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Easy Netball drills you can do with just two players, without needing a team File Photo: SportPlus.SG While we are not able to return to full sided team games, there are still various drills that you could try out with your friends as part of your regime to stay fit during this time. Here are three Netball Drills used by National Netballers Miki Ng and Sindhu Nair that can be easily done with just a ball. Miki Ng demonstrates the "Anywhere Ball" drill used by Netballers to improve reaction time. Full feature is available on Singtel TV mio Sports and 1 Play Sports. 1. Anywhere Ball With the objective of testing one's reaction time, the "Anywhere Ball" sees the thrower release the ball literally anywhere - it could be a high or a low ball, it could be near you or a little further away. However it is thrown, the person doing the drill will need to catch the ball at the earliest instance and throw it back to the thrower before making the next run. File Photo: SportPlus.SG 2. Angled Drives Movement Drill Starting directly in front of the thrower, the person doing the drill will need to drive 45 degrees outwards to receive the ball. After which she will need to return back to the start line and drive straight forward to the thrower to receive the second pass before running back to the start and proceeding with the second 45 degree angled drive outwards. 3. In Front - Behind Netball Drill Usually used by shooters, the person doing the drill will need to come near to the thrower first to receive the first pass and returning it, before running deep to receive the second (high) pass from the thrower and returning it as well. To continue the drill for as long as necessarily to achieve the objective. #SportPlusSG #Netball

Useful tips for everyday runners to reduce the risk of aches and pains or serious injuries PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG Whether you are an elite athlete, a citizen athlete or just a casual-social runner, succumbing to any kind of injury when you run is one of the worst possible scenarios imagineable. So we kick off our injury prevention for runners series this week with three simple tips from avid runner Paul Martin that you can easily remember and apply into your regular running routine. 1. Dynamic warm-ups over Static warm-ups We cannot emphasize enough how warm-ups are critical before every run. Most people skip this step and dive straight into their runs, which not only increase their risk of contracting an injury significantly but also affects performance. Incorporating dynamic warm-ups into your warm-up routine helps to increase body temperature, and having an active and full-body warm-up routine helps to increase the temperature of your body and increases blood flow. This indirectly leads to better muscle performance. Dynamic warm-up examples: High Knee Lifts, butt kicks, forward leg swings, lateral leg swings, skips Static warm-up examples: Most regular stretches PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG 2. Land on your Mid-foot, not your Heel Make a conscious effort to land on your midfoot. Most people land more on their heels when running, but long periods of exposure to landing on your heels has proven to be bad for the knee joints and may cause injury or faster wear and tear. 3. Change your Running Shoes regularly, do not overuse your shoes If you are an avid runner who clocks significant mileage across the year, we strongly recommend you change your shoes regularly, either every three months or when you hit 500KM whichever comes first. PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG Retiring your shoes is necessary as running in old or worn-out shoes offer you poor support and can lead to injuries. Running in overused shoes also increases the impact on your joints, which could cause significant discomfort and make for a much poorer running experience, on top aches and pains. #SportPlusSG #Running #RunningTips

Singapore Silat exponents Nurul Suhaila and Sheik Ferdous teach basic combat techniques for the sport of Pencak Silat PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG There is nothing like equiping yourself with some self defence techniques, and basic training for self defense becomes a lot easier once you understand the basics to martial arts. In Pencak Silat, there are various types of punch techniques: from the straight punch, to the uppercut, and palm strike. Nurul Suhaila and Sheik Ferdous of Team Singapore demonstrate combat techniques in Silat. For the purpose of easy demonstration, we will share be sharing about the straight punch, found across many martial arts disciplines. Step 1: Lock your wrists and clench your fists, locking your thumbs under your four fingers. Point of contact is at the knuckles Step 2: Twist your punch as more power is generated Step 3: Have your legs shaped like an "L", so that you are able to generate greater power by twisting your hips PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG #SportPlusSG #MartialArts #Silat

Nurul Suhaila and Sheik Ferdous talk us through combat techniques used in Pencak Silat PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG There may be many variations of kicks in Pencak Silat, but knowing how to execute the kicking technique correctly for beginners is absolutely essential. In fact, to get the best possible results, it is recommended that most Pencak Silat kicking techniques use the knee-leg-axel method, which is usually followed by a rotation from the hips for added explosiveness. Nurul Suhaila and Sheik Ferdous of Team Singapore demonstrate combat techniques in Silat. To better help you visualise, you can follow the steps here or the watch the short video clip above provided. Step 1: Have your feet form the shape of an "L" Step 2: Twist your standing foot outwards as your kicking foot goes up Step 3: Bring your kicking leg up, bending your knee first Step 4: With your hips generating power, follow through with your kicking leg Do bear in mind that the point of contact should be just below the shin and above the ankle joint. One of the most common mistakes for beginners is kicking with the top of the metarsal, as if kicking a football. PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG #SportPlusSG #MartialArts #Silat

Learn the basics to Pencak Silat's combat techniques with Nurul Suhaila and Sheik Ferdous PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG While there are no fixed takedown techniques in Pencak Silat, many of which include sweeping, tripping and throwing; one of the more commonly used ones - usually to devastating effect is the "Catch Kick Takedown". To get yourself in position to execute this move you will need to have a slightly open stance, with one foot ahead of the other. Nurul Suhaila and Sheik Ferdous of Team Singapore demonstrate combat techniques in Silat. To better help you visualise, you can follow the steps here or the watch the short video clip above provided. Step 1: Catch your opponent's kicking leg at the joint Step 2: Move your back leg away while hugging your opponents' kicking leg Step 3: Bend forward with one swift motion PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG #SportPlusSG #MartialArts #Silat

Badminton Tips with Singapore Badminton Athletes Jin Yujia and Crystal Wong PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG Watchin elite badminton athletes leap up high in the air with their backs arched, ready to pull the trigger is very often a sight to behold for sports fans. But just what does a proper smash technique involve, and when should it be used? We find out from Singapore national badminton shuttlers Crystal Wong and Jin Yujia. Train like a Badminton Athlete Highlights. Attacking the opponent is a key aspect of the doubles game in badminton, hence knowing how to smash the right way is important! In order to win the point, you have to attack the opponent. First of all you need to get into position with a solid forehand grip on your racket. PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG Use your non racket arm to help you gain greater elevation in your jump. After you've kept these in mind, the key tips to executing a good smash are as follows: 1. Keep your racket face to the front Often, misdirected shots do not come from your swing but where your racket face is pointing 2. Use the 1-2-3 technique With 1 being your ready position, 2 being your racket arm extended, and 3 being point of contact with the shuttle PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG 3. Generate power from the hips and follow through Powerful smashes do not come from just the arms, rather it's knowing how to generate power through your entire body with your hips as the key pivoting point PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG 4. Remember to take the shuttle from the top In order to get the shuttle onto a downward trajectory, you need to take the shuttle from the top of its flightpath and not when it's dropped too low #SPORTPlusSG #Badminton #TeamSingapore

Badminton Tips with Singapore Badminton Athletes Jin Yujia and Crystal Wong PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG For many badminton enthusiasts, picking up a racket and finding a friend or family member to play is an easy task. But have you ever wondered the what the differences are when playing as a singles player and a doubles player? We ask Crystal and Yujia to share some tips with us on how to play well as a badminton doubles athlete. Train like a Badminton Athlete Highlights. Where on the court do you serve from for Badminton Doubles? Yujia: For doubles, we serve from the front (service line). For singles, you usually serve from the centre. Because for singles players, your coverage is the entire court, whereas for doubles players, there is slightly less area you need to cover. PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG Which part of the opponents' court should you serve to? Most of the time, it is recommended that you serve towards the front closer to the opposition's service line, bearing in mind that if you were to serve to the back of the court, for doubles matches beyond the first line it would be out of play. PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG In what situation should you not serve to the front? Most of the time you should serve to the front. However, even when serving to the front, there are actually many angles you can play with. Try observing where your opponent stands and exploit the empty spaces. Service Tips: 1. Point the shuttle towards you 2. Place the shuttle at the centre of the racket 3. Gently push your racket forward Receiving Tips: 1. Stand close to the service line 2. Place yourself in the centre, so it's easier to take shots from both the left and right or the front 3. Get ready with one foot in front, and having your racket up 4. When returning, try to hit the shuttle to the sides of the court #SPORTPlusSG #Badminton #TeamSingapore

Use these tips from Singapore's fastest woman Veronica Shanti Pereira to improve your sprinting game PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG If you've been running for years but have always wondered how to improve your sprinting game, you are in for a real treat. 2015 SEA Games Gold Medalist Veronica Shanti Pereira recently shared three tips with us on how you can improve your sprinting game if you are a beginner. 1. Dynamic Warm-up for Sprinters Everyone knows that warm-ups are needed before doing any form of physical activity, but the type of warm-ups do matter and for sprinters, a more dynamic warm-up than most is needed. For elite sprinters, this can often go into a one-hour process just to get a sub-10 second run. Some ideas and suggested dynamic warm-up ideas are high knees with sprint-arm action to work on your upper and lower limbs. Depending on what sprint distance you are looking to undertake, you could start off with running at a moderate speed, before alternating to strides and increasing your pace to 70-80% of your max pace. More on the science behind warm-ups for sprinters can be found here. PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG 2. Incorporate Technical Drills before you start on your Sprints After you are done with your warm-ups, it is recommended for sprinters to go through technical drills before you actually start on your sprints. Some of these may look like quick high knees, butt kicks or quick skips - focusing on explosive foot strikes coming off the ground. PHOTO: SPORTPLUS.SG 3. Focus on Forward Drive when Sprinting During actual sprints, it is important to focus on pushing forward. Many people have a tendency on kicking back in order to kick their butt, but for sprinting the emphasis is always on pushing forward. So push forward as much as you can, and it'll take you over the finish line. #SportPlusSG #Athletics #TrackAndField #TeamSingapore

SportPlus.sg reviews 22 significant sporting moments of 2022 in the Singapore sporting scene that has left an impact as we enter post-Covid norms PHOTO: HANA BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG As we come to the end of another year filled with unforgettable sporting moments and memories, it is easy to forget what the preceding three years were like. Emerging from the ashes of Covid-19, the sporting fraternity has bounced back stronger than ever and it is heartening to see. This goes from local to international sports events that were held in Singapore this year, to fitness competitions and the opening of new gyms and physical centres as a new wave of enthusiasm took hold in Singapore with Singaporeans placing a greater emphasis on physical health and wellness post pandemic. But just in case you forgot what of those moments were, we have decided to provide you with a simple wrap-up of 2022 with SportPlus.sg's top 22 favourite moments in no particular order, mostly with events we attended or covered of course! PHOTO: CHERYL TAY, SPORTPLUS.SG 1. Singapore's Athletics Outstanding Performance at 31st SEA Games It is always difficult to single out outstanding performances in any competition, let alone a multi-sport event such as the Southeast Asian Games. This time round though special mention has to go to a youthful Singapore Athletics' contingent at the 31st SEA Games in Hanoi, with a best-ever showing yielding 1 Gold, 4 Silver and 4 Bronzes. Gold Shanti Pereira (Women's 200m) Silver Shanti Pereira (Women's 100m) Michelle Sng (Women's High Jump) Ang Cheng Xiang (Men's 110m hurdles) Marc Brian Louis, Joshua Chua, Mark Lee, Ian Koe (Men's 4x400m relay) Bronze Goh Chui Ling (Women's 1,500m and 10,000m) Marc Brian Louis (Men's 100m) Tan Zong Yang (Men's 400m) Calvin Quek (Men's 400m Hurdles) Recap it in our SEA Games article here. PHOTO: STANDARD CHARTERED SINGAPORE MARATHON 2. Return of Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon in full Physical Scale After three painfully long years of cancelled sports events and virtual runs, Singapore's marquee running event finally made its return from 2-4 December 2022. Never mind that there was no official elite local category this year, the event still attracted close to 40,000 runners across the three days, and after a pre-race thunderstorm scare on 4 December, which saw the event delayed for an hour, the event successfully concluded with many happy runners and participants finally getting a taste of a mass run after what was widely deemed a disappointing scaled-down return in 2021. Read the full Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon story here. PHOTO: FAIZAL BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG 3. Hougang United Wins its first Silverware in History Hougang United won its first piece of silverware in the club's history when the Singapore Premier League outfit, nicknamed the Cheetahs, defeated defending Singapore Cup champions Tampines Rovers 3-2 and were crowned champions at the Jalan Besar Stadium, with close to 3,000 fans in attendance. All goals were scored by Hougang United midfielder Kristijan Krajcek, who made history by becoming the first player to score a hat-trick in a Singapore Cup final. Read our full match report of the Singapore Cup Final here. PHOTO: FAIZAL BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG 4. Debut of the Inaugural Urban Sports & Wellness Week ibis Budget Singapore and Sport Plus Media Pte Ltd hosted the inaugural Urban Sports and Wellness Week, a week-long celebration of active living through a series of urban sports and wellness events across local fitness communities with over 300 participants attending events across 3 days. The highlights of the week included an AcroYoga for beginners event held at Jyan Yoga Studio, which was followed by an organised running event with Superhero Runners as part of Urban Exploration, before the week wrapped up with an Aqua Fitness event at ibis Budget Clarke Quay's rooftop swimming pool. Relive the moments in our Urban Sports and Wellness Week section here. PHOTO: CHERYL TAY, SPORTPLUS.SG 5. ASICS World Ekiden Community Run Some 200 runners descended upon the Singapore Sports Hub as sportswear brand ASICS brought its previously virtual relay into life with a physical community run, limited to the first 25 teams who registered. Runners were surprised when they expectedly received a new sky-blue ASICS Running Club tee as part of the brand's efforts to reach out to new runners in the community. See more photos from the event in our photo album here. PHOTO: CHERYL TAY, SPORTPLUS.SG 6. Singapore Netballers finish second in Asian Netball Championships Playing in front of a sell-out crowd at OCBC Arena, Singapore's netballers fell to defending champions Sri Lanka 53-63, who put up an impressive performance to come from behind and win their sixth Asian Netball Championships crown. Three-time Asian champions Singapore put up an impressive performance in the tournament, particularly as the team fielded a young squad with five players competing in a major international tournament for the first time. See more photos from the event in our photo album here. PHOTO: BADMINTON PHOTO 7. Terry Hee and and Tan Wei Han score history Mixed Doubles Gold Singapore mixed doubles pair Terry Hee and Jessica Tan clinched a historic gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, after they beat home favourites Marcus Ellis and Lauren Smith 21-16, 21-15 in the final. Read more here. PHOTO: CHERYL TAY, SPORTPLUS.SG 8. AustCham 10KM Dragonboat Race The 2022 Austcham 10KM Challenge delivered an adrenaline pumping afternoon at the Kallang riverside, as the event saw 25 teams compete in the 5KM dragonboat race, and 155 teams take on the 10KM challenge. Top 3 (5KM) 1st - Latin Dragons 2nd - Sg Paddle Club 3rd - NUS Alumni Dragonboat Team Top 3 (10KM) 1st - Sg Paddle Club 2nd - NUS Alumni Dragonboat Team 3rd - SIM Dragonboat Team PHOTO: HANA BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG 9. Lion City Sailors' Women's team wins Deloitte Women's Premier League Lion City Sailors sealed their maiden Deloitte Women’s Premier League title off the back of an unbeaten run with two matches left to spare. The Sailors become the 14th different winner of the WPL, bringing an end to the four-year reign of Warriors FC from 2016 to 2019. PHOTO: HANA BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG 10. Under Armour hosts inaugural UA Combine Under Armour’s inaugural foray into the world of competitive fitness led to the UA Combine being born. Held at Singapore’s iconic Pasir Panjang Power Station, individuals across diverse range of fitness disciplines gathered to compete in eight physical and mental tests specially curated by one of the world’s leading athletic performance apparel brands. Read the full story here. PHOTO: HANA BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG 11. Strong Singapore Representation at Desaru IRONMAN Some 1,475 participants took part in the 2022 Desaru Coast 70.3 Ironman, of these over 200 were participants from Singapore who made the trip across the causeway to compete in the first return of the event post Covid-19. They were urged on by an overwhelming show of love by friends and family, driving them to the finish line. You can read our coverage of the event here. PHOTO: HANIDA HUSSEIN, SPORTPLUS.SG 12. Great Eastern Women's Run 2022 The Great Eastern Women’s Run (GEWR) made its comeback, marking the first all-women’s physical mass run since 2019 with some 4,000 participants taking part. It had been three years since participants experienced the atmosphere of a physical mass run and the thrill of finishing on the National Stadium track. PHOTO: HANIDA HUSSEIN, SPORTPLUS.SG 13. GritGames 2022 The fourth edition of the GritGames, a fitness competition organised by local boutique gym Grityard, witnessed over 50 participants fight for the title of best men's and women's individual champion, and best team. Overall Champion: Kimberly & Maxine (Female), Zaki & Han Qin (Male) 1st Runner-up: Norizan & Ping Shuang (Female), Desmond and Zheng Guang (Male) 2nd Runner-up: Isabelle & Majorie (Female), Han Long & Lennard (Male) Overall Winner - Individual Events Isabelle (Female), U Jin (Male) PHOTO: CHARIS CHUA, SPORTPLUS.SG 14. Return of Singapore Grand Prix The 2022 SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX returned after a two-year absence and was bigger and better than ever. The world's first night race saw a record crowd of 302,000 over the race weekend – the highest attendance the event has seen since its inception in 2008. Read Charis' experience with Team Red Bull at the F1 Night Race here. PHOTO: JOHN YEONG, SPORTPLUS.SG 15. Outstanding Table Tennis Team Performance at Commonwealth Games 2022 A young Singaporean table tennis contingent boasting the likes of Wong Xin Ru, Zhou Jingyi, Koen Pang and Izaac Quek turned in a massive performance at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, to return home with an impressive haul of 3 golds, 2 silvers and 2 bronzes. The event also witnessed the iconic moment where Singapore table tennis legend Feng Tianwei cried on the podium after clinching women's individual gold in what could be her final Major Games for Singapore. PHOTO: HANA BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG 16. David Beckham visits the Cage In a special adidas activation, David Beckham paid a visit to The Cage in which the former Man Utd and Real Madrid football star played a football match with Singapore footballers and the Man Utd Supporters Club. View more photos from David Beckham's visit in our photo gallery here. PHOTO: HANA BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG 17. Singapore hosts Singapore Floorball Series With Singapore opening its borders to international travel, the Republic hosted two international floorball tournaments at the OCBC Arena at the Singapore Sports Hub. The two events – Women’s Asia Oceania Floorball Confederation Cup (Women’s AOFC Cup) and the Men’s World Floorball Championship Qualifiers AOFC (Men’s WFCQ – AOFC) – kickstarted the inaugural Singapore Floorball Series, launched as a platform that aims to regularly bring top floorball action to the community including the 2023 World Floorball Championships. PHOTO: HANA BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG 18. Return of full scale MetaSprint Series Over 1,000 participants turn up for MetaSport's marquee event at Singapore's East Coast Park, dismissing suggestions of a lack of demand for mass participation sports post Covid. It was the first time the event was held in its full physical scale, having needed to scale back over the past year due to the need for social distancing and number caps owing to the pandemic. Read our full news story coverage here. PHOTO: LOH KEAN YEW, SPORTPLUS.SG 19. Badminton's Loh Kean Yew rises to all time career high World Rank Number 3 Singapore badminton athlete Loh Kean Yew broke into the top three in the world rankings for the first time in his career in November, making it the first time a Singaporean men’s badminton player has reached the top three in the world. Previously, the highest-ranked men's singles player in Singapore was Ronald Susilo, who was placed sixth in 2004. PHOTO: ONE CHAMPIONSHIP 20. Angela "Unstoppable" Lee makes winning return after Motherhood Singapore-American Atomweight star Angela "Unstoppable" Lee, a Singapore crowd favourite, made her first return to the cage after a two and a half year layoff due to motherhood. Despite being badly hurt by a body shot in Round 1 from challenger Stamp Fairtex, Lee bounced back to secure a second round submission to defeat her opponent in stunning fashion and remain undefeated in Atomweight. PHOTO: TOUR DE FRANCE SINGAPORE CRITERIUM 21. Tour De France Criterium makes debut in Singapore The atmosphere around the Marina Bay area was electric as the inaugural Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium made its bow as the 20-lap race eventually saw Jona Vingegaard emerge as champion. PHOTO: JOHN YEONG, SPORTPLUS.SG 22. New Balance All-Star Mile Touted as an event that unearths the next generation of rising stars among Singapore's track athletes, the New Balance All-Star Mile saw a total of 73 participants across 8 categories compete for glory in the U23 and U19 categories, with a year long sponsorship with New Balance also on the cards, along with prize monies for the top 5 of each category. Held at the Hougang Stadium, the event was delayed by 2 hours midway owing to a thunderstorm, but came to a successful conclusion. #SportPlusSG #YearInReview2022

Liverpool FC, Leicester City FC, FC Bayern Munich, Tottenham Hotspur and AS Roma to play at the National Stadium PHOTO: HANA BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG Singapore, 16 May 2023 – Ahead of the 2023/2024 football season in Europe’s top leagues, Singapore fans can look forward to a week of thrilling action as the Republic will host the inaugural Singapore Festival of Football Driven by CDG Zig from 26 July to 2 August. Premier League giants Liverpool FC will return to the National Stadium at the Singapore Sports Hub for a second straight year, right before the new season starts on 12 August. They will be joined by German powerhouses FC Bayern Munich and 2015/2016 Premier League champions Leicester City FC. The week-long fiesta will be opened by the Tiger Cup: Tottenham Hotspur FC and AS Roma on 26 July, as announced previously, with Tiger Beer featuring as the presenting partner and title sponsor. PHOTO: HANIDA HUSSEIN, SPORTPLUS.SG Spurs, Liverpool FC and FC Bayern Munich will also hold open training sessions. The two English clubs will hold their sessions at the 55,000-seat National Stadium while FC Bayern Munich are expected to announce details of their open training session in the coming weeks. The Reds will play two matches at the National Stadium after an open training session on 29 July. They will defend their Standard Chartered Singapore Trophy, presented by Standard Chartered, when they take on Leicester City on 30 July. They then return to the pitch on 2 August to contest the Singapore Trophy, presented by Audi and Standard Chartered, against Bundesliga leaders FC Bayern Munich, who are making a much-anticipated return to Singapore since their last visit in 2017. PHOTO: HANIDA HUSSEIN, SPORTPLUS.SG The Singapore Festival of Football Driven by CDG Zig is the first large-scale football event with multiple matches featuring European clubs to be held here since 2019. It heralds the sustained return of major events to Singapore as international tourism into the country continues to grow. Supported by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), it also cements the Republic’s standing in the region as a prime host of key events. With elements from iconic stadiums such as Anfield in England and the Allianz Arena in Germany converging at Singapore’s National Stadium, fans here will again be able to experience the electrifying atmosphere of international football matches – a fitting preview ahead of the start of the new football season in Europe. The public will also get various opportunities to catch a glimpse of their favourite footballers visiting iconic sites across the island. The Singapore Festival of Football Driven by CDG Zig is organised by TEG Sport, the team behind last year’s Standard Chartered Singapore Trophy, in which Liverpool defeated fellow English club Crystal Palace FC 2-0 in front of over 50,000 fans. The inaugural edition sees Liverpool FC's official main partner, Standard Chartered, returning as presenting partner of their matches while strong support from local companies provide an added boost to the event. PHOTO: HANIDA HUSSEIN, SPORTPLUS.SG CDG Zig is on board as the title sponsor, while Tiger Beer is also the official beer of the event. With key local and international partners joining forces, the Singapore Festival of Football Driven by CDG Zig is gearing up to be a spectacular affair to be enjoyed by the masses. Patrick Lee, Cluster CEO, Singapore and ASEAN Markets, Standard Chartered, said: “We are delighted to welcome Liverpool FC to Singapore again, and look forward to the top-level entertainment the team will bring to our clients, colleagues and the communities here, along with the other leading European clubs. Football has a unique ability to bring together people from all walks of life and Standard Chartered is excited to be able to play a leading role in delivering a memorable experience to fans in Singapore, both on and off the pitch, at this inaugural football extravaganza.” PHOTO: HANIDA HUSSEIN, SPORTPLUS.SG Geoff Jones, CEO TEG, said: “The Singapore Festival of Football Driven by CDG Zig marks an exciting time for football fans in Singapore and the region. We witnessed the overwhelming support and electrifying atmosphere at last year’s game, and we are pleased to be able to bring back the highest quality football with five teams from three of the world’s top leagues playing at the National Stadium. Watch out for an action-packed week filled with fan engagement activities and opportunities for the public to catch a glimpse of the teams and players as they explore the magnificent sights that Singapore has to offer. There is something for everyone and it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience not to be missed.” PHOTO: HANIDA HUSSEIN, SPORTPLUS.SG STB’s Chief Executive Keith Tan said: “We are excited to build on the success of last year’s match to offer a star-studded week of football that will attract passionate fans from around the region. The Singapore Festival of Football Driven by CDG Zig will be a major highlight in our vibrant calendar of events this year, and we look forward to fans and visitors enjoying the action on the field as well as outside the field, experiencing what our city has to offer.” Jackson Chia, CEO of ComfortDelGro Private Mobility Group, said: “We are excited to partner TEG Sport in the Singapore Festival of Football this year as we had just recently launched our all-new CDG Zig App interface that is not only more user friendly but has new features such as bus booking. Football-goers can consider booking taxis and chartering buses if they plan to travel in groups to and from the National Stadium to watch their favourite football clubs in action. They can also consider the dining feature to reserve seats at restaurants or to order takeaway so meals are also taken care of before the matches begin." PHOTO: HANIDA HUSSEIN, SPORTPLUS.SG Week-long Fan Festival Besides world-class football action, spectators can also look forward to a series of entertaining offerings at the Football Fan Interactive Festival Village throughout the week. The village will be open to the public on open training and match days as well as on 1 Aug, a day before the final match between Liverpool FC and FC Bayern Munich. Complementing the main events at the National Stadium, the village will be home to a wide range of engagement activities as well as food and beverage options to give local and foreign fans the complete festival experience. PHOTO: HANIDA HUSSEIN, SPORTPLUS.SG Tickets for all the events for the Singapore Festival of Football Driven by CDG Zig will go on general sale via Ticketek Singapore from 22 May, 10am. Tickets can be purchased at https://premier.ticketek.com.sg/shows/show.aspx?sh=SFFUM Fans can also sign up for an account on Ticketek Singapore for the latest information and for pre-sale access to the match from today. For more information, please visit www.ticketek.com.sg #SportPlusSG #Football #SgFestivalOfFootball

After Taekwondo, Gymnastics and Horseback Riding; private yoga instructor Angelia Ong has found her calling as a yoga teacher PHOTO: ANGEXYOGA Despite being multi-talented, Angelia Ong initially found it hard to execute many of the moves in her yoga class and found herself comparing herself with others during practice. With the help of other practitioners, she realised it was more important to turn her focus on herself, which shifted her perspective of practice entirely. The private yoga class instructor, who has also done Taekwondo, Gymnastics and horseback riding over the years as a student, first started yoga in 2015 as a way of taking a break from her competitive sport of Taekwondo. She chanced upon a yoga class while still on a gym membership, and after a very positive experience where she felt rejuvenated both mentally and emotionally, she challenged herself by enrolling into a yoga school to deepen her practice. Her regular practise of 3 to 4 times a week carried on even as she headed overseas for her studies in the UK, before she eventually decided to take the leap of faith by taking on the yoga teacher training in 2019. "I really wanted to spread good practice to friends around me, and also to increase my knowledge about yoga. I enjoyed the positivity that could be felt after class during my teacher training," she said enthusiastically. "I am glad I made the decision because it allowed me to identify a part of myself with something I enjoy that is outside my work life, and it gave me time away to be myself, be natural, be comfortable in my own personality, and in my own style." She shared that she initially found teaching yoga tougher than she imagined it to be, having the need to multi-task in correcting her students' postures, to think a few steps ahead and to flow through the various poses. PHOTO: ANGEXYOGA It was only with more experience and regular practise teaching classes that she eventually found her confidence. And has her time practising taekwondo and gymnastics helped her with her transition into yoga in any way? Ong certainly thinks so. "Taekwondo strengthened me physically and helped me build my endurance, while gymnastics helped me with my strength and flexibility. Some advanced yoga asanas require a balance of strength and flexibility," she shared. And while Covid-19 has had a huge impact on the local yoga community, Ong can count her lucky stars that she is still able to pursue her passion by conducting smaller sized private classes, as she has a full-time job to rely on as her regular source of income. Even then, juggling between a full-time job and teaching yoga can be tough, particularly on weekdays where work demands are high. "Time management is really a much needed skill here. As much as teaching yoga classes is something that I enjoy, my full-time job takes priority. On weekdays, I try not to teach after work because it may affect the quality of classes that I am going to deliver," she said. PHOTO: ANGEXYOGA She added: "I teach on weekend mornings as well, and I try to set aside time for myself, my family and friends on weekend afternoons. The 'me' time I get throughout the week is really important as well because it gives me a balance, time where I do not have to follow a schedule." Having taught yoga part-time for two years now, Ong has never felt that teaching yoga was something too much on top of her work schedule. She attributes that to her discipline in only committing to classes she is confident of delivering. She currently teaches three morning private yoga classes on alternate weekdays, and three private yoga classes on weekends. While she has not taught any online yoga class out of personal preference, Ong believes there is demand for online classes, and it could serve as a good way for full-time teachers to prevent a loss of income during trying times. When asked who her yoga inspirations were, Ong shared that she draws inspirations from students and teachers alike. She said: "I am inspired by many yoga practitioners: students who commit to regular practices and having me witness their improvement over time. All these experiences really contribute to me keeping to my role as a yoga teacher." Having previously practised at Platinum Yoga due to its convenience and the variety of classes on offer, Ong then started teaching at Tirisula Yoga for approximately two years, before coming out to establish her own practise with Angexyoga. "I wanted to build my own community and teach private yoga classes because I wanted more flexibility in terms of my teaching schedule," said Ong. In spite of a global pandemic, interest in yoga has certainly grown in recent times with the Singapore yoga community coming on in leaps and bounds. Whether students intend to deepen their practice or simply to enjoy stretching out, Ong hopes she can continue to deliver suitable classes that will cater to different needs so that students can feel good about themselves after class. For more on Angelia's private yoga class offerings, you may visit the Angexyoga website or Facebook page. #SportPlusSG #Yoga #AngeliaOng #Angexyoga

Pursuing her passion in yoga has brought this Yogi a greater sense of empowerment and ownership PHOTO: ERIN ONG YOGA & FITNESS In August 2019, Erin Ong left her corporate job to pursue her passion as a full time freelance yoga instructor. The move was daunting at first and felt unstable, but Ong convinced herself that there was no right time for such a move. If she did not do it this time, she may never have the courage to do it later on when more commitments set in. Not long after she made the leap of faith, Covid-19 began. In spite of the numerous challenges she has faced that came with pursuing her passion, she counts herself lucky to be able to turn her passion into a career. PHOTO: ERIN ONG YOGA & FITNESS Ever positive about the fluidity amidst the pandemic, Ong turned what could have been a threat to her career into a window of opportunity instead. She shared: "The first few months were really tough as studios and gyms had to shut down and there weren't any virtual classes yet." "This definitely affected me financially because I lost my only source of income with monthly rent and bills to pay. Even during these tough times, I am grateful because circumstances made me explore other ways of teaching." She resorted to filming online classes and tutorials instead, given the many restrictions that greatly limited class attendance. Beyond that, she also learnt to increase her social media presence, and created her own brand called Erin Ong Yoga & Fitness. All this while picking up video and photo editing skills along the way. She admits however, that given a chance she would always choose physical classes over online classes. "I have always enjoyed the face to face interaction to build deeper connections with my students. Physical classes allow me to correct postures and adjustments of my students, which I find that students really appreciate," Ong added. "Nevertheless, virtual classes are an excellent opportunity for me to connect with students internationally, for me to share my practice to a wider audience." She draws inspiration from Ashley Galvin's and Patrick Beach's practice on alomoves, and as someone who seeks challenges her favourite types of classes are Power classes. PHOTO: ERIN ONG YOGA & FITNESS "I used to enjoy Vinyasa classes (movement based), but now I am starting to appreciate Hatha classes (slower paced with more holding) because of the physical and mental challenges that arise during the holding of postures," she said. Her journey into yoga was later than most, first stumbling upon it in 2014 in a boutique yoga studio in Tanjong Pagar. Being less active back then, she went to yoga once to twice a week as a form of exercise and some stretching. What she found out was that yoga classes helped her stretch out tight muscles from all the bodypump and bodycombat classes she attended at True Fitness. She only decided to pursue a deeper practise in yoga when she found out about arm balances and inversions in one of the advanced classes taught by a Master she truly admires. PHOTO: ERIN ONG YOGA & FITNESS Being someone who relishes a challenge, she was amazed at what the yogis in class could do and the amount of body strength they had. That led to her undergoing her Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) with Yoga+ in 2019, and the rest as they say is history. For Ong, the beauty of yoga lies in the fact that it is something for everyone, and she is grateful she did not have to overcome any major obstacles on her way to becoming a yogi. PHOTO: ERIN ONG YOGA & FITNESS "I took up yoga teacher training not only to deepen my knowledge and practice in yoga, but also to share the benefits of yoga to everyone else and show them how yoga could empower their lives like how it did mine." Judging by how it has helped her become a more resilient teacher and person today, perhaps yoga really is for everyone. To find out more Ong's practise, visit Erin Ong Yoga & Fitness Facebook, or her YouTube Channel. #SportPlusSG #Yoga #ErinOng