore, said: “Since 2022, we have seen a steady growth in the number of spectators who join us each year at the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup. Through such events and an increase in both local and overseas competitions, our players have also gained valuable competition experience and achieved significant improvements in their world ranking – from 87 to 49 out of 181 participating teams." "This year, we have an exciting calendar of activities such as coaching forums and workshops as well as youth competitions which create an excellent avenue for aspiring coaches and youth basketballers to showcase their talent and learn from the best. These initiatives complement our national basketball development system driven by the Basketball Association of Singapore and ActiveSG Basketball Academy, to boost participation among coaches, youths, create more learning opportunities, and inspire our next generation of athletes and coaches." Yazed Osman, KASM Group Head of Events & Placemaking, said: “The Singapore Sports Hub is proud to champion the sport of basketball. Leveraging basketball as a launchpad, our commitment to youths and the community is demonstrated by extensive programming, which includes a series of initiatives such as the learning journey and JR Hoopers Programme that will provide opportunities to develop deeper affinity for the sport. I look forward to welcoming Singaporeans to catch exciting, world-class basketball action at the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup 2024.” More than 600 students from 13 schools across primary to tertiary institutions will participate in a specially curated FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup 2024 learning journey. They will be shown around the Singapore Sports Hub to view the various venues hosting the event, have the opportunity to interact with Team Singapore athletes and learn about sustainable practices in sport and at the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup 2024. To inspire the next generation of basketballers, KASM, in partnership with the Basketball Association of Singapore (BAS), will organise the JR Hoopers Programme, comprising curated basketball experiences such as a 1-day skill clinic and a 2-day camp held between 29 and 31 March. More than 150 youths across four categories (U11, U14, U15, U17) will have the opportunity to learn from Singapore’s best and be inspired to represent the nation. Coaching forums and workshops will be conducted by national 3x3 coaches from Singapore (Lazaar Rasic), Australia (Damon Lowery) and Germany (Matthias Webber), with the aim of sharing knowledge and nurturing the next generation of 3x3 coaches. Community competitions such as the ActiveSG Cup and Team Nila Challenge Cup will be played at the OCBC Square from 29 to 31 March, on the sidelines of the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup 2024. Beyond sport, the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup 2024 will also provide opportunities for youth to showcase their talents or gain experience in other areas. 10 final year students from the Diploma in Sport & Wellness Management at Nanyang Polytechnic will be in action as support staff at the event, allowing them to gain hands-on experience and valuable insight to how international sporting events are organised. Seven secondary schools and tertiary institutions will participate in the half-time shows during the Qualifying Draw, with Northland Secondary School’s dance CCA performing at the Opening Ceremony on 28 March. Jamus Tan, 18, from Nanyang Polytechnic said: “I’m really excited to be part of the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup 2024. Basketball is one of my favourite sports and I’ve always been interested to learn what goes on behind the scenes of such international sport events so being able to volunteer as support staff at this tournament is the best of both worlds for me." "I know a lot of hard work goes into making such events happen and it is inspiring to see so many passionate individuals working together to create such a successful event. I’m looking forward to this eye-opening experience and hope that more people will have similar chances to learn about the industry.” Team Singapore line-ups announced Adding to the excitement, Singapore has also unveiled its representatives who will lead the hosts’ charge for glory at the OCBC Square with fresh faces in the squad. The men’s team of Delvin Goh, Nur Aufa Emil Putra, Tay Ding Loon and Xu Duan Yang will be led by Kelvin Lim, while the women’s team consisting of Choo Jie Ying, Han Xingyue, Priscillia Han, Sara Choong and Jermaine Lim will be helmed by Tang Choy Ting. All players, except Choong and Tang, will be making their FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup debut. The final match day line-up for both teams will consist of four players from the above squad. The Qualifying Draw for 26 teams in the men’s and women’s events will be held on 27 and 28 March. The full schedule and groupings for the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup 2024 can be found here. Jermaine Lim, 22, who will be making her FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup debut and is the youngest member of the Singapore women’s team, is relishing the opportunity to compete in front of the home crowd. She said: “I’m excited to experience the atmosphere at the OCBC Square and it means a lot to be able to play basketball in front of my loved ones." "Prestigious tournaments like the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup are a great opportunity for us to improve our chemistry as a team, and to gain more exposure to different playing styles. As a team, we want to play our part in developing the sport and ensure Singapore basketball will keep improving. We are fired up for the challenges that lie ahead. It won’t be easy but we’re ready to put our best foot forward and give our best against China and Chinese Taipei.” #FIBA3x3AsiaCup #Basketball

Defending champions Lion City Sailors defeat fellow title contenders Albirex Niigata (S) 2-1 in a highly-anticipated clash on Sunday night under the lights of Jalan Besar Stadium 24th March, Singapore - Though it was only the second 2024 Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) match for both Lion City Sailors and Albirex Niigtata (S), it was a fixture of high significance — given the fact that it was a clash between the defending back-to-back champions and the team that was poised to possibly rip it away from the Sailors. The three points were a must for both teams as the winner would break ground in the race towards the WPL title. With both sides having gone through extensive makeovers within the squad and management, it was a test of camaraderie and skill. While the Sailors new youthful squad consisted of only four players over the age of 25 in the matchday squad and an overall of six teenagers newly-promoted from the Sailors Girls Academy, Albirex boasted the likes of national team captain Siti Rosnani Azman and former Sailors stars Ernie Sulastri, Nur Izzati Rosni and Lila Tan — with former Japanese international Kana Kitahara at the helm as a player-coach. When all was said and done, it was the Sailors who emerged victorious with a 2-1 win over Kana Kitahara’s side thanks to Raeka Ee’s two goals. Before the stand at Jalan Besar Stadium filled, an uncanny calmness enveloped the atmosphere within the ground — with the stillness and pink skies above hinting a calm before the storm as the two teams prepared for battle. As the highly anticipated matchup kicked off, all quiet was replaced with grit and tenacity, added on by the boisterous crowd that had now taken their seats. After an end-to-end first 20 minutes, it was Sailors’ no. 9 who broke Albirex’s momentum in the 29th minute. With the White Swans custodian, Nurul Haziqah Haszman unable to grasp onto Nur Syazwani Ruzi’s free-kick, Raeka pounced on the rebound to draw first blood. The 20-year-old then doubled the lead just two minutes into the second half in similar fashion. While Dorcas Chu challenged Dhaniyah Qasimah and Nurul Haziqah for the ball, it was Raeka — lurking in the shadows — who once again found herself in prime position to tap it in. Albirex had a chance on goal when a goalmouth scramble ensued in the penalty box, but Beatrice Tan and Tia Foong are to credit for clearing the ball off the line. Hurt in the chaos, Beatrice was able to continue before being forced off shortly after, this time sustaining an injury after colliding with the post while parrying away an Albirex corner. Filling the space of the experienced Sailors custodian was 16-year-old Nur Izairida Shakira making her WPL debut. With Albirex's attacking prowess contributed by the likes Mulan Ayliffe, Manami Fukuzawa and Izzati, the nerves were abundant for young Shakira. Unfortunately for the league debutant, she was unable to stop Mulan’s powerful shot in the 87th minute, conceding the Sailors’ first goal in the WPL since August 2023. Shakira and her defenders however, were able to endure the barrage of Albirex attacks that ensued to clinch the all-important three points, making the game a memorable one for the teenager. Winning their first two fixtures, the Sailors sit at the top of the WPL table with Albirex in third. With match week two done and dusted, Tanjong Pagar and Geylang United are set to kick off match week three on 13th April. The Sailors take on second place Hougang on 14th April at Choa Chu Kang Stadium while Albirex Niigata face Tiong Bahru the night before. #Football #WomensPremierLeague #SingaporeFootball For more match photos from Lion City Sailors and Albirex Niigata's WPL clash , visit our photo album here.