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Celebrate the Year of the Dragon with limited edition capsule! Lululemon today launched a Lunar New Year campaign featuring Academy Award-winning actress Michelle Yeoh and eight theatrical dancers of “Wing Chun” to  present the short film “Be Spring" SINGAPORE , January 12 2024 — Debuting in time to welcome the Year of the Dragon, the film is a  celebration of the arrival of spring, a season signifying rebirth and new beginnings. Through a poetic  enactment of the meeting of mind and body, the film explores the concept of wellbeing, inviting us to  find eternal spring in our everyday lives. Born in the East and raised in the West, Oscar-winning actress Michelle Yeoh embodies the cultural  confluence of East and West. Her years of training in both dance and martial arts have formed the  foundation for her decorated acting career. On being well, Yeoh recommends taking time to listen and  understand oneself – our mind, body and spirit – as keys to achieving balance and finding inner peace  in one’s life. As a newly appointed member of the International Olympic Committee, she plans to  continue championing the benefits of sports and contributing to the community by encouraging more  people to integrate physical movement and find balance in their own lives. “I’m delighted to be partnering with lululemon. Sports have always been an important element of my  life, and in my role as a member of the International Olympic Committee, I am committed to helping  more people, especially younger generations, benefit from sports,” said Michelle Yeoh. “Wing Chun holds a special place in my heart. Back in 1994, I starred in the movie ‘Wing Chun’, and thirty years later, I’m honoured to have the opportunity to collaborate with these professional dancers to re interpret Wing Chun through the short film ‘Be Spring’. This is a concept that resonates with me  deeply. Having our own inner spring all year round is our superpower.” "At lululemon, we believe that everyone has the right to be well, and we are committed to the advocacy  of wellbeing. This new year, we wanted to explore wellbeing through the lens of eastern culture – our  essence, our energy and our spirit (精气神),” said Lynn Cheah, Vice President of Brand Marketing  & Community at lululemon China. “Presented through the juxtaposition of Chinese martial arts – in this case Wing Chun (咏春) – and dance, ‘Be Spring’ is a celebration of spring, and an invitation to find your balance and your own eternal spring. It is an honour and a pleasure to have both Michelle Yeoh and dancers from the theatrical dance ‘Wing Chun’ join us in realising this film. Through their  movements, they truly demonstrate both the power of martial arts and the grace of dance.” The short film “Be Spring” was produced by an all-star cast and crew, and was shot in the mountain  settings of Jingning and Xiandu, featuring Michelle alongside a cast of dancers from the Shenzhen  Opera and Dance Theatre. The limited Lunar New Year capsule collection draws inspiration from the unique shapes and curves  formed by overlapping dragon scales. The capsule includes a Satin Balloon-Sleeve Jacket made with  a silky satin fabric featuring a glossy finish suitable for both day and evening engagements. Festive  and versatile, these capsule pieces are perfect for holiday celebrations and everyday wear. Well-loved  lululemon franchises like the Align™, Metal Vent Tech and Wunder Puff have also been reimagined in  this season’s color palette, making them great options to wear both in and out of the studio. To view the “Be Spring” short film, click here.

Inspired to pick up running when his son was born, Muhammad Helmi has not looked back since and continues to "Run His Way" with his running community This November, New Balance celebrates the individuality of all who run, and inviting all to the world of running. We speak with Muhammad Helmi of iRun Singapore and Superhero Runners, also known as "Helmigas", as part of a three-part 'Run Your Way' series, and ask him what running your way means to him and why he is passionate about running. You can join Helmigas in injecting the vibrant spirit of the running community right into the heart of Singapore's premier shopping district, the iconic downtown bay area, and the world-class national sports hub with a one-mile run in the coming weeks! Muhammad Helmi, iRun Singapore x Superhero Runners 35, Team Lead Technician What does "Run Your Way" mean to you? Helmi: Many people overthink running. I feel "Run Your Way" means if you feel like running right now or running today, then don't overthink it. Whether I feel like running or not I just run, I don't contemplate whether I will want to run or don't want to run. For me I just feel like if I want to run, I just run and not hesitate. Why do you like running? Helmi: I like running because of the friends, the friends that I met. When I first started running, I started running alone. But as time goes by I met a few friends. From a few friends it became so many friends and now it has become a community. Because of the community itself I felt motivated to run. How long have you been running? Helmi: I have been running for about 3 years, ever since Covid started. I started running because of my son. When my son was born I was overweight and I felt I needed to do something about it. When I looked in the mirror I told myself I don't want to be struggling when my son grows up. I want to be able to chase him around and not feel tired. That's one of the main reasons behind why I run. What advice do you have for beginners who may feel intimidated by running? Helmi: To those new runners, don't think that running is a very big thing. Just take it as you are just starting to be healthy. Don't overthink it. Just take it as a way to improve yourself, a new journey you are embarking on to become a better you. I like to take it just as a form of exercise to be a better me, and to be a better self that the future me will thank me for today. Join Helmi and iRun Singapore x Superhero Runners on Tuesday, 21 November 2023 at OCBC Square, Singapore Sports Hub and experience New Balance's cutting-edge innovations and technologies first-hand. #NewBalanceRunning #RunYourWay

Singapore's beach volleyball athletes look to give their all in possible swansong SEA Games, after disappointment at the 2019 SEA Games Kingsley Tay of the men's beach volleyball team is hoping to make amends after the team narrowly missed out on a bronze medal at the 2019 SEA Games in Subic, Philippines. PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG It has been a rollercoaster ride for Singapore's beach volleyball athletes. Having qualified for the SEA Games, they did not initially make the cut for Singapore National Olympic Council's list of sports that would be making the trip up to Vietnam to compete in the 31st SEA Games. Following a successful appeal, the teams can now heave a huge sigh of relief and get down to business in preparing for competition against ASEAN's best on sand for volleyball in a week's time. This is the second time women's beach volleyball athlete Eliza Chong will feature at the regional SEA Games. PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG The competition for beach volleyball at this SEA Games is set to be contested in Tuần Châu Island in Hạ Long City in the northern province of Quảng Ninh. Lamenting how the team missed out on the bronze medal at the last edition of the SEA Games in Philippines, Kingsley Tay from the men's beach volleyball team is seeking redemption - and hopes the team will bounce back to possibly win a first volleyball medal in over 40 years, despite having a relatively more inexperienced squad than 3 years ago. "Some of the guys in the team are my ex indoor volleyball teammates, as in Singapore most of us start from playing indoor volleyball," said Tay. Kingsley Tay leaps highest to spike in a training match at the Singapore Sports Hub PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG "This is the first time two of them are making their SEA Games Beach Volleyball debut, so I would say we are a bit more inexperienced for this discipline." When asked how his role in the team has changed since 2015 when he made his SEA Games debut in indoor volleyball, Tay says he hopes to use his experience to help his teammates manage the pressure and stress. Singapore beach volleyball athletes Ong Wei Yu (left) and Eliza Chong are experienced athletes who have played at international level, but are competing as a pair for the first time. PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG Women's Team: New Pairing for Eliza and Wei Yu For the women's beach volleyball team, Eliza Chong and Ong Wei Yu are a new pairing although neither are short on international experience having competed at different Major Games, as well as other FIVB International tournaments over the years. Having narrowly missed out on Commonwealth Games qualification in Sri Lanka after reaching the final two months ago, the duo now turn their eyes to the SEA Games, and are seen as more senior athletes in a relatively youthful side looking to make a mark at this year's competition. Eliza Chong attempts a spike in a training match with the women's beach volleyball team. PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG Chong, who made her SEA Games debut in 2019 partnering Gladys Lee, is optimistic having had a good recent run of games with Wei Yu in the FIVB Pro Futures in Thailand. "We have good chemistry, and we did pretty decent against many of the SEA Games teams as well as a few Commonwealth Games teams," she said. She added, "The Thailand competition gives us some confidence, being just a month away from SEA Games as it gives us a gauge of how we stand against our rivals in the region." Ong Wei Yu will make her SEA Games debut in Vietnam, having missed out on the last edition. PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG For Ong, who also works as a fitness trainer, getting to partner Chong at international level having been friends for many years makes it an easy and natural transition. She singled out Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam is likely podium finishers at this year's SEA Games, but fancies Singapore's chances as well. "It has been a memorable experience, and I am excited to finally make my SEA Games debut having missed out on the 2019 Games as I stopped competing for a few years," said Ong, who featured at the 2018 Commonwealth Games with Lau Ee Shan. Eliza Chong is optimistic for a better showing from the team this time out following pre-tournament competitions and preparations the last two months. PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG "We are looking forward to Vietnam, and hopefully we can give our best and do Singapore proud," she finished. The 31st Southeast Asian Games will be taking place from 12 - 23 May 2022 in Hanoi, Vietnam. SportPlus.sg is pleased to join hands with TikTok, the world's fastest growing social media platform, to shine the spotlight on the journeys of 10 of Singapore's SEA Games athletes in this 8-part series, and assist athletes with TikTok content creation to amplify their online presence for the Games. Special thanks to Team Singapore, Singapore Athletics, Singapore Badminton Association, Basketball Association of Singapore, Football Association of Singapore, Singapore Silat Federation, Singapore Swimming, Volleyball Association of Singapore, Singapore Underwater Federation, ActiveSG Sport Centres and Chinese Swimming Club for supporting this series. #SportPlusSG #TikTokSingapore #SEAGames31 #GoTeamSG

Journey from running to escape remedial training to representing Singapore PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG He began running during his NS days because he wanted to avoid staying back on weekends for remedial training. Little did he know that it would give him the foundation to be a strong runner in later years. For flight attendant Paul Martin, running wasn't always his go to sport. But he has come to fall in love with it the more he has run in recent years, and is even representing Singapore now in the Masters category. Martin brings with him varied life experiences, having once been a freelance talent and actor in his youth, with some of the shows he has acted in being carried on Netflix. "It was quite fun while it lasted, you meet all kinds of people in the entertainment industry," he shared. "But now that I'm older I want to do something a little more subtle." And what of his journey into running? After all there is a significant difference between running to pass your IPPT and performance training, which is what he does now. PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG "My main goal was to avoid remedial training so that I can go home on weekends," he said. "But somehow my running timing hit gold timing, and I was later posted to a Guards unit, where the culture in the unit was all about running." When asked why he chose running over other sports, he said: "Running is the one sport where all you need is a pair of shoes, some running attire, you can go downstairs, zoom in and zoom out, half an hour and you are done." "You can run here, you can run on the track, run on a treadmill, or run in the trail - whatever rocks your boat." With so many different options of running available, which is Martin's personal favourite? "I personally love running on the roads," he replied. "Everywhere in Singapore, everywhere around the world when I travel." PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG "My second favourite would be on the track, because it's where you learn the fundamentals, how to run right, your pacing, your strides etc, and it helps you for running on the roads and trail as well." His favourite running? Marina Bay. Cliche but we suppose it is also many Singaporean's favourite running route as well. "The Marina Bay area is great. First of all it's so scenic, so you feel a lot less tired on your runs. Secondly, you bump into a lot of familiar faces, and you get to say hi to everyone," he said with a grin. "My other choice would probably be the East Coast (Park) area. You don't have any hills there, it's flat ground and just speed all the way." #SportPlusSG #Running #PaulMartin #VoltRunners

An Asian Games bronze medalist and Silat SEA Championships gold medalist, Siti Khadijah will be competing in a different weight class for her first SEA Games Siti Khadijah will be making her SEA Games debut at the upcoming 31st SEA Games in Hanoi, Vietnam. PHOTO: JOHN YEONG, SPORTPLUS.SG At the tender age of 17, Siti Khadijah Binte Mohd Shahrem has already clinched an Asian Games bronze medal in Pencak Silat for Singapore. She was competing in the Women's tanding 60kg category at the Jakarta 2018 Asian Games back then. Having first made her bow for the Silat national team at the World Junior Championships in 2015, she then made her senior category debut at the Belgium Open in 2018 before swiftly raking in a double bronze medal haul at the Asian Games and Silat World Championships that same year. Watch our full video interview with Siti Khadijah on Studio Plus here. She then followed up on those impressive performances with a gold medal at the Asian Championships in 2019 before securing another gold at the 2022 SEA Championships in Singapore. It is small wonder that while the upcoming Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi , Vietnam is her first SEA Games, it is a stage that is not entirely alien to her, having competed at larger scale events and competitions on the world stage. Siti Khadijah in training at the OCBC Arena, Singapore Sports Hub. PHOTO: JOHN YEONG, SPORTPLUS.SG When asked how excited she was to finally be making her SEA Games debut, Khad said with her usual cheerful smile, "I am very very excited especially with the new rules and my new weight class." "I am really excited to give it my best shot. I am looking forward to my performance - like how I am going to perform, and how I'm going to fare in the team." She then added, "I've been training hard for this SEA Games, and I really hope that everything goes well." Limbering up before a simulation fight in her training with the Singapore Silat Federation at the OCBC Arena, Singapore Sports Hub. PHOTO: JOHN YEONG, SPORTPLUS.SG The 31st SEA Games will witness new rules for the sport of Pencak Silat applied for the first time at the Games, with these having first come into practise at the recently concluded SEA Championships held at OCBC Arena, Singapore Sports Hub . Fights can now be contested and stopped during the bout itself, with officials being able to relook at footage with the help of VAR, while athletes are also allowed to use their elbows and knees in their fights - previously prohibited in the sport, making for a more thrilling but deadly experience. With only two weight classes available at the Vietnam SEA Games , Singapore athletes who wished to compete also had to make the difficult decision and extra sacrifice to put on extra weight in order to be eligible for combat, with Siti Khadijah being one of them. Poster of Siti Khadijah displayed prominently on one of the pillars of the Silat training hall in OCBC Arena, Singapore Sports Hub. PHOTO: JOHN YEONG, SPORTPLUS.SG "One of the biggest challenges is having to jump from my normal weight class, which is 55kg - 60kg all the way to 70 - 75kg," she said. "But I take it as a blessing in disguise as this means that I am able to focus more on my recovery as I do get quite a lot of injuries, and also to help bring up my weight in a healthy way." The 31st Southeast Asian Games will be taking place from 12 - 23 May 2022 in Hanoi, Vietnam. Siti Khadijah during a TikTok shoot with SportPlus.sg at the Singapore Sports Hub. PHOTO: JOHN YEONG, SPORTPLUS.SG SportPlus.sg is pleased to join hands with TikTok, the world's fastest growing social media platform, to shine the spotlight on the journeys of 10 of Singapore's SEA Games athletes in this 8-part series, and assist athletes with TikTok content creation to amplify their online presence for the Games. Sp ecial thanks to Team Singapore, Singapore Athletics, Singapore Badminton Association, Basketball Association of Singapore, Football Association of Singapore, Singapore Silat Federation, Singapore Swimming, Volleyball Association of Singapore, Singapore Underwater Federation, ActiveSG Sport Centres and Chinese Swimming Club for supporting this series. #SportPlusSG #TikTokSingapore #SEAGames31 #GoTeamSG

Former Singapore national skater and model Ziyi Kuek shares basic roller skating techniques with Sport Plus, for you to try out the next time you head to the park with your skates Learning how to fall correctly will help you build the confidence in roller skating. PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG Roller skating can seem like a daunting sport to some, particularly if the thought of crashing or falling crosses your mind. That doesn't need to be the case however, according to former Singapore national skater Ziyi Kuek, who is also a roller skating coach. In order to overcome your fear so that you can begin to more fully enjoy the sport of roller skating, our host Cheryl Tay met up with Ziyi to learn some basic moves to help you master that skating technique, which you can do so with Ziyi's help in our Insights video. Learning How to Stand Up 1. Get On Your Knees, spread your knees apart and put your hands in between them 2. Make sure your feet are not too far away from your hands 3. Push your butt up as you stand 4. After you stand up if you still feel unstable, put your hands on your knees Skating coach Kuek Ziyi demonstrates how to stand up while on roller skates. PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG Learning How to Fall 1. Touch the floor and put one knee down after the other 2. This ensures that you cushion your impact, and are able to break fall. Always remember that you should also be wearing your safety equipment, including knee pads and elbow pads There are many types of colourful roller skates on the market these days, the important thing is to choose a pair you enjoy skating with. PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG V-March For beginners, you can start with this basic drill to get yourself grounded, simply: 1. Raise your knees one at a time - march them one after the other without shaking your body 2. As you march do not rush and make sure that you place your feet down firmly onto the ground V-March to 11 Toe Roll This drill is meant to help you learn how to glide and adjust your speed. To practise this, all you have to do is simply to roll along and touch your toes. The V-March to 11 Toe Roll is also a very useful exercise that can be used for you to learn how to fall, and to get your body used to being close to the ground. Host Cheryl Tay trying out scootering, a roller skating fundamental. PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG Scootering An essential skating skill, scootering is basically learning how to shift your weight and how to push off with both feet. For right leg scootering, place your hands on your left knee; and for left leg scootering just do the opposite by placing your hands on your right knee. As you push off, remember to make sure that you lift your knees to close your feet back up into a V-shape. You might want to try this out with one leg first, before proceeding to try them out with the other leg. Learning to skate can be a fun activity, but finding the right coach to guide you is equally essential. PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG Skating Once you have mastered scootering, skating is easy as skating is basically a combination of right leg scootering followed by left leg scootering. Slowing Down Remember that if you feel that you are going too fast, you can simply put your feet back into "11" position and roll to slow down. Turning In order to change directions and make a turn, always turn with your head first by looking at where you want to go, using your arm to guide the turn. There are skating lessons available at Singapore Sports Hub as well as East Coast Park, and you can find out more about roller skating lessons through Ziyi Kuek. PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG Forward Bubble The forward bubble, also commonly known as the lemon or swizzle, involves opening up your feet before closing them again to form a circle shape. To execute this move, control your toes by pointing them outwards as you skate along, then turn them inwards. Likewise, you'll also have to control your upper body and your arms as you do this. Now that you've learnt the basics to roller skating, it's time for you to put on your skates and head out into the park or stadium! If you are still not feeling confident in roller skating, you can always approach a coach or professional to speed up your learning. And what better way to learn from a pro like Ziyi Kuek? #SportPlusSG #Skating #Lifestyle #RollerSkate

While her sights are set on the Paris Olympics, Singapore's top female shuttler is looking to help the team go further than their last SEA Games outing in 2019 Singapore badminton's Yeo Jia Min remains upbeat inspite of multiple setbacks to her preparations at the start of 2022. PHOTO: JOHN YEONG, SPORTPLUS.SG In January this year, Yeo Jia Min had to withdraw from the India Open after testing positive for Covid-19. Two weeks later after returning to training she suffered another setback when she tore her calf muscle, with the injury leaving her on crutches. In spite of the rough start to the year, the Singapore badminton player chooses to remain optimistic and to continue to work hard with what she has towards each competition instead of resigning to fate. Watch our full video interview with Yeo Jia Min on Studio Plus here. Her fortunes changed when she recovered in time to train for the 2022 Korea Open which took place in early April, and saw her progress from the round of 32 before being eliminated in the round of 16 by women's singles second seed An Se-young . While time is not on Yeo's side in her preparations for the upcoming SEA Games in Hanoi, Vietnam , she says she will continue to work hard for a competition she has yet to win a singles medal from, although she already has three team bronzes. Yeo Jia Min is a three-time SEA Games team bronze medalist, ever since making her SEA Games debut in 2015. PHOTO: JOHN YEONG, SPORTPLUS.SG In truth, the former world junior number one's sights are set on something much bigger on the horizon, with the Paris 2024 olympics beckoning, although the regional Games is always something she looks forward to. At the last SEA Games in the Philippines, Yeo succumbed to injury and fell short of the quarter finals, with teammate Jaslyn Hooi progressing the furthest in the women's singles. Yeo will hope to have a better outing this time round in Vietnam, and is optimistic with the team's chances. Yeo Jia Min in training with the Singapore badminton team. PHOTO: JOHN YEONG, SPORTPLUS.SG Off the court, she has also gotten used to the growing attention on him and her beau, national swimmer Pang Sheng Jun, with the two considered one of several high profile athlete couples in the fraternity. Yeo said, "I do think I've gotten a bit more following and people supporting me which I'm super grateful for." Yeo Jia Min is grateful for the support she has received over the years from fans and supporters, ever since her rise to prominence in the badminton world. PHOTO: JOHN YEONG, SPORTPLUS.SG "I don't think much has changed about me in terms of social media, I am just being myself. I share not for anything else but just for keeping the memories. Enjoying the process, so I just want to share my experiences." Yeo and the Singapore badminton team will be competing in Cau Long, Vietnam and Singapore fans can catch the action via Mediacorp's meWatch. The 31st Southeast Asian Games will be taking place from 12 - 23 May 2022 in Hanoi, Vietnam. Singapore shuttlers Yeo Jia Min has gotten used to the limelight, but says it has not changed her or her beliefs in any way. PHOTO: JOHN YEONG, SPORTPLUS.SG SportPlus.sg is pleased to join hands with TikTok, the world's fastest growing social media platform, to shine the spotlight on the journeys of 10 of Singapore's SEA Games athletes in this 8-part series, and assist athletes with TikTok content creation to amplify their online presence for the Games. Sp ecial thanks to Team Singapore, Singapore Athletics, Singapore Badminton Association, Basketball Association of Singapore, Football Association of Singapore, Singapore Silat Federation, Singapore Swimming, Volleyball Association of Singapore, Singapore Underwater Federation, ActiveSG Sport Centres and Chinese Swimming Club for supporting this series. #SportPlusSG #TikTokSingapore #SEAGames31 #GoTeamSG

Singapore's top seeded male and female shuttlers to make debut at this year's Olympiad in Japan PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG Singapore's top shuttlers Loh Kean Yew and Yeo Jia Min have both qualified for the Tokyo Olympics after the Badminton World Federation confirmed its qualification list on Monday (June 7, 2021). Both athletes will be making their debuts at the global sporting event, having made the headlines in the last two years, with significant victories against world powerhouses. Yeo Jia Min and Loh Kean Yew reflect on an eventful year in this 2019 interview. Loh Kean Yew defeated Lin Dan in the 2019 Thailand Masters Final, while Yeo Jia Min overcame then Japanese World Number 1 Akane Yamaguchi at the BWF World Championships in August 2019. Loh also followed up on his feat with a silver medal in the Men's Singles and Team Bronze at the 2019 SEA Games, while Yeo also took Team Bronze with the Women's Team at the Games. PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG The Race to Tokyo rankings is a system that decides who qualifies for the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and while the qualification period closes only on 15 June 2021, the Badminton World Federation has confirmed that there would be no more competitions due to the recent spike in global Covid-19 cases across many countries. One such competition which has been cancelled was the Singapore Badminton Open, which was slated to take place this week 1 - 6 June 2021 at the Singapore Sports Hub. Other affected tournaments by the BWF include the India Open (11-16 May 2021), and the Malaysia Open (25 - 30 May 2021). PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG This means that Loh and Yeo have both sealed their Olympic spots, being ranked at 18th and 17th respectively in the Race to Tokyo rankings, with a total of 38 places being alloted for the singles event for both genders. The Singapore Badminton Association were joyous in their announcement of Kean Yew and Jia Min's qualification, with a Facebook post that read: "We are 100 per cent sure Kean Yew and Jia Min would do their best and do all of us proud." Singapore National Olympic Council also congratulated the athletes, with an Instagram post that read: "Our heartiest congratulations to shuttlers Loh Kean Yew and Yeo Jia Min for qualifying for the men's and women's singles events at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics!" "Since the qualification period started in April 2019, they have worked hard to scale the Olympic rankings, eventually finishing in 17th (for Jia Min) and 18th (for Kean Yew), well within the qualification criteria." PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG The Tokyo 2020 Olympics is slated to be held from 23 July to 8 August 2021 in Tokyo, Japan, having been postponed from last year owing to the Coronavirus pandemic. #SportPlusSG #Badminton #Olympics #TeamSingapore

Singapore tennis star Shaheed Alam was in Singapore off the back of a huge year in his freshman year in college, winning not just the college championship but also being named "Rookie of the Year" As Singapore ramps up preparation for the Davis Cup on 18-21 October in Turkey, SportPlus.sg recently caught up with Singapore's tennis athlete Shaheed Alam for a quick chat to discuss life overseas, his first year in college tennis and being named Rookie of the Year. Having made his Davis Cup debut in 2014 and then playing a key role in the tournament on home soil in 2019, Shaheed will be looking to go one better with his team mates in this month's expedition in Antalya, Turkey. Find out what Shaheed had to say about transitioning to training and competing overseas, and how it has benefited his overall development as an athlete. What's it been like training overseas and playing with Keiser University? Shaheed: At the start it was a bit of an eye opener, I wouldn't say it was difficult to adapt but it was a whole new experience for me so it took some time but I think I settled in pretty well with my new team mates, my coach and the whole environment. It's been really fun and I'm enjoying it. I'm looking forward to going back very soon. Initially you weren't too keen on the overseas route, has your perspective changed on that? Shaheed: Actually it has. Like I said, it's a huge eye opener. The amount of resources that goes into college sports in the US is huge and I think it's definitely a very good option for like juniors in Singapore thinking of taking the college route. It's a fantastic experience for sure. What would you say is the toughest part of training overseas? Shaheed: I wouldn't say just training overseas, but like living overseas? Because it's a different culture, you're super far away from your family. I'm really close to my family so it was difficult, and it still is. You know like going to the other side of the world with the time difference and all. But you know like, you weight the pros and cons and overall it's a good experience if it's just gonna be three or four years so, it's good. You mentioned a bit about being far away from home and has that been a big part in the challenge of juggling a university degree and the intense training that you do, which you're already exposed to in a certain degree as a Team Singapore athlete? Shaheed: It has its own set of challenges for sure but it also makes it easier because like for example I am staying on campus and everything is in school and everything is very structured - from conditioning to on court training through classes, everything is there. You don't really have to stress about it too much, and traveling for matches and competitions. The whole school is tailored for student athletes. Has your college team become like a new-found family for you? Shaheed: For sure, it was interesting to see how everyone was sad leaving for their summer breaks. We were all sharing pictures, videos of basically the whole year that we spent together and of the memories we had. So yeah it's good to be close, it makes it easier having a family outside your family miles away from home. You were named Rookie of the Year, which isn't a small achievement. Based on the impact you had on the team's historic season, and your head coach Daniel Finn also said he was very proud of you. How has he and the team helped you in shaping and developing you as a college athlete? Shaheed: It's pretty rare. It's something I didn't expect for sure because I'm going there to play for the team. Everything is for the team, so I wasn't really focusing on individual achievements. But for sure it's nice to get recognised and being a rookie of the year. I was really grateful and blessed to be able to get that award. Has he as a personal coach made a big impact and taken you to a different level compared to where you were previously as an athlete? Shaheed: I think he manages the team really well, he pushes everyone to the limit for every training session, every match. And he's done a really great job to ensure everyone is on top form when the time comes. Any tournaments coming up this year that are of significance to you? Shaheed: The Davis Cup is happening in October, which like I said many many times, it is a huge honour for me to represent Singapore on the international stage so I'm really looking forward to that. And having my team join me, it's in Turkey this year so I'll be flying from the US to Turkey and meeting with the rest of the team. So that will be super exciting and hopefully we can do well for Singapore. #SportPlusSG #DavisCup2023 #ShaheedAlam #Tennis

An inclusive run club at the heart of the CBD area for all fitness levels and age groups, New Balance Run Club is back in numbers after the Covid-19 pandemic Founded in 2018, New Balance Run Club (Singapore) has come a long way since its modest beginnings. Starting out at the Singapore Sports Hub initially and drawing about 40 to 50 regular members weekly, the running club went through tough times like everyone else during the Covid-19 pandemic, before stabilising and now witnessing a bustling community of runners weekly, easily pulling 150 or more members on Tuesdays evenings at 7pm at Suntec City. SportPlus.sg dropped by the New Balance "Run Your Way" pop-up at Marina Bay this week to speak with the founding members of the Run Club, as well as some of its regular members. The recent growth of the run club was not by accident and carefully orchestrated by the New Balance Run Club (NBRC) team, with the intention of helping runners on their running journeys and to improve their overall well-being and achieve their respective fitness goals. "We reformed and started the captains role at the start of 2022. I am one of the four main captains at NBRC, and what we do is manage the crew, and together with the pacers we help to grow the running scene in Singapore," said Jonathan Tay, who is also a New Balance Singapore staff member. Former national runner Loh Guo Pei, head coach of NBRC, added: "We have changed the variety of trainings to cater to different individuals and their needs. Whether people are looking to improve their speed, or people who are looking to improve their strength, or to improve their endurance." "On top of that, the type of training we have now is varied. Last time we only had long runs and tempo runs, but right now we have strength training, circuit training, HIIT workouts also sometimes, things like battle ropes and such. So we have quite a number of trainings going on including intervals as well," said Loh. Group Demographics The New Balance Run Club is an inclusive run club that welcomes runners from all walks of life, and this was telling with its group demographics an equal representation between the younger crowd and the seniors at about 50 - 50. Loh continued, "I would say the younger age group of around 20 - 45 years-old is about 50 percent, while those above 45 is also at about 50 per cent. Most of them are working adults who work around the CBD area, and it fits nicely for them as well as our runs are also around the Bay area as well." "In terms of fitness levels, it really varies. I have runners who run 4-min per KM to runners who are happy to run at 7 or 8 minutes pace. It's a good mix that's why we have various pace groups." Emilia Malik, a pacer and Run Crew member of New Balance Run Club, shared that for her the feeling of friendliness and togetherness is what keeps her coming back. "To be honest I used to hate running a lot, because I felt it was a lonely sport. But with the encouragement of the running club where we constantly encourage each other to run, I keep going. Sometimes when I don't think I can do this any longer, people beside me will tell me I can do it and that's when I feel I have the energy to run further and go faster," said Emilia. Her sentiments were also echoed by other run club members such as Jacob Lok, who first joined the group two years ago when he was invited by Priscilla Chan, a crew member back then. "I like how they are very engaging and interactive with newcomers especially. There are different pace groups and age groups as well, from the young to the seniors so that's why I like about them. It's not just the young ones but also the senior ones who are remarkably running at our younger pace." It turns out that it's also a great place to meet new friends! Lok shared: "Priscilla brought me here, but right now my friend group here has grown bigger - there is Ziyad, there is Rainie, Jenelle, Clement. The club helped me make a lot of new friends." Man Fred, who joined early this year, shared that NBRC has helped him on his running journey to become a better runner, thanks to the well organised structure and good coaching available. "NBRC has trained me from being a slow runner to improving my pace to now a 6:00 minute runner," said Man Fred. "It's a nice place to come to after work to just meet new friends and enjoy." For more details on New Balance Run Club Singapore, visit their Facebook page here. #NewBalanceRunClubSG #NewBalanceSG #NewBalanceRunning

Making his fifth Southeast Asian Games appearance at the age of 40, fin swimmer Lim Yaoxiang is not carrying any expectations with him choosing only to enjoy the process Lim Yaoxiang made his SEA Games debut 19 years ago in Vietnam. PHOTO: JOHN YEONG, SPORTPLUS.SG He calls the sport of fin swimming the Formula One of swimming. And just like an F1 car, 40 year-old fitness entrepreneur and trainer Lim Yaoxiang seems to physically defy the concepts of time and age. Having first made his SEA Games debut in Vietnam 19 years ago in the sport of fin swimming, Lim has gone one full circle right back to where he began in what could be his last major games for Singapore. Back in 2003, he clinched an individual bronze for the 50m surface category for fin swimming, and also took gold for the 4 x 100m relay surface event. Watch our full interview with Lim Yaoxiang on Studio Plus here. He didn't stop there of course, adding three more SEA Games gold medals to his collection in 2009, 2011 and 2013 after making the switch to water polo. So what made Lim decide to give the SEA Games another shot eight years after his retirement from elite competition? "Do what you need to do so that when opportunities knock you can grab it," said Lim when asked by SportPlus.sg. "Things happen then you least expect it if you are ready." Fin swimming is a physically demanding sport, and Yaoxiang has had to adapt the way he trains having retired from elite competition 7-8 years ago. PHOTO: JOHN YEONG, SPORTPLUS.SG And what of the difference between the current athlete that he compared to the younger version of himself a decade ago? What exactly has changed? "I guess the first thing to acknowledge is the body change that has occured not just with age, but also the inactivity that I have gone through since I retired 7-8 years ago. So that's the main part that is very challenging for someone my age," shared Lim. Rising to the challenge has not been easy for Lim, who also spends time coaching students from school, other national team sports like handball as well as run a private gym - Grityard, which recently opened its second studio in the CBD. Lim Yaoxiang last won a bronze medal in the individual event in Fin Swimming in 2003, and a 4 x 100m relay gold. PHOTO: JOHN YEONG, SPORTPLUS.SG So how exactly does he find the time to train and manage it all especially with a decline in energy and physical capacity for performance? "While wanting to excel in the sport, I still need to hit the gym and carry weights - but with an added portion of injuries." "I need to manage both at the same time. The main shift has been in allocating more time to recovery, mobility and stretching as compared to when I was younger," he added. Yaoxiang has had to incorporate more recovery, stretching and mobility work into his training schedule compared to his younger days as an athlete. PHOTO: JOHN YEONG, SPORTPLUS.SG He also spends extra time focusing on areas he needs to improve on compared to his younger days. "The focus now is more on power movements. As I age, the ability to exhibit power movements start to decline, so ironically that is something I need in my sport - which is what my body is lacking. So I spend more time doing these instead of just carrying heavy weights." Yaoxiang will be competing in both the 50m and 100m surface events for fin swimming at the 31st SEA Games, and for now he is just focusing on enjoying the process and giving it his best effort without any expectations medals. Having represented Singapore in water polo at three editions of the SEA Games, Lim Yaoxiang has gone one full circle back to fin swimming where he started. PHOTO: JOHN YEONG, SPORTPLUS.SG Prior to receiving the nod by Singapore National Olympic Council, he had been training in secret for two years in his own time without knowing if he would qualify or be selected to go for the Games. If you would like to find out more about what fin swimming is, be sure to watch till the end of our video interview in this article, also available on Studio Plus! The 31st Southeast Asian Games will be taking place from 12 - 23 May 2022 in Hanoi, Vietnam. Apart from training for the SEA Games, Yaoxiang also has to do coaching of schools at the side as well as run a private gym which he co-founded. PHOTO: JOHN YEONG, SPORTPLUS.SG SportPlus.sg is pleased to join hands with TikTok, the world's fastest growing social media platform, to shine the spotlight on the journeys of 10 of Singapore's SEA Games athletes in this 8-part series, and assist athletes with TikTok content creation to amplify their online presence for the Games. Special thanks to Team Singapore, Singapore Athletics, Singapore Badminton Association, Basketball Association of Singapore, Football Association of Singapore, Singapore Silat Federation, Singapore Swimming, Volleyball Association of Singapore, Singapore Underwater Federation, ActiveSG Sport Centres and Chinese Swimming Club for supporting this series. #SportPlusSG #TikTokSingapore #SEAGames31 #GoTeamSG

Improve your CrossFit fundamentals with Uncle Sam, CrossFit coach and founder of Fire City Gym, before advancing to higher level CrossFit techniques Uncle Sam (left) CrossFit coach and founder of Fire City gym, teaching host Cheryl Tay the basics to doing a muscle up. PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG Ever tried out CrossFit and struggled with its intensity that you decided to give it up all together? There is a good chance you may have gotten some of the techniques wrong. While we cannot say that knowing the right techniques would make it less challenging of a workout, performing CrossFit moves with the wrong techniques will certainly tire you out faster, and may even expose you to a higher risk of injury when you train. SportPlus.sg host Cheryl Tay recently paid a visit to Fire City, a CrossFit gym, to learn three CrossFit techniques from Samuel Lim, also known as Uncle Sam. Here are the three common CrossFit moves most people struggle with, broken down into simpler steps. Uncle Sam (left) CrossFit coach and founder of Fire City gym, teaching host Cheryl Tay the basics to doing a muscle up. PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG Muscle Up Step 1 Practise holding onto the bar, doesn't matter whether it is high or low. Pull the bar towards your chest line (anywhere below your collarbone) Quick Pro Tip: Instead of holding onto the bar the usual way, try to grab hold of the bar a bit higher, so rotate your wrists up - so that your knuckles are facing forwards when you are performing the pull Step 2 Pull yourself up higher beyond the chest line - at least to your rib cage, so pull yourself as high as you can towards your belly button Uncle Sam demonstrating a muscle up with a low bar. PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG Step 3 Finish off the movement of the pull with a little hop if you are on a low bar. If you're on a high bar, practise the transition through the pull into a muscle up transition. So from here as you pull, hop and get your chest, shoulders, over the bar Land into a resting position on the bar. From there, you can even practise your bar dips. Uncle Sam demonstrating the handstand walk. PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG Handstand Walk There are two simple steps for you to practise your handstand walking. Step 1 Go into a plank position, resting your chest on the floor and press your feet against the wall. From here push your body up, getting your knees off the ground, with your feet on the wall. Move your feet up the wall and hold this position, getting used to being in an inverted position and hold it there for as long as you can. Start with 10 seconds, then 15 seconds, 30 seconds then a minute. Over time as you get comfortable, progress into step number two. Uncle Sam (right) guides Cheryl Tay through the steps to mastering a handstand walk, beginning with a wall walk. PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG Step 2 Start practising walking into the wall, to bring your body as close as you can to the wall. You don't have to go all the way in yet, progressively get closer to the wall as you get more comfortable. Pro Tip: Place your feet slightly apart, bring your hands closer together. That way it will give you more stability for you to practise shoulder tap or walking with your hands. Uncle Sam demonstrating how double unders should be done with a skipping rope. PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG Double Unders Double unders are done with a skipping rope, and basically involve passing the rope under the feet twice with each jump, instead of the usual one. The speed of the jump remains the same, but the speed of the rope will need to be quicker for successful execution. Instead of practising dozens and dozens of jumping, focus on getting the double unders movement - mainly the flex of your hands and coordination with your feet. Step 1 Drop the rope, you don't need the rope to begin with. All you need is a single jump, and a double tap on your thighs with each jump. Focus on getting your taps while mid-air, and not on the ground. Cheryl Tay trying out the double unders following tips from Uncle Sam of Fire City Gym. PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG Step 2 All you need to do is to focus on the double pass through. Forget about the singles practise, go through a singles jump, only a single jump and get the rope passing under your feet twice. Quick Pro Tip: Make sure you can see the rope before not when you are jumping off, and not when the rope is over your head. Swing the rope slowly, and when you can see them double whip the rope and perform the double pass through. To find out more about CrossFit or to pick up CrossFit lessons, visit Fire City Gym at 111C King George's Ave, Singapore 208559. More details are available about the gym on their official website here. #SportPlusSG #CrossFit #UncleSam #FireCityGym