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School Football Academy (SFA) footballers can look forward to more competitions, overseas training stints and football scholarships, on top of specialised training programmes led by Spanish and local coaches SFA Challenge Cup: Montfort Secondary School vs Assumption English School in action. PHOTO: UNLEASH THE ROAR! Singapore, 23 July 2022 – The Unleash The Roar! (UTR!) national football project marked a significant milestone today as the School Football Academy (SFA) initiative was officially launched at Jurongville Secondary School, one of the 10 SFAs. Officially launched by Mr. Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Second Minister for Law, more than 100 young footballers were joined by their parents for a morning of friendly competition featuring teams from all SFAs. The SFA initiative was first announced last November following a partnership with Spanish top-tier league LaLiga. Under the partnership, LaLiga coaches, working alongside local coaches, will seek to uplift and strengthen the football programmes in the schools. Opening Address by Mr Edwin Tong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Second Minister for Law. PHOTO: UNLEASH THE ROAR! Among the key features of the programme are increased training frequencies – up to four times a week from the average of two - and the application of sports science to training. (The list of the 10 SFAs is available in Annex A of the attached release.) The SFAs will serve as a key pipeline to produce technically sound footballers at the crucial ages of 17 and 18, when most footballers begin their professional careers. SFA footballers will be schooled under the National Football Curriculum where they will learn to adopt a possession-based, high-tempo playing style that is suited for success in today’s modern game. Through the SFA programme, the number of young players receiving elite training at the Under-15 and Under-17 levels is set to increase to about 1,400 secondary school boys and girls, close to triple the current 500. Currently, the SFA programme only features boys. But female SFAs are set to come on stream next year. SFA Challenge Cup: Singapore Sport School vs Jurongville Secondary School. PHOTO: UNLEASH THE ROAR! Said Mr Eric Chua, Chairman of the UTR! Executive Committee and Senior Parliamentary Secretary Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth: “The SFAs are one of the most important building blocks in the UTR! programme – we can only have strong national teams if we have a broad base of players to choose from, as well as young athletes who have sound fundamental skills. This is one of the key strategies of Unleash The Roar! - to strengthen the youth football development ecosystem for both boys and girls. “Our SFAs provide young footballers with more training and opportunities to pit themselves against the best. Beyond the pitch, these student-athletes will also get the full support of their school when it comes to academic study. They will learn more about balancing sport and school work, receiving a holistic secondary school education that will build character and instill valuable life skills. Today’s launch marks a step forward for Singapore football, and we look forward to celebrating more of such milestones.” Mr Eric Chua, Senior Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and Chairman of the Unleash The Roar! Executive Committee at the SFA Challenge Cup with students of Assumption English School. PHOTO: UNLEASH THE ROAR! Coaching: Spanish flair with a local touch At the launch, parents and stakeholders had a chance to meet SFA coaches who have been quietly working behind the scenes with the student athletes. A total of 23 coaches, who have extensive experience in coaching and developing youth talent, started training students since January this year. These coaches have previous roles leading and managing youth teams across several age groups in Spain, China, Indonesia and Singapore. All 23 coaches are full-time football coaches, as well as specialist coaches who provide support in the areas of strength & conditioning and goalkeeping. SFA Head Coach Angel Toledano Flores is one of the Spanish coaches who has decided to take up the Singapore challenge. A former Head Coach and Technical Director of FC Barcelona’s academies in Spain and overseas, Flores is excited about the project. Group photo with Mr Eric Chua, Senior Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and Chairman of the Unleash The Roar! Executive Committee; with Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong. PHOTO: UNLEASH THE ROAR! He said: “I have spent some time working with the SFA students here, and their passion and commitment to improving themselves is commendable. This is a good start in developing football here. “I am also excited with the comprehensive approach where I work collectively with all coaches, teachers and sports scientists to help these young footballers fulfil their dreams. It is a privilege to be able to play an important part in raising the standards of Singapore football among the youth.” Former international Ismail Yunos is part of the Singaporean core of the SFA. The AFF Championship winner feels that the SFA setup will not only be a boost for the young footballers but also local coaches. SFA Challenge Cup: Montfort Secondary School vs Assumption English School. PHOTO: UNLEASH THE ROAR! He said: “The process of lifting the standards of football requires cooperation and learning from others. It is important that we acquire the best practices in football coaching to improve Singapore football. The coaches from Spain have been great in sharing their knowledge with us. Not only will the SFA coaching setup help our youth, but it will also uplift the overall football coaching standards in Singapore.” While it may be early days in a long-term project like the SFA, there has already been some impact made.Montfort Secondary School reached the National School Games North Zone B Division football final for the very first time. Said Montfort SFA’s midfielder Jairus Owl: “I have learnt to be more disciplined and to manage my time better, thanks to being part of the SFA programme. We are training more frequently than before, but we also learnt how to take charge of our own recovery and nutrition. My teammates and I are consciously doing this so that we stay focused on the field and in class. This has helped us play better football and I am proud of our team for reaching the zonal finals this year.” Mr Eric Chua, Senior Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and Chairman of the Unleash The Roar! Executive Committee, Jurongville Secondary School students Muhammad Nur Syazwi Bin Azman and Zahira Jahan, and Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong. PHOTO: UNLEASH THE ROAR! Strengthening Pathways: A double boost Under the SFA programme, players will get to play more matches and regularly compete with both local and international teams. To that end, a tournament involving SFAs is being planned for early next year and it will be played at the National Stadium. Said UTR! Executive Committee Chairman Mr Eric Chua: “Giving our aspiring athletes more opportunities to compete at the National Stadium is one of SportSG's plans when we take over the running of the Sports Hub in December. Mr Eric Chua, Senior Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and Chairman of the Unleash The Roar! Executive Committee at the SFA Challenge Cup_Montfort Secondary School vs Assumption English School. PHOTO: UNLEASH THE ROAR! “We want our young footballers to build an affinity with the National Stadium, to be inspired to hopefully one day play for the Lions in front of the home crowd.” SFA footballers will also get a boost later this year - the first batch of the brightest SFA talents will be heading for an overseas training stint. This is part of plans to have a multi-faceted scholarship programme that will not only send the best footballers for short-term attachments, but also explore longer-term footballscholarships. More details of the SFA scholarship programme will be announced by the end of this year. Such plans were welcomed by parents such as former international Baihakki Khaizan, whose son Mika is at the ACS (Barker) SFA. Said Baihakki: “For us as parents, it’s very reassuring to learn of these plans and opportunities that are available for our children. PHOTO: UNLEASH THE ROAR! “As a former player, I am glad that even at this young age, Mika is getting the sports science and analytics help that is often reserved for professional athletes. “Such support will go a long way in helping our children progress as footballers, but of course, they must also find that motivation from within to stay the course and be committed. For young athletes, the opportunity to compete at venues as grand as the National Stadium can also help provide that extra spark of inspiration and give them a vision to aspire towards.” In addition to football, student athletes in the SFA will benefit from a holistic educational experience, ensuring that these footballers balance their football and academic commitments. In addition to developing players’ technical skills, the SFA curriculum also emphasises character development such as teamwork, responsibility, discipline and time management. Jurongville Secondary School principal Mr Chan Yew Wooi said: “Our school has a proud history of achievements in our football CCA. The SFA programme allows us to provide a more comprehensive developmental programme that sharpens the technical skills of our students and shapes their whole-person development. PHOTO: UNLEASH THE ROAR! “The SFA programme is thus aligned with our school’s focus on developing our students’ strengths and interests, and equipping them with what they would need to do good and do well in future. “Our 'C' division boys have benefited from the expertise of the professional coaches. On the field, they are playing with greater cohesion, fitness and intelligence. Off the field, their behaviour is guided by the expectation that they exemplify our P.R.I.D.E values, namely, Perseverance, Respect, Integrity, Discipline and Empathy. We are confident that through the Programme our boys will become thinking footballers, committed students and contributing citizens.” #SportPlusSG #ActiveSGCup #Football #SportsEvents

‘Move with Mazars’ marks the return of the firm’s major CSR event after the pandemic pause PHOTO: MAZARS SINGAPORE 21 July 2022, Singapore - Mazars in Singapore, the international audit, tax and advisory firm has completed an approximately 3000km cycling challenge to raise S$6,629 for terminally ill patients in support of Ambulance Wish Singapore. Close to 100 Mazarians including 10 Partners and directors have stepped up to join the month-long challenge. This campaign culminated on a high note with a grand finale on 15 July which saw the team go on a final 20km ride across Singapore scenic sights. The cycling challenge marks the beginning of ‘Move with Mazars’, a wellbeing movement launched in June which inspires employees to lead healthier lives while contributing to a noble cause. PHOTO: MAZARS SINGAPORE For this meaningful initiative, the firm has partnered with Ambulance Wish Singapore’s virtual ride challenge, Cycle of Peace which aims to raise awareness on their commitment to fulfil the end-of-life wishes of the terminally ill. Throughout the challenge period, the OneMazars team displayed an exceptional performance and ranked 4th in terms of distance covered in the Cycle of Peace team category. Rick Chan, Managing Partner of Mazars in Singapore and Head of Audit & Assurance APAC said: “As we strive to build a firm with purpose, this challenge is significant to us as it is our first physical corporate social responsibility (CSR) and fitness event in two years. Move with Mazars comes at the right time to inspire Mazarians to uplift communities in need while investing in our health and wellbeing. PHOTO: MAZARS SINGAPORE Rick added: “Partnering with Ambulance Wish Singapore is in line with our firm’s wider CSR strategy to drive positive change for our people and local communities. Mazarians have not only demonstrated the team spirit by cycling together but also by sharing our experiences on social media platforms to start meaningful conversations. We are proud to do our part in supporting an organisation that continues to be a beacon of hope for patients with terminal illnesses. Let’s continue to make a difference!” At the grand finale, Rick presented the firm’s donation of S$5,000 to Ambulance Wish Singapore (AWS) Board Secretary Aloysius Wee. AWS Treasurer Alan Chang was also present at the event. PHOTO: MAZARS SINGAPORE Aloysius Wee said: “Thank you to Mazars in Singapore for organising this event in support of Ambulance Wish Singapore and our first major fundraiser, Cycle of Peace. It is wonderful to see everyone coming together to show their passion for this cause. We are grateful for your donation which will go a long way in helping us create positive memories for terminally ill patients and their families. We look forward to your continuing support.” Grace Young, Board Member of AWS and Organising Chair for the Cycle of Peace 2022 said: “Thank you Mazars in Singapore for your keen collaboration to "Fulfilling Wishes and Celebrating the lives!” of the terminally ill in the Singapore community. This has been a necessary organisation that fills in the gaps for palliative care. Ambulance Wish Singapore strives to provide peace, joy and closure to our beneficiaries, transforming the end-of-life experience.” PHOTO: MAZARS SINGAPORE In addition to the company's donation, Mazarians have raised S$1,629 through the Cycle of Peace platform to date. This brings the total amount raised for Ambulance Wish Singapore to S$6,629 as of 21 July, with the final amount to be announced when online donation ends on 31 July. Furthermore, Move with Mazars reflects on the firm’s commitment for Diversity and Inclusion and environmental protection. As part of team OneMazars, a national paralympic cyclist and administrative staff Noor Iskandaria Mohd Dena was enthusiastic to earn his miles for charity. PHOTO: MAZARS SINGAPORE Sustainability is a core component in Mazars’ approach to corporate responsibility. Dedicated to reducing our environmental footprint, all merchandise and promotional materials were of sustainable sources and to eliminate waste, participants were encouraged to bring their own reusable water bottles, therefore no single-use plastic drinking bottles were issued during the event. In 2021, a total of €1.3 million[i] or S$1.9 million donation were made by Mazars employees and member firms globally to social initiatives. #SportPlusSG #Cycling #MazarsSingapore

Jaguars’ Raihan Rahman scores directly from a corner in the opening minutes but the Cheetahs hit back twice from losing positions to secure draw as the race for AFC Cup qualification intensifies PHOTO: AIA SINGAPORE PREMIER LEAGUE Singapore, 16 June 2022 - Players tussled, coaches remonstrated, fans bellowed at the Jurong East Stadium on Sunday evening. A hotly-contested clash between Tanjong Pagar United and Hougang United ended in an entertaining 2-2 draw, a match headlined by end-to-end action and rough tackles on the pitch. It was the fourth consecutive score-draw in the last four meetings between these two sides, as nothing could separate both teams as they lost ground in the race for an AFC Cup qualification spot. Rivals Tampines Rovers capitalised on both teams dropping crucial points, defeating Young Lions 5-2 in the other concurrent fixture, and usurping fourth place from the Cheetahs. Tampines now have a game in hand and are just four points behind Tanjong Pagar who are still sitting in third place. Tanjong Pagar came into this clash five-points clear of fourth-placed Hougang. Both sides were aiming to make progress towards finishing third in the league after having largely antithetical seasons. Assuming title-favourites Albirex Niigata (S) and Lion City Sailors continue to occupy the top two positions in the league, third spot would guarantee a direct AFC Cup qualification spot into the group-stages for the 2023 season. Hougang made just one change to their lineup, playing their fourth game in the space of 12 days. Shawal Anuar came in for Amy Recha at right-wing in their usual 4-3-3 shape. Tanjong Pagar welcomed back young left-wing-back Akram Azman – who has gradually worked his way into the starting eleven – whilst Shodai Nishikawa started behind talisman Reo Nishiguchi as a support striker. The game kicked-off to a fiery start with chances immediately exchanged at both ends. It was the home side who threatened first, when Shodai Nishikawa snuck in between the Hougang defence to meet wing-back Akram Azman’s cross, but his tame headed effort was calmly collected by Hougang goalkeeper Mukundan Maran. Hougang went inches away from scoring from the resulting counter-attack, but winger Kristijian Krajcek’s shot was cleared off the line by Tanjong Pagar captain Faritz Hameed. PHOTO: AIA SINGAPORE PREMIER LEAGUE On the sixth minute mark, Tanjong Pagar were awarded a corner following Hougang defender Lionel Tan’s clearance. Up stepped set-piece specialist Raihan Rahman, who curled a spectacular effort into the bottom corner of the net directly from the corner flag to cue the Jaguars’ newly-associated goal music – ‘One Kiss’ by Dua Lipa. The away side responded by upping their tempo and found an equaliser just 105 seconds after conceding. A superb cross-field ball from Hougang midfielder Sahil Suhaimi found the chest of Shawal Anuar, who deftly scooped the ball over goalkeeper Zharfan Rohaizad before bundling the ball over the line. It was end-to-end for the next half hour before drama ensued on the 36th minute mark. Tanjong Pagar midfielder Mirko Sugic appeared to have struck Hougang’s Zulfahmi Arifin in the face with his elbow whilst muscling the Singaporean international off the ball. Referee Jansen Foo took his time before brandishing a yellow card, deciding the incident was not intentional. The decision drew vehement protests from the Hougang bench, resulting in head coach Clement Teo booked for dissent. PHOTO: AIA SINGAPORE PREMIER LEAGUE From the resulting free-kick just inside Tanjong Pagar’s half, Raihan Rahman’s lofted ball into the box was met by midfielder Blake Ricciuto, whose headed flick-on into the turf was finished off by Reo Nishiguchi for the Japanese’s 14th goal of the season. It was an all-important goal to restore the Jaguar’s advantage. The match ebbed to a slower pace at the start of the second half after an exhilarating first 45 minutes. Just ten minutes after the restart however, substitute Shafiq Ghani’s strike from the edge of the penalty box cannoned off Faritz Hameed’s flailing arm, earning Hougang a timely spot-kick. Forward Pedro Bortoluzo dispatched the penalty – his fourth goal in two games – to level the scores once more. Hougang had a golden opportunity to go in front on the hour mark, but Shawal Anuar was caught in two minds as he advanced towards goal, before he decided to square the ball for Bortoluzo. The 24-year-old Brazilian’s first-time effort was claimed by Zharfan, who leapt into the air to smother Bortoluzo’s stinging shot. Both coaches brought on attacking firepower off the bench, Jaguars manager Hasrin Jailani sent on veteran forward Khairul Amri whilst coach Clement sent on Amy Recha, in an attempt to snatch all three points. Krajcek had one final opportunity to seize a late victory for the Cheetahs, but his left-footed volley from outside the penalty box soared narrowly over the bar. Tanjong Pagar head coach Hasrin Jailani, whose side currently occupy the coveted third spot in the league, claimed the draw was a fair result in a very even contest. When asked about the atmosphere within the squad as Tanjong Pagar chase a maiden AFC Cup tournament appearance, coach Hasrin said: “The players know what we are aiming for. At this point we are trying to get as many points as possible. We know our target internally and hope to see a good result at the end of the season.” PHOTO: AIA SINGAPORE PREMIER LEAGUE The 46-year-old manager was also asked about a recent tactical switch to play winger Shodai Nishikawa centrally whilst bringing in left-wing-back Akram Azman into the starting eleven. “Akram has done well for us. We have to play an under-23 player and (Fathullah Rahmat) is out, so we had to reshuffle a little. I think Shodai’s best position is still on the left flank, but we need speed upfront for now which is why we have been playing Shodai there recently,” he added. Hougang head coach Clement Teo was far from pleased with the result despite seeing his charges recover twice from losing situations. “It’s frustrating to concede two goals via set-pieces. We have done well after coming back from the AFC Cup, this (today’s performance) is unacceptable as far as I’m concerned. But going forward in the second half I cannot complain. We played four games in 12 games, yet the energy and intensity the boys showed, I can’t ask for more,” he said. Speaking about Zulfahmi Arifin’s injury and his replacement Shafiq Ghani’s performance, coach Clement said: “Shafiq is technically a very talented player. Unfortunately, he had a very heavy knock which was why we took him out (of the starting eleven). I have signed 25 players and I need to utilise every player. Everyone is a very important member of my team. Whoever plays the game I fully trust them to give their best.” Hougang will host Geylang International at the Hougang Stadium next Friday (Jul 22) at 5.30pm, eager to get back to winning ways. Tanjong Pagar travel to the Toa Payoh Stadium on Saturday evening (Jul 23) at the same time to play a struggling Balestier Khalsa side. #SportPlusSG #Football #SingaporePremierLeague #SingaporeFootball

A brace each from Nur Izzati and League debutant, Danelle Tan secure Lion City Sailors a comfortable 4-0 win, propelling them top of the table Nur Izzati, Lila Tan, Ernie Sulastri and Miray Hokotate (Left to right) celebrate the opening goal. PHOTO: HANA BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG Singapore, 16 June 2022 - Nur Izzati and Women’s Premier League debutant, Danelle Tan scored two goals each in Saturday’s clash against Still Aerion, handing their team a comfortable 4-0 win. Yishun Stadium saw the return of the WPL after nearly a month away and an exciting international break. The start of the first half was somewhat equally contested. Both The Sailors and Aerion had chances on goal, but defenders at both ends did well to stop the shots that were not fired wide. More photos from the match available in SportPlus.sg's photo gallery here. Malavika Hemanth and Nur Izzati battle for the ball in Aerion's half. PHOTO: HANA BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG Joie Teo provided a spark for her team, being a menace in the midfield. The forward on many occasions dropped deep into her half to get on the ball before looking for passing lanes. The goal seemed to be to get the ball to Farhanah Ruhaizat, who had an opportunity in the 28th minute. Catching Beatrice covering the left side of her goal, Farhanah attempted an outside curling shot into the right corner. The national keeper recovered well, and her quick feet allowed her to catch the ball. Just two minutes later, Nur Izzati found the opener with the help of Lila Tan, who split the defence open with a through ball into space. Spotting Faizah way off her line, Izzati drove a strong, lofted shot into the net to make it 1-0. Nur Faizah recovers fast and dives in to deny Ho Hui Xin an open goal. PHOTO: HANA BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG Barely a minute later, The Sailors had a chance to make it 2-0 when a lack of communication led to both the defender and keeper to go for a ball being chased down by Hui Xin. The Sailors forward faced an open goal, but Faizah’s heroic save denied her the jubilation. Danger was far from over as the ball was only parried away by Faizah into the path of Lila Tan who could not put it away. The missed opportunity soon became insignificant as Lion City Sailors scored two in quick succession as the second half began. 17-year-old Danelle Tan came on to make her WPL debut and wasted no time getting her first goal. One minute in, Danelle showcased her close control ability and cut inside, dancing past two defenders before taking a shot. Traits of the goal could be likened to that of Netherlands’s current all-time top scorer Vivianne Miedema, also a number nine, who Danelle counts as one of her idols in the game. Danelle Tan fires home her second goal with her left foot. PHOTO: HANA BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG In the 59th minute, Nur Izzati made it 3-0 as she pounced on an error by Nur Faizah who passed it straight to the striker from a goal kick. Not long after, Danelle became the second player on the pitch to get a brace as she curled the ball into the top right corner. Still Aerion felt the absence of key player and captain, Stephanie Dominguez and things got worse when their second captain, Fonda Chai got injured midway through the second half. The game was largely dominated by the Sailors in the second half as the few chances on goal from Aerion came to no fruition. Lion City Sailors go top of the table on goal difference but could lose the spot depending on how Tanjong Pagar’s fixture against Tiong Bahru goes on Sunday evening. Still Aerion hope to go back to winning ways next weekend against Albirex Niigata. Danelle Tan celebrates after scoring her first goal in the 46th minute. PHOTO: HANA BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG Deloitte Women's Premier League 2022 Other Match Week 5 Results Hougang United 1-5 Albirex Niigata Sat, 16 June 2022, Yishun Stadium #SportPlusSG #Football #WomensPremierLeague #SingaporeFootball

Goals from Jordan Henderson and Mohamed Salah seal comfortable victory for the Reds against a Palace side missing a host of senior players PHOTO: HANA BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG Singapore, 16 July 2022 - A sea of red engulfed the National Stadium well before the slated kick-off timing at 8.35pm local time. But instead of cheering on the Singapore national team, the majority of fans were present with banners, flags, and scarfs aloft on Friday night to watch their beloved English football club Liverpool live in Singapore for the first time since 2009. As the players exited the tunnel to the fans’ view, Liverpool supporters broke out in unison to a passionate rendition of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’, belting out a version emotionally-moving enough to give all 50,217 spectators instant goosebumps; creating an Anfield-like atmosphere. PHOTO: HANA BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG The Reds did not disappoint their ardent followers, comfortably defeating fellow Premier League side Crystal Palace by a 2-0 scoreline, using all 32 squad players in the process. Even though Palace were missing key players such as Wilfried Zaha, Marc Guehi and Christian Benteke, the London-based club gave their best effort in what must have felt to them an away match. The Standard Chartered Trophy also marked the first-time since the pandemic began spectators were allowed to fill up to almost full capacity at the Singapore Sports Hub for any event. PHOTO: HANA BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG Victory for Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp’s men was marred by a first-half injury to midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, but Klopp confirmed in the post-match conference that it was simply a precaution. First-choice goalkeeper Alisson was also absent from the matchday squad as he picked up a minor abdominal injury at the beginning of yesterday’s session. The Brazilian is in contention to start their next pre-season fixture away to RB Leipzig on 22 July. Klopp decided to name a significantly stronger lineup in comparison to the 4-0 defeat to Manchester United in Bangkok midweek. James Milner filled in at right-back, Ibrahim Konate partnered Joel Matip in central defence, and Harvey Elliot and Curtis Jones headlined the midfield ahead of captain Jordan Henderson. South-American attacking duo Luis Diaz and Roberto Firmino were also named in the starting eleven. PHOTO: HANA BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG Crystal Palace set-up to match Liverpool’s shape, with forwards Jordan Ayew and Odsonne Edouard used as wingers, while young midfielders Jesurun Rak-Sakyi and Killian Phillips operated as interiors ahead of lone defensive midfielder Luka Milivojevic. Joel Ward, usually a right-back by trade, partnered Joachim Anderson in central defence in the absence of James Tomkins and Marc Guehi. First Half Lineups Liverpool (4-3-3): Adrian, Milner, Konate, Matip, Tsimikas, Jones, Henderson, Elliot, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Firmino, Diaz Palace (4-3-3): Guaita, Clyne, Ward, Andersen, Mitchell, Rak-Sakyi, Milivojevic, Phillips, Ayew, Mateta, Eduoard PHOTO: HANA BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG In yesterday’s pre-match conference, Klopp began by commenting on the extreme humidity of Singapore’s weather; which possibly explained the slow-paced start to the pre-season friendly. The first opportunity of the game fell to Palace’s Odsonne Eduoard in the ninth minute, whose header from Luka Milivojevic’s freekick was saved by Liverpool goalkeeper Adrian. PHOTO: HANA BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG Roared on by a raucous crowd, Liverpool wasted no time to break the deadlock just three minutes later. A perfectly-timed cut back by Harvey Elliot, whom Klopp described as being like a ‘new signing’, was swept first-time into the corner of the net by onrushing captain Jordan Henderson. The stadium erupted. Liverpool supporters were sent into delirium as they celebrated simultaneously, making their presence felt with rhythmic singing. Even Palace captain Milivojevic lost his composure momentarily, giving the ball away with a stray pass trying to play out of the back, before committing a poorly-timed foul on James Milner in quick succession. PHOTO: HANA BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG Liverpool could have doubled their lead when Kostas Tsimikas was allowed to burst down the left flank on a counter-attack. The Greek fullback’s lofted cross towards the far post was met by Roberto Firmino, whose close-range header was blocked for a corner. Just before the half hour mark, the crowd started a traditional ‘Kallang Wave’ – formed by spectators raising their arms in succession – causing the grounds of the stadium to tremble periodically. Before the half-time break, a neat move from Liverpool saw Oxlade-Chamberlain thread a through ball towards Harvey Elliot’s path, but the young English talent only managed to fire wide of the post. PHOTO: HANA BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG Moments later, it was Oxlade-Chamberlain’s turn to receive a pass into space but lashed a shot straight into Guaita’s palms before going down injured. Second Half Lineups Liverpool (4-3-3): Davies, Alexander-Arnold, van den Berg, van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Keita, Thiago, Salah, Nunez, Carvalho Palace (4-3-3): Guaita, Clyne, Ward, Andersen, Mitchell, Rak-Sakyi, Milivojevic, Phillips, Ayew, Mateta, Eduoard PHOTO: HANA BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG Liverpool began the half with a fresh eleven, including defender Virgil van Dijk, talisman Mohamed Salah and new signing Darwin Nunez. The midfield comprised Fabinho, Thiago Alcantara and Naby Keita, whilst first-choice fullbacks Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson also entered the fray. Palace remained unchanged. Buoyed by fresh legs, the Reds started the second period with increased vigour and intensity. It did not take long for them to get their second goal. PHOTO: HANA BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG Picking up the ball from the right flank from Alexander-Arnold’s crisp pass, Salah struck a sweet left-footed strike that crept in off Guaita’s left post, courtesy of a fortunate deflection. Klopp’s men did not take their foot off the gas, as Nunez almost opened his account for the Merseyside club with a powerful effort straight at Palace custodian Vincente Guaita. The Uruguayan striker, signed from Portuguese-side Benfica for a club-record 85 million pounds, looked particularly hungry to make an impact – starting pressing movements with laborious intensity and making sharp dropping actions to get involved in play. PHOTO: HANA BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG Palace manager Patrick Vieira took till the hour mark to ring in the changes, after forward Jordan Ayew had a half-chance blocked by Andy Robertson in what was the Eagles’ best chance of the half. Vieira brought on a host of youngsters, including new signing Malcolm Ebiowei. Controlling the pace of the game with measured passing and calculated forward runs, it took till the 69th minute for Liverpool to threaten again. Midfielder Fabio Carvalho picked up the ball and drove towards goal, but his powerful curling effort from the left half-space was saved by Guaita’s palms. 1.93m-tall defender Virgil van Dijk had the opportunity to display his heading prowess to an eager crowd from the resulting corner, but his effort was calmly collected by Guaita. PHOTO: HANA BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG With slightly more than ten minutes to play, Klopp rang in the changes once again with an almost brand-new eleven of youngsters, with the exception of Carvalho and Salah. Young midfielder Tyler Morton capitalising on a rare appearance thought he had made it three in stoppage time, but his driven effort from outside the penalty box rolled past the wrong side of the post; the last key action of the match. Klopp said after the game: “We played a good game against United, but we lost 4-0 because we made mistakes in the wrong moments. We were much more compact today. It was a clear step in the right direction. PHOTO: HANA BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG From mid-September onwards (when the season begins) we won’t have time to train which is why it is so important for us to work a lot in the next four weeks to be best prepared.” Palace manager Patrick Vieira acknowledged the high calibre of his adversaries but was pleased with the overall progress his team made despite the defeat. “We have to look at the quality of the Liverpool squad and admit it is not possible for us to have possession as much as we want. We struggled to get the ball into the box. This is a team fighting to win the Champions League for the last five to six years and we knew how challenging today was going to be. PHOTO: HANA BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG This game allowed us to make a step forward as we are getting better physically, but technically we still have things to work on,” he said. Speaking about rumours of Chelsea centre-back Levi Colwill’s potential transfer to the club, Vieira remained tight-lipped. “We have to find players to take us to a different level. We have to be careful with all the rumours but there are a lot of names coming out. We need to identify the position where we need players and try to get those players,” he added. According to mythical beliefs, the Liver Bird had to be chained down to avoid flooding the city of Liverpool by bursting the banks of the River Mersey. There was however no stopping all Liverpool fans streaming out of the National Stadium, as they flooded the vicinity of Kallang with a sea of red and persistent fan chants. #SportPlusSG #Football #StandardCharteredTrophy2022 #LiverpoolFC #CrystalPalaceFC

The Cheetahs leap beyond the Stags into fourth place after playing out a closely-contested six-goal entertainer that saw seven yellow cards dished out by referee Farhad Mohamed Shawal Anuar (right) and Shahril Ishak celebrate Hougang United's goal at Hougang Stadium. PHOTO: AIA SINGAPORE PREMIER LEAGUE Singapore, 19 June 2022 - As the great Winston Churchill once said, criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. In the face of acerbic criticism from fans and pundits alike, Hougang United stuck to their philosophy, corrected their flaws, and swiftly turned their season around. The Cheetahs with a dogged display recorded a hard-fought 4-2 victory over AFC Cup rivals Tampines Rovers at the Hougang Stadium on Wednesday night. From the months of March to May, Hougang went on a seven-game barren stretch managing just one win, a scrappy 2-1 victory over bottom-dwellers Young Lions, that resulted in the Cheetahs languishing in sixth-place at one point of the season. This was a clash of utmost importance, as Hougang’s win saw them leapfrog Tampines (who have a game in hand) into fourth place with a one-point advantage. Both teams are chasing the only guaranteed AFC Cup qualification slot via the league which is awarded to the second-best placed local team in the final standings. The other AFC Cup play-off spot will go to the winner of the 2022 Singapore Cup, to be held after the domestic league season concludes in October. Having produced a total of 29 goals in their last four meetings, this fixture continued to live up to its glamour of having goals galore with both halves having an equal share of three goals apiece. Tampines head coach Gavin Lee swapped his wing-backs from the 2-2 draw against Balestier on the weekend, bringing back Christopher van Huizen and Amirul Haikal, while Adam Reefdy was called upon to replace the injured Shuya Yamashita. Taufik Suparno was relegated to the bench as Firdaus Kasman came into midfield, pushing Yasir Hanapi into a more offensive role. The away side started on the front foot, attempting to play out from the back against Hougang’s press and dominating possession for the first 10 minutes. Boris Kopitovic of Tampines Rovers celebrates his goal but it didn't prove enough as the Stags slid to an SPL defeat at Hougang Stadium. PHOTO: AIA SINGAPORE PREMIER LEAGUE Hougang struck first however, as a loose ball in the penalty area fell kindly into Amy Recha’s path – restored into the starting 11 ahead of Shawal Anuar – allowing him to fire a half-volley that was blocked by Tampines defender Adam Reefdy’s outstretched arm. Referee Farhad Mohamed awarded a spot-kick accordingly, which Pedro Bortoluzo tucked away for his fifth goal of the season. Just minutes later, Tampines displayed slick one-touch passing in the final third to find left-wing-back Amirul Haikal unmarked on the edge of the penalty box. His laced-shot was calmly parried away by Hougang custodian Mukundan Maran. Frustration was piling up for Gavin Lee’s boys, as Firdaus Kasman and Amirul Haikal both went into the book for mistimed tackles after Adam Reefdy was given a yellow card for conceding the penalty. Controversy struck thereafter, as Tampines defender Irfan Najeeb appeared to have clattered into Sahil Suhaimi after he got a shot away in the penalty box, but only a goal kick was awarded. Tampines drew level on the half hour mark courtesy of a moment of brilliance from Zehrudin Mehmedovic. The Stags’ nifty Serbian playmaker threaded an inch-perfect through ball in between the Hougang defence from the left-edge of the penalty box, perfectly weighted for midfield partner Kyoga Nakamura to finish with a simple tap-in. It proved to be short-lived joy for Tampines, after a poor chipped pass from goalkeeper Syazwan Buhari towards van Huizen was stolen by Hougang’s Kristijian Krajcek. The Croatian winger rolled a cutback towards the feet of Bortoluzo who tapped home his second of the night from inside the six-yard box. Hougang piled on the pressure after the interval, as Bortoluzo struggled to find his feet to complete his hat-trick from Krajcek’s low cross before the latter’s stinging shot was deflected over the bar. Kyoga Nakamura (left) looks to dictate play in midfield for Tampines Rovers. PHOTO: AIA SINGAPORE PREMIER LEAGUE Just as the Stags were looking down and defeated, up stepped the league’s top scorer Boris Kopitovic just before the hour mark. The Montenegrin was felled on the edge of the penalty box by Hougang’s Jordan Vestering, but duly picked himself up to curl the resulting set-piece into the bottom corner for his 17th goal of the season – also his fifth free-kick goal. In a game of many twists and turns, Hougang regained their one-goal cushion shortly after as Bortoluzo finally completed his hat-trick with a diving header. A looping free-kick from Hougang’s set-piece specialist Zulfahmi Arifin was met by the 1.86m-tall striker, who stooped low and arched his back to connect with the cross. The Cheetahs had the ball in the back of the net again in the 74th minute, but defender Lionel Tan’s header was ruled out for offside. Another golden opportunity was missed minutes later as Krajcek lashed a snapshot from Kaishu Yamazaki’s through pass. Despite Tampines upping the tempo in the closing minutes, with Gavin Lee throwing on attacker Taufik Suparno to salvage the situation, the Stags were condemned to defeat after a loose ball in their penalty box was not dealt with. It was substitute Shawal Anuar who pounced, unleashing a left-footed strike into the bottom corner beyond goalkeeper Syazwan’s reach. Stags head coach Gavin Lee was visibly disappointed at the full-time whistle but refused to blame the defeat on fatigue. “Hougang had the same schedule as us. Before the equaliser (after half-time), we stuck to the plan and did very well. We did not help ourselves by conceding easy goals at the wrong moments today,” he said. Bortoluzo of Hougang United nets a treble to help the Cheetahs to a 4-2 win over Tampines Rovers. PHOTO: AIA SINGAPORE PREMIER LEAGUE Coach Gavin added that going with a back three was not an opponent-oriented tactical decision but rather keeping faith with the same system they have played since beating Geylang International 2-0 in June, before their AFC Cup run. On the other side of the dugout, Cheetahs head coach Clement Teo was all smiles when approached for the post-match interview. He attributed Hougang’s good run of form to their recently-concluded AFC Cup campaign. “When we went for our AFC Cup in Vietnam, we managed to get everyone to understand what we wanted to do for the team. We had very good team bonding, everyone enjoyed themselves and worked very hard. We brought it back to Singapore and there is much more belief (from the players) in what we can and want to do. What’s more important is that the team has gelled very well together,” he said. When asked about Jordan Vestering’s return to the team, coach Clement added: “We know what we can expect from Jordan. He has done well. A natural left-footer at left-back especially as a young player helps us. We played Hafiz Sujad there (at the AFC Cup) who did really well, but we needed an under-23 player there (in the league) which Jordan suits well.” Hougang will travel to the Jurong East Stadium to play third-placed Tanjong Pagar United next Sunday at 5.30pm as the battle for guaranteed AFC Cup qualification heats up. Tampines will attempt to arrest their slide in form when they host Young Lions at Our Tampines Hub on the same day and time. #SportPlusSG #Football #SingaporePremierLeague #SingaporeFootball

Tickets for the Asian Netball Championships taking place from 3-11 September 2022 are now on sale PHOTO: NETBALL AUSTRALIA Singapore, 12 July 2022 – Netball fans can look forward to catching top notch sporting action with the Asian Netball Championships 2022 (ANC) returning to the OCBC Arena from 3-11 September. Tickets to the ANC 2022, the first international netball competition since the 2019 SEA Games, are now on sale with prices starting from just $6. PHOTO: HANA BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG The 11 teams competing at the biennial event are defending champions Sri Lanka, 2018 runner-up Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, Japan, India, the Philippines and Maldives. The top 2 finishers will attain automatic qualification to the 2023 Netball World Cup. The 2020 ANC was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. PHOTO: HANA BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG Netball Singapore president Jessica Tan said: “We’re very pleased to be hosting the Asian Netball Championships again." "It’s been a while since the players and fans have experienced international netball action, and the return of a high-calibre competition like the ANC provides players with valuable match experience and a fantastic opportunity to pit themselves against the region’s best. The fans will also have the chance to enjoy the games and marvel at the sporting displays put up by these athletes.” PHOTO: HANA BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG Singapore co-captain Toh Kai Wei said: “There’s a buzz of excitement among the entire team. Whether we are veterans or newer members of the team, all of us are looking forward to competing at the ANC 2022, especially since it’s on home ground." "Playing in front of our family and friends is a feeling that never gets old, even for those of us who are more experienced. We hope to see our fellow Singaporeans come out in full force to support us at the OCBC Arena.” PHOTO: HANA BASIR, SPORTPLUS.SG Tickets can be purchased online via ticketmaster.sg, by phone, or by going to Ticketmaster’s outlets at Singpost or The Star Performing Arts Centre Box Office. Concession prices are available for students in Ministry of Education schools, as well as children aged between 5 to 12. More information on ticketing is available below: Online & Mobile: Visit ticketmaster.sg to purchase tickets Hotline: +65 3158 8588 Operating Hours: Monday to Saturday (10am - 6pm) Sunday and Public Holidays (Closed) TicketMasters Outlets: SINGPOST The sale of tickets will be available at All SingPost outlets. The available branches and operating hours are available here: https://www.singpost.com/list-of-post-offices #SportPlusSG #Netball

His breakthrough year came in 2015 when he qualified for the SEA Games held in Singapore, representing his country in the 5,000m and 10,000m events PHOTO: CHERYL TAY, SPORTPLUS.SG Picking up running only at the age of 21 with the encouragement of his army buddies, Melvin Wong has certainly more than made up for the late start with a long list of brilliant achievements. He spent a few years competing in multisport like duathlons and triathlons, even making it to the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games duathlon selection squad. Melvin then shifted his focus to running and quickly built himself up in the local running scene, winning races across different distances. His breakthrough year came in 2015 when he qualified for the SEA Games held in Singapore that year and represented the country in two events – 5,000m and 10,000m. Throughout the years, he has also won many races in Singapore, such as the Army Half Marathon and the 2XU Compression Run. Melvin continued to chase his passion in running, balancing his family responsibilities and his career as a senior account manager at Deloitte where he deals with financial services clients. PHOTO: CHERYL TAY, SPORTPLUS.SG The father of two young daughters eventually worked his way to the start line of the Men’s Marathon at the 2021 SEA Games – that was held in May 2022 in Hanoi, Vietnam. This was a big dream of his and Melvin went to great lengths to make it happen. PHOTO: CHERYL TAY, SPORTPLUS.SG His journey was riddled with obstacles – from having just five weeks to make the qualification mark, travelling 20 hours all the way to Spanish small town Castello for a qualifying race, de-conflicting issues with the national athletics association, and scrambling to arrange for his duties to be covered at work as well as leaving his family behind for a self-funded seven-week training stint in Australia just before the SEA Games. PHOTO: CHERYL TAY, SPORTPLUS.SG Despite the difficulties he faced, Melvin refused to give up and he made it. As the oldest runner on the grid at 39 years old, the Asics marathoner in his Metaspeed Sky shoes endured the brutal humidity of Hanoi and finished eighth on a punishing eight-loop course that saw some fail to complete. PHOTO: CHERYL TAY, SPORTPLUS.SG Live Uplifted, to Melvin, means to let your goals grow bigger than your fears, to let your actions speak louder than words and to let your faith be stronger than your feelings. Everyone has their own journey and he holds a lot of respect for all who face their own challenges, yet push through to achieve their goals, no matter the outcome. #SportPlusSG #SEAGames31 #MelvinWong #ASICSSG

Spurred on by a passionate Malaysian following sitting in the stands directly behind him, 32 year-old Ziyad clinched bronze in the men's shot put event at the 31st SEA Games PHOTO: SYUHAINI AZLIN, SPORTPLUS.SG Known for his quiet charm and witty humour, Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli has been one of the biggest inspirations at the recently concluded Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam. Despite being Malaysia’s historic Gold medallist at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, Ziyad came into the 31st SEA Games on the back of the disappointment of last year's Tokyo Games in which he was disqualified for reporting late despite delivering the performance of his life. Using the memory of that experience as fuel for extra motivation, and spurred on by a passionate Malaysian following sitting in the stands directly behind him, the 32 year-old clinched bronze in the men's shot put event, his second medal of the Southeast Asian Games, having taken silver in the Manila Games in 2019. PHOTO: SYUHAINI AZLIN, SPORTPLUS.SG Shrieks of joy could be heard as the towering giant punched the air in jubilation with his 17.20 metre throw, which saw him finish behind silver medallist Thailand's Jakkapat Noisri (17.32m) and the Philippines' William Morrison III Edward, who took gold on 18.14m. Interestingly, his throw of 17.20m actually eclipsed his silver medal performance in Manila (17.03m). PHOTO: SYUHAINI AZLIN, SPORTPLUS.SG Support from Family, Friends and Coaches Ziyad's philosophy from the perspective of a physically challenged athlete is to count on the support of his close network of family, friends and coaches who have supported him through his journey. Conscious of what he eats, Ziyad believes that to live uplifted means to take good care of yourself from your body to your mind. This has seen the Selangor native change his training methods as age catches up with him so that he can still perform at the highest level of sport. PHOTO: SYUHAINI AZLIN, SPORTPLUS.SG Mentally, he also practises discipline to compartmentalise his thoughts and block out distractions before every competition so as to focus on achieving his fullest potential and personal best. Ziyad's hope is to one day help more people in the world understand the life of paralympic athletes so as to garner greater support for his teammates and those around the world who share the same sporting dreams despite their disabilities. #SportPlusSG #SEAGames31 #ZiyadZolkefli #ASICSSG

Her greatest milestone was achieved when the 33-year-old made history by becoming the first Malaysian to win a Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in the Women’s Duathlon event PHOTO: SYUHAINI AZLIN, SPORTPLUS.SG A familiar name in the endurance sport scene, Tahira Najmunisaa Muhammad Zaid excels from running to cycling. She competes a lot in road races (from 5km to ultra-marathons), trails and climbathon races, as well as adventure racing and mountain biking jamborees – and is often on the podium for most of these races. Her greatest milestone was achieved when the 33-year-old mother of four young children made history by becoming the first Malaysian to win a Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in the Women’s Duathlon event. Tahira has always wanted to try out for the SEA Games Duathlon but with four children, she just could not find the time before. Now that the kids are older, she knows that this is the right time for her to do it. PHOTO: SYUHAINI AZLIN, SPORTPLUS.SG Based out of Lumut, Perak, Tahira still trains and races with her husband (since 2009), but she also credits her teams – the Chaingang Team for cycling and the Smart Team for running – who have played a huge part in her journey to the SEA Games. PHOTO: SYUHAINI AZLIN, SPORTPLUS.SG Despite her debut appearance at the SEA Games in Hanoi, Vietnam, Tahira’s goal was nothing less than a medal for her country. She was running in third during the last 5km of the run-bike-run event and she could see the Indonesian athlete ahead of her. PHOTO: SYUHAINI AZLIN, SPORTPLUS.SG Knowing that the silver medal was within her grasp, she drew strength within herself and from the Malaysian supporters for that extra push to overtake the Indonesian. Tahira’s next goal, God willing, is to take the gold at the next SEA Games. PHOTO: SYUHAINI AZLIN, SPORTPLUS.SG To Live Uplifted, for Tahira, is the balance and harmony of her emotions, mind and body. It’s about enjoying every moment of her everyday life, no matter how hard it gets. She also believes a sound mind enables her to give the best in her training and races. #SportPlusSG #SEAGames31 #TahiraNajmunisaa #ASICSSG

Thailand's sweet-faced 18 year-old rising tennis star Pimrada Jattavapornvanit is fast making a name for herself on the court with her left forehand smashes and deft touches in front of the net PHOTO: SYUHAINI AZLIN, SPORTPLUS.SG Making her Southeast Asian Games debut at the recent Hanoi, Vietnam Games in May, Thailand's sweet-faced 18 year-old rising tennis star Pimrada Jattavapornvanit is fast making a name for herself on the court with her left forehand smashes and deft touches in front of the net. Clinching the Women's Tennis Team Gold medal, the first time the SEA Games featured a team event in tennis since 2015, Pimrada then teamed up with Lanlana Tararudee to add a silver medal to their trophy cabinet from the Women's Doubles event as well. The pair swept aside strong Indonesian rivals Gumulya / Rompies in the semi-finals (6-2, 6-3) to set up an all Thai final with eventual winners Anchisa Chanta and Patcharin Cheapchandej, losing out only in a super tie-breaker 8-10 after coming into the match as favourites and leading from the onset. PHOTO: SYUHAINI AZLIN, SPORTPLUS.SG The rhythmic moves of Pimrada and Lanlana Tararudee caused an Anchisa Chanta and Patcharin Cheapchandej pairing many difficulties, resulting in the latter pair trailing for a large part of the match before launching a strong fightback to overturn the tables on their Thai teammates in a thrilling final which had the crowd on the edge of their seats. PHOTO: SYUHAINI AZLIN, SPORTPLUS.SG Despite a stellar showing at her maiden SEA Games, Pimrada admitted to nerves and the need to overcome the pressure and contain her excitement. She said: "My biggest challenge was excitement and pressure from in and out of the competition because it was my debut SEA Games and it was the first time that I have to play in a packed stadium." PHOTO: SYUHAINI AZLIN, SPORTPLUS.SG "I had to uplift my game and stay concentrated the whole time and despite all the excitement and pressure, I still can keep calm and use my experience from previous international competitions to stay positive and motivated and focus on my game plan to fight for every point," shared the ASICS athlete, who last year reached a career high ranking of 922 in the WTA circuit. Wearing the ASICS Solution Speed FF 2 shoes because she feels it is super light and makes her movement a lot faster on court, Pimrada's most memorable moment from the SEA Games is the success of team effort which resulted in her gold medal, as well as the support from her teammates and coaches which she believes helped the Thai's in their dominance of the medal tally. PHOTO: SYUHAINI AZLIN, SPORTPLUS.SG When asked if she had any advice for budding teenage tennis stars who may look up to her, the 18 year-old added: "For those facing challenges, I hope everyone will get through and keep believing in yourself that you have the potential to do everything that you love and enjoy every single day of the process." #SportPlusSG #SEAGames31 #PimradaJattavapornvanit #ASICSSG

Malaysian tennis athlete hopes her journey can inspire other young people and athletes in training from a young age, and she spends her free time giving tennis lessons to teenagers PHOTO: SYUHAINI AZLIN, SPORTPLUS.SG Part of a golden generation of athletes emerging from Malaysia's tennis ranks, 20 year old Elysia Wan Abdul Rahman hails from Sarawak and first started tennis at the age of six, under her father’s guidance and strong influence as a former tennis athlete. She reached a highest ITF Junior ranking of 768 in 2018 and was the highest ranked Malaysian tennis athlete in 2019, however she found herself missing opportunities to compete in many ITF Juniors due to a lack of financial support to fund her journey, which led her to seeking help for sponsorship online. A part time model on the side, Wan still manages to find time to train at a high intensity every day, beginning with physical training in the mornings: weights and cardio for 90 minutes, followed by stretching and recovery (30mins). This is followed by a 2 hour session on court every afternoon for six days a week, with only a day of rest. Besides her training routine, she also pays close attention to her diet which she believes is key in the life of a top athlete. PHOTO: SYUHAINI AZLIN, SPORTPLUS.SG She reaped the rewards of her hard work and sacrifices in Hanoi this May, clinching her first SEA Games medal in the Women’s Doubles. Coming up against more experienced opponents Wan put in a stellar showing, teaming up with five-time SEA Games medalist Jawairiah Noordin-Sharifah to defeat Philippines duo Marian Capadocia and Shaira Hope Rivera in a super tie-break 10-7 in the quarter finals, before pushing their Thai opponents to another super tiebreak in the semi-finals. PHOTO: SYUHAINI AZLIN, SPORTPLUS.SG Wan credits her sister as her source of motivation, with the two usually motivating each other during competitions since childhood, but did not have the benefit of her support during the recent Games. Wan hopes her journey can inspire other young people and athletes in training from a young age, and she spends her free time giving tennis lessons to teenagers. She does her best to show positivity even in the most difficult of times, because for her a smile is worth more than a thousand words. PHOTO: SYUHAINI AZLIN, SPORTPLUS.SG When asked what it meant to live uplifted, the 20 year-old replied: “It’s a way of life where everyday you surpass yourself in order to build, create your career.” “Every day is a new fight and requires sacrifices, moments of tears but also of joy. Indeed tournaments and victories are rewards in sport, and it is with this that we build a future and a prosperous career,” she added. PHOTO: SYUHAINI AZLIN, SPORTPLUS.SG “To live edified is therefore to build oneself mentally and physically to create a place at the highest level.” Time will tell if Wan fulfills her potential at the highest level, but with a strong winner’s mentality to overcome adversity, we believe she will. #SportPlusSG #SEAGames31 #ElysiaWan #ASICSSG