Catch our exclusive interview with the SIM Dragon Boat team as they clinched the coveted PM Cup by beating NTU during the last seconds of the race. As part of our special exclusive episode, we also caught up with the female team on them coming in runners-up in the women’s category.
Congratulations to SIM on their outstanding achievement and we wish them all the best in their future endeavours.
Videographer : Prashan
Photographer : Kenny Lee
Editor : Ng Peiru
Photos taken with the Panasonic Lumix GH-1
Videos taken and presented in HD by the Panasonic HDC-HS700
We caught up with the Eliza Tan, President of the CJC ODAC Team 2010 to find out how she felt about her team’s excellent performance in this year’s National Vertical Marathon. Find out what she had to say… … Continue Reading
Videographer : Kenny Lee
Photographer : Ng Peiru
Editor : Ng Peiru
Photos taken with the Panasonic Lumix GH-1
Videos taken in full HD with the Panasonic HDC-HS700
Catch the NUS men’s and women’s teams in this exclusive interview as we quizzed them on their preparations for the upcoming Asian University water-polo championships. What did they have to say? Catch the exclusive interview right here, only on VOXSPORTS!
Videographer : Chrystal Chan
Video editor : Chen Lihe
Editor : Ng Peiru
Soundtrack by : King Kong Jane (“If it Wasn’t For You”)
Catch 3 of our young YOG athletes representing Singapore in the Canoe and Kayaking events as we quizzed them on preparations as well as coping with academics and sport at the same time.
With NYP as the retaining their crown as IVP Ultimate champions in 2010, we caught an exclusive interview with the team Captain and Vice-Captain on their reflections on a job well done.
Photographer : Reagan Chiam
Videographer : Addy Lau
Video Editor : Denise Ng
Editor : Ng Peiru
Camera : Canon EOS 40D with Canon Ultrasonic Zoom Lens (EF 70 — 200mm)
Video Camera : SONY DCR-DVD810 … Continue Reading
Wonder how the Team NTU athletes felt after the NUS Biathlon? Catch our exclusive post – event interview with Team NTU after the NUS Biathlon and hear what they had to say!
Photographer : Prashan
Videographer : Addy Lau
Video Editor : Chen Lihe
Editor : Ng Peiru
Camera : Canon EOS 40D with Canon Ultrasonic Zoom Lens (EF 70 — 200mm)
Video Camera : SONY DCR-DVD810 … Continue Reading
Wonder what the SMU and NUS team captains had to say after the NUS Biathlon? Watch them in our exclusive video interview immediately after the event!
Photographer : Prashan
Videographer : Addy Lau
Video Editor : Chen Lihe
Editor : Ng Peiru
Camera : Canon EOS 40D with Canon Ultrasonic Zoom Lens (EF 70 — 200mm)
Video Camera : SONY DCR-DVD810 … Continue Reading
Our interview with Barath Seshadri, Captain of the NUS Men’s team :
1) Please kindly introduce yourself to our fellow VOXers
Hey VOXers! I’m Bharath – Captain of the NUS Men’s Tennis Team. I am an Engineering undergrad and this is my final year in NUS! I started playing tennis back home in India and I’ve been playing for almost 13 years now.
As Captain, I’m in-charge of running the training sessions (deciding on drills, match-play and fitness routines); keeping track of individual and the team’s progress; ensuring that the players get adequate match play; and of course, working with our Zen Master/Tennis Coach (Mr Ong is easily the best coach I’ve seen in a long, long time).
2) As you probably already know, NUS has always been powerhouses in the tennis scene, during the days of IVP and now during the SUNI Games, does this add pressure to the team every year and why?
Yes and No.
YES because there is a lot of pressure to live up to high expectations and defend tournaments that we’ve been consistently winning. Every time NUS takes the court, we’re expected to win. And sometimes all this pressure can get to you.
NO because we’ve been lucky to have some exceptionally talented players in the team. And, apart from being great tennis players, their work ethic and dedication to the team is very gratifying. So although there is pressure to perform, I can always rely on my team to be well prepared and give it their best.
3) What were the results of the team the last SUNI Games and were they up to expectations?
We did win the overall Gold medal. We won the Individual Singles (Kenneth Ng played some mind-blowing tennis) and Doubles (Marc Lim & Joshua Chua are both legends in NUS) Golds. But we lost the ‘Team’ event. We wanted to give the freshmen some match experience so I’m not too disappointed that we didn’t sweep all the medals.
4) As team captain, you probably have to juggle studies with leading the team, how do you manage the stress of studies and the demands of being a captain?
I’d be lying if I said that Captaincy hasn’t affect my studies, my FYP (that’s a gigantic engineering thesis that Final Year students are forced to write), my CCAs and my job-hunt. But I took up Captaincy because I am very passionate about tennis and I love this team.
I have had to sacrifice a lot. For example, I can’t afford to hit the sack immediately after a gruelling training session, because I usually have a lot of school work to do. So sometimes, I end up waking up the next morning with sore limbs and a tired brain. I also can’t afford to indulge in a lot of CCAs or Hall Activities because of my tight schedule. But worst of all, since we have our league matches on Saturday and Sunday mornings (whose bright idea was that, anyway?), I’ve sacrificed my Friday and Saturday night-outs :|
I’ve got to thank Jeremy, my VICE captain for doing more than his share of work whenever I’m burnt out. It also helps to have an understanding team and a way-too-cool Team Officer (Carson Goh for president!).
5) Being in a varsity where there are so many captains for the team, are there any difficulties in making decisions? Why or why not?
Not really. All team members have a say in the decision. After we’ve heard everyone out, Jeremy, Matthew (Team Manager) and I make the decision.
6) What are the goals of the team this coming SUNI Games?
To win, of course! But, I will be prouder if we played a good standard of tennis AND won. Also since a big portion of the team will be graduating, the onus is on the younger guys to perform well. For NUS, this year’s SUNIG is a metaphorical passing-of-the-torch, really.
7) What would you like to tell the rest of the team to inspire them?
I’ve never really had to inspire my team. We’re all extremely proud to be part of TeamNUS and playing against other universities gets us pumped up.
8) What is the highest level of tennis that you have played in your career?
I’ve played junior nationals in India.
9) What would you like to tell the supporters of the NUS tennis team?
Thanks mom; Thanks dad!
10) If you could tell the supporters one thing to bring them down to support your matches, what would you say?
Ladies and gentleman, Matthew Wan will be taking his shirt off.
But seriously, Universities in the US and Europe have rich sporting traditions, so sports are a big part of their college life. Up there, if you’re not an athlete, you’re a fan. That kind of passion is somewhat absent in Singapore.
Unfortunately, I’m not sure how we could effect that sort of an atmosphere here…
11) Do you think tennis as a professional career is viable in Singapore? Why or why not?
Well, Singapore is getting to a stage where its capable of producing world class tennis players. So yeah, a career in tennis is becoming more and more viable.
I’ve never doubted that we’ve had talent in Singapore. But, we’ve lacked the amount of international exposure and physical conditioning that is necessary to become a successful pro. I remember watching a bunch of top Indian juniors play a few Chinese juniors. And I was blown away by their mental and physical toughness. They were capable of winning matches EVEN when they weren’t playing anywhere near their best. THAT is something I haven’t seen here.
But, we are definitely getting there. Its just a matter of time.
12) Who is your favorite tennis player?
Roger Federer – He can hit any shot better than anyone else.
Pete Sampras – He’s rarely given credit for being so mentally tough
Marat Safin – For a nut-job, he can play some divine tennis
13) If you could pick an animal to describe the team, what would it be?
The Bad-ass Panda: Calm and composed, but capable of whopping out some mean Kung-Fu!
Our interview with Jeremy Chong, Vice-captain of the NUS Men’s team :
1) Please kindly introduce yourself to our fellow VOXers
I’m a postgraduate student in the Philosophy department, a full-time teaching staff in the Physics department, and current vice-captain of the NUS tennis team. I do most of the day-to-day coordination and administration (and announce the occasional night-out) for the team. My experiences in tennis, while in no way glamorous, have really challenged and changed me as a person; serving the team in whatever way benefits it most is just my way of giving a little (really, just a little) back to the sport.
2) As you probably already know, NUS has always been powerhouses in the tennis scene, during the days of IVP and now during the SUNI Games, does this add pressure to the team every year and why?
The competition is different every year, and we approach it as such, so I don’t think we give ourselves more pressure on court just because of that. Some people outside the team seem to think it is a given that we will do well in the SUNI Games, and that is flattering because it speaks to our track record, but there is no such false sense of security for us because we have close matches against good players from other universities every year, and anything can happen in tennis. Winning is difficult, even though some people can make it look easy.
3) What were the results of the team the last SUNI Games and were they up to expectations?
For the last SUNI Games, there were three events for tennis: singles, doubles, and team, with the overall medal going to the winner of the most gold medals (or silver medals, in case of a three-way tie). Because we won the singles and doubles events, we were declared the overall champions in tennis — kudos to Kenneth, Marc, and Joshua for clinching the overall medal for us despite some difficult matches. We lost the team event to motivated and skillful opponents who definitely deserved to win. On the whole we were glad to have come through so well, and had a small pizza celebration.
4) As team captain, you probably have to juggle studies with leading the team, how do you manage the stress of studies and the demands of being a captain?
If my studies have been affected by anything, it’s more likely my teaching duties than anything related to the team that has done the damage. For me it comes down to proportioning my time appropriately between work, studies, and training, while not neglecting, of course, family and friends. Unfortunately, I think the latter have just seen less of me when my schedule has become tight. It is my way on relying on them because they are the ones closest to me. Isn’t that strange that when the going gets tough I might end up seeing my pillars of support less often? I don’t think they will ever read this interview unless I send it to them (but I’m shy and I won’t) but I want to acknowledge especially my long-suffering mother as well as my fiancé for their tremendous understanding.
Well, I haven’t really answered the question. Let me speak in general here and also give credit where it’s due. It’s rare, as it should be, to find a leader of any student organization whose studies are not impacted at all. Or maybe their studies aren’t impacted, but they have to sacrifice something, like clubbing or something less else important than their studies. One would hope that when push comes to shove, none of them would prioritize fun over a serious commitment.
I have a ton of help and encouragement from my teammates. Everyone is understanding, especially when my battery runs low during the week, such as after a gruelling full day of teaching. Even little things like helping me keep the balls after a long training session help a lot, and I especially appreciate it because I know my teammates have also been training hard. It’s also heartening to see how my teammates take their own tennis development seriously. For example, it has happened a few times that some of my teammates could not make it down for our regular training slot, but they made it a point to go down to the courts a few hours earlier to have a good hit. So I feel fortunate to have a team like this. Thanks to them, my burden is light.
5) Being in a varsity where there are so many captains for the team, are there any difficulties in making decisions? Why or why not?
Of course there are difficult decisions to make sometimes, but I don’t think it becomes more difficult with three persons than with one person running the team. Sometimes it can be easier.
For example, the team is preparing the lineup for the Inter-Club Singles League, and in planning the playing schedule for each week, there are a lot of factors to consider, so I am seeking Matthew’s advice on a lot of details because he’s a more experienced player and really has a great eye for detail. So you can see that we fill in for one another as needed.
6) What are the goals of the team this coming SUNI Games?
Shall I answer in haiku?
Winning would be sweet
But every victory
Brings a wrenching loss
That’s just how it is in tennis, isn’t it? Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose — there always has to be a winner, but there always has to be a loser too. Of course we want to do well, and we want to win. That’s the ostensible goal. But the real meaning in the matches is found in the process of competition. Summing up a tennis match by its result, that is, adopting the attitude that the result is all there is to the match, demeans this process. We’ll do our best, as always, but so will the other teams; no one should feel that a loss is any less meaningful than a win. It’s just, well, less cause for celebration.
7) What would you like to tell the rest of the team to inspire them?
Try to leave tennis a little better off than before you started playing it, even if it is just in a small way.
Think of all the joy and despair that tennis has brought you. At some point in their tennis careers, all serious players once shared those same emotions. And as teammates who have trained and played some difficult matches against each other, we’ve certainly shared them, at the same time, at the same place.
8) What is the highest level of tennis that you have played in your career?
This is it! I picked up tennis relatively late compared to my teammates, and I have come a long way with them.
Actually, I must say a huge thank you to Anu John, who coached me for five years after I started taking tennis seriously. He had a huge impact on me and helped me to see what tennis is all about, so whatever level I reach or ever reach in future, I would not have done it without him.
Our coach, Mr Ong Chin Chuan — whose son, incidentally, is also in NUS and in the team — has also helped me to raise my level.
9) What would you like to tell the supporters of the NUS tennis team?
Thank you!
It’s really refreshing to see that we have supporters at matches sometimes. It’s easy to be cynical about supporting local sports, but it makes a difference. I’ve read some of the articles on VOXSPORT and it’s easy to see that you are passionate about local sports. I am, too, but I guess my interest is limited to tennis. It’s also nice to see groups like VOXSPORT promoting local sports, including tennis.
We must also not forget the supporters who support us outside of matches. Our parents, who maybe put up with us coming home late because of training; our partners, who have to be understanding in a similar way; our friends, who wish us luck; and of course the school, which helps us out with balls, court bookings, and other related equipment. I guess you could say these people aren’t supporting the team per se, but rather supporting the person that they know or just performing some job role, but even support that isn’t explicitly directed at the team can still benefit it. It is up to us to be appreciative.
10) If you could tell the supporters one thing to bring them down to support your matches, what would you say?
I might consider saying `Every hour of support at a SUNI Games match is worth one CCA point.’ It would probably work. But then would the resulting support be true support?
Like I said, it’s refreshing to see that we have supporters sometimes. For example, some students came down to support us during our matches during last year’s Triennial Inter-varsity Games. I think some of them happened to be my students from my special term class, who were also tennis fans. So that was nice. If they were getting some benefit for showing up at our matches then I might wonder if they were really there for the matches, or just to get points. But as things are, when people turn up to support, you know they are really there to support you. So all in all I wouldn’t change a thing.
Except maybe that I would like them to make more noise in between points. Supporters here are just so quiet!
11) Do you think tennis as a professional career is viable in Singapore? Why or why not?
It is viable! A lot of people, from my informal surveys, seem to think it isn’t, but that’s just because it hasn’t happened yet. It doesn’t mean it will never happen. If we could produce just one high-profile pro player, it would ignite a lot of interest in tennis, and then we would see a new wave of successful tennis players emerge from our little island.
Tennis lessons and equipment aren’t cheap, and the higher level one aspires to, the more time and money one needs to sink into the endeavour. At the moment it doesn’t look like our junior programmes have been as successful as those in some other countries, and I should clarify that I don’t take this observation to reflect badly on the STA or any of our sporting bodies. I’ll let the real experts decide just why this is so, but I think most would agree that whatever changes are needed — be they more exposure to international tournaments; training programmes at academies with proven track records; professional fitness trainers and nutritionists; or former-pros-turned coaches — a lot of money will be needed to implement those changes. So it looks like a Catch-22 situation: funding comes more easily to proven athletes, but it is difficult to produce such an athlete without funding.
There are other factors, of course, but from the point of view of the training systems in place, I think the lack of funding is a major limitation. It would take cooperation and commitment from all committed parties to overcome this.
12) Who is your favorite tennis player?
I’m glad you asked! I would like to take this opportunity to clarify that contrary to popular belief, I do not have an altar dedicated to Roger Federer. But it’s true that Federer is my favourite tennis player, and quite possibly my favourite person-I-do-not-know. I once got quite giddy watching him play an exhibition match in Kuala Lumpur: were I Reed Richards, I could have reached out and touched him! Anyway, none of my pictures from that match came out well. I have been told it is because I didn’t know how to use the manual focus, but I have convinced myself it is because some otherworldly things are just not meant to be recorded by mere human tools.
Okay, I exaggerate. Slightly. As much as I like Federer’s game, especially when he pulls off one of those performances that tennis journalists breathlessly describe as `full-flight Federer’, it is the way he carries himself off court that truly earns my respect. Much has been said about Federer’s dignified bearing, so I won’t go into that here. But there you go. Final answer, Federer. Lock it in!
13) If you could pick an animal to describe the team, what would it be?
Kittens. I like kittens, and this is my favourite team. Our friendly contests are like play-fighting: we’re having fun, but we’re also honing our skills to take over the world.
Our interview with Tamsyn Tong, Vice – captain of the Women’s team :
1) Its good to interview you again Tamsyn and that you’re now vice-captain of the NUS tennis team, for the sake of our fellow VOXers, do introduce yourself again
Hello again! Yes its great to be interviewed again, glad to be of interviewable quality :D anyways, my name’s Tamsyn Tong and I’ve been playing tennis since I was 8yrs old. I’m currently in NUS FASS doing Economics and am already in my second yr. However, I’m actually not the captain of the NUS ladies tennis team, I’m merely the manager.
2) As you probably already know, NUS has always been powerhouses in the tennis scene, during the days of IVP and now during the SUNI Games, does this add pressure to the team every year and why?
Nope, we do not feel pressured at all because we just do our best and try to field our better players for every match so as to maximise our chances of winning. But this is often not possible due to our busy schedules. Perhaps the line up just plays to our favour!
3) What were the results of the team the last SUNI Games and were they up to expectations?
Being yr2, I’ve participated in SUNIG twice and we won both times. Yes, of course they were up to expectations, maybe even exceeding expectations!
4) As team captain, you probably have to juggle studies with leading the team, how do you manage the stress of studies and the demands of being a captain?
Again, I would like to reiterate that I’m not the team captain. Our captain is away on exchange and so my vice captain and I share the workload, thankfully it isn’t that much. But yes, it’s quite a feat balancing studies and tennis, and I believe I speak for my vice cap as well. I’m glad our team doesn’t need that much extra guidance when it comes to tennis so that eases our job and we just have to keep them in the loop regarding admin affairs.
5) What are the goals of the team this coming SUNI Games?
Of course, we do want to retain our champion title for as many yrs as possible but with the greater and more intense competition from other unis, this might be a larger challenge in yrs to come.
6) What would you like to tell the rest of the team to inspire them?
Inspire.. Hmm, I would just like to tell everyone to have fun with the sport. Be there to support your team whenever you can, even if you might not be fielded for that one tie. I’m happy to say that my vice cap does provide great moral support for the team!
7) Do you think that being an ex-national player adds additional pressure on you to deliver results?
Yes, definitely! Everyone expects me to win my match but they don’t realise that the Tamsyn now is so much rustier than the national player Tamsyn.
8) What would you like to tell the supporters of the NUS tennis team?
Yay for supporting us and pls continue to do so! We need it:)
9) If you could tell the supporters one thing to bring them down to support your matches, what would you say?
Tennis players are rumoured to be hot, come down to conclude for yourself! :D
10) Who is your favorite tennis player?
Andre Agassi (but he has already retired)
11) If you could pick an animal to describe the team, what would it be?
Gosh, an animal.. I really don’t know, I don’t really fancy animals. Hmm, we’re a team that isn’t that close but we still do succeed in coming together when needed!
Our interview with Satvik below :
1) Please kindly introduce yourself to our VOXers
Hi, I’m Satvik Singhania, a second year international student from India. I am studying Economics at SMU. I love playing tennis and have been playing ever since I was 10 yrs old. My other hobbies are watching movies and playing sports ( mainly badminton, table tennis and football ).
2) SMU has been performing quite well in the past few years, do tell us how the team keeps up its competitiveness despite hectic school schedule
SMU has been consistently performing better each year and its all due to the dedication of the players and the support of the school. Everyone in the team is very passionate about tennis and they are always striving to improve. Plus I guess competitiveness is something that comes from within players which can be seen every time they hit the courts.
3) What were the results of the team in 2009 and were they up to expectation?
In the SUNI games 2009 we came in 2nd overall. We won gold in the men’s team and the women’s individual event. Last year we had aimed at coming first overall so we fell just short of our expectation, but it was still an improvement and we were happy with the results.
4) As team captain, you probably have to juggle studies with leading the team, how do you manage the stress of studies and the demands of being a captain?
Being Captain definitely comes with its set of responsibilities and is a little time consuming but it’s not that hard to manage mainly due to the support I have from the entire team. Every member of the team is very dedicated about training and so they make my job much easier.
5) What are the goals set forth by the team this coming SUNI Games 2010 season?
We want our tennis standards to improve significantly by the time of the SUNI Games 2010 and win overall gold this time, winning as many individual and team events as we can on the way. We know we have the capability and dedication required to achieve this.
6) What would you like to tell all supporters of the SMU tennis team?
I would like to first and foremost thank all our supporters for standing by us and cheering us on. It would be difficult for us to achieve all that we have till now without your support. We promise to improve even more this coming SUNI Games, so continue showing your support.
7) Who is your favorite tennis player?
Rafael Nadal. This guy impresses me every time he hits the courts. He enters the court running and leaves the court running. He never gives up and has the spirit of a true warrior on court, fighting for every point. In every match of his you can see his dedication and will to win. Its really inspiring.
8) On a lighter side of things, if you could choose one animal to describe the SMU tennis team, what would it be and why?
Giraffe. Head and Shoulders above the rest. LOL.
Our interview with Ida below :
1) Please kindly introduce yourself to our VOXers
Hi! I’m Ida, a 2nd year student majoring in Economics and Finance at the Singapore Management University. I have been playing tennis for many years now, and cannot imagine ever stopping for good. Therefore, I am cherishing my years with SMU Tennis as much as I possibly can.
2) SMU has been performing quite well in the past few years, do tell us how the team keeps up its competitiveness despite hectic school schedule
We do ensure we have regular training sessions which also incorporates physical conditioning to ensure the team maintains its fitness and competitive edge. As and when possible, we do have training trips during school breaks to help provide us with match exposure and also foster team bonding.
3) What were the results of the team in 2009 and were they up to expectation?
Our Men’s and Ladies’ teams were Champions and 2nd runners up in the SuniG team event respectively. We also participated in the biannual Indian Rim Asian University Games in Perth, and both team came in 2nd runners up in their respective categories. The entire team was dedicated towards preparing for both events, and this was reflected in our results. However, there is always room for improvement and we definitely have potential to improve on last year’s results.
4) As team captain, you probably have to juggle studies with leading the team, how do you manage the stress of studies and the demands of being a captain?
Being close to my team definitely ensures being a captain is nowhere near being a chore. Additionally, having an efficient exco allows effective delegation and support when needed. No one person can be credited for leading a team alone. Apart from that, ensuring I stay on top of all my responsibilities and no backlog is accumulated helps keep me up to speed.
5) What are the goals set forth by the team this coming SUNI Games 2010 season?
We are definitely looking on improving on our showing at SUNI Games this year, both in the individual and team events. Hopefully, our players would also be able to play their personal best at all their matches and exhibit great sportsmanship and determination.
6) What would you like to tell all supporters of the SMU tennis team?
Your support for us is much appreciated and has definitely helped reaffirm that we’re never alone when on court!
7)Who is your favorite tennis player?
Justine Henin. Her comeback couldn’t be more timely, given the lack of consistent top female players on the scene at the moment.
8) On a lighter side of things, if you could choose one animal to describe the SMU tennis team, what would it be and why?
A lion, because our of tenacity, undying fighting spirit on the court and thirst for success.
Check out our interview with Richie below :
1) Please kindly introduce yourself to our VOXers
My name’s Richie Ong, Captain of the SIM Tennis Team, currently doing a bachelors degree in banking and finance by SIM-UOL. I have been playing tennis since 4 years old and have not stopped since.
2) There were quite a few close matches last year in the SUNI Games with the other varsities; do you think the standard of varsity tennis has improved over the years?
Yeah, there were a lot of close matches last year during the games. Even the final was won by just 1 game if I remembered correctly. The standard of tennis has definitely improved over the years and I believe this is due to more foreigners joining the universities here which have the local standard a boost .
3) What were the results of the team this year and were they up to expectation?
For the individual event we clinched 3rd for doubles and I came in 2nd for the singles event. As for the team event we came in 3rd for the first time after consistently topping the group from the bottom. Well I think the team did brilliantly considering the fact that we only won 1 medal in the individual event last year and “topping” the group event so hats off to the players.
4) As team captain, you probably have to juggle studies with leading the team, how do you manage the stress of studies and the demands of being a captain?
I guess time management is very important and setting your priorities right and just work from there. I think it’s easier for my team and I since the SUNIG games are all after our exams so during exam period, so we’ll give the team a break from tennis to work on their studies.
5) What are the goals set forth by the team this coming SUNI Games 2010 season?
Well I hope that we can either be on par with the results of last year or maybe even top that.
6) What would you like to tell all supporters of the SIM tennis team?
We are very fortunate to have support from the school and friends and my team would like to thank all those who have been supporting us throughout the years and please continue staying us through thick and thin.
7) Who is your favorite tennis player?
For the men’s it would have to be Rafa Nadal since my style of tennis is almost similar to his and some people said I look like him when I use to have long hair. For the Ladies’ definitely Gisela Dulko, cause she’s HOT haha.
8) On a lighter side of things, if you could choose one animal to describe the SIM tennis team, what would it be and why?
Hmmm is the Merlion considered an animal? Haha Well our team is like the Merlion since it is made up of different universities coming together to form the team which makes us unique compared to the other uni’s. Also we are as sexy as a mermaid out of court but fierce like a lion on court. Haha.
Our interview with Glady’s below :
1) Please kindly introduce yourself to our VOXers
Hi, I am Gladys Chia. First year student with the SIM-UOL bachelor of economics programme and also Captain of the SIM girls team
2) There were quite a few close matches last year in the SUNI Games with the other varsities, do you think the standard of varsity tennis has improved over the years?
Definitely! The level of tennis at university level has proven to be more challenging every year. Tennis has become more popular these days and it isn’t surprising that the pools of talent players are constantly increasing.
3) What were the results of the team this year and were they up to expectation?
The girls team managed to get an individual bronze and came in 4th in the team events. Its pretty good work since we had barely 2 months to prepare for the tournament.
4) As team captain, you probably have to juggle studies with leading the team, how do you manage the stress of studies and the demands of being a captain?
It is pretty difficult sometimes finding the energy to commit to the team and trying to juggle family and studies, but I have great teammates, which makes it easier. The team has been very cooperative and helpful. If there should be any events to be organized, the work is usually distributed. Everyone plays a small role, so I don’t feel too taxed on the workload.
5) What are the goals set forth by the team this coming SUNI Games 2010 season?
We’d like to try and get both a medal in the individual and team events
6) What would you like to tell all supporters of the SIM tennis team?
Thank you for supporting the team and please continue to support us in the upcoming 10/11 SUNI Games!
7) Who is your favorite tennis player?
Justine Henin! Proves that size doesn’t matter to play awesome tennis.
8) On a lighter side of things, if you could choose one animal to describe the SIM tennis team, what would it be and why?
Monkeys! We a bunch of jokers when we get together, and we cant stop having fun.
We recently interviewed the tennis captains for Nanyang Technological University and put them in a little bit of a spot. We also quizzed them rating their chances for this year’s upcoming SUNI Games.
Read their interviews below for a better idea of what was discussed :
Interview with Lee Junyan (Incoming Men’s Captain 2010/2011 season) :
1) Please kindly introduce yourself to our readers
Hi, I’m Lee Jun Yan, a first year student at Nanyang Business School and I have just been appointed the captain of the NTU Men’s Tennis team.
2) How do you feel being the Captain of a team while you’re only in your first year? How do you handle the older players?
I was pretty shocked and nervous when my captain first told me that I would take over for him. Especially since I was only a first year and didn’t know the rest of the team that well yet or what the duties that a captain of the team had to perform. But I managed to overcome the initial nervousness thanks to the encouragement of the previous captain and my teammates.
Having held the captain position for just under a month now, I’m not too worried about the handling the older players or the rest of the team for that matter. My teammates are all really passionate and hardworking during training, so I don’t have to do that much in terms of the actual leading during training. Rather, I guess I’m more of a facilitator, keeping the rest up to date on upcoming events and such.
3) Has being Captain of the team increased your passion for the game?
Well, it has definitely renewed my passion for the game. Before I entered uni, I wasn’t sure if I was going to continue to play tennis, as many of my friends had already hung up their rackets. However, I’m glad I stuck to it as I realised the joy of playing tennis was still there and now I have the extra motivation of seeing the team do well as the captain.
4) What are some of your notable achievements in tennis?
Hmmm, some of my more notable achievements were attaining 3 top-2 finishes in the National Inter-School Tennis Tournament during my secondary school life. More recently was achieving a second place in the Tennis team event for the Singapore University Games. These were the more memorable ones to me as they were all team events that required a team effort. The tough training together has allowed me to make many good friends, making winning as a team even more sweet. This is something that can’t be replicated by participating in individual tournaments.
5) As you probably know, the tennis team has performed quite well in recent years, how do you intend to keep this level up?
We have a very knowledgeable coach, who knows each of our strengths and weaknesses. So under his guidance, I’m confident that we will continue to maintain that level of performance, if not surpass it. My main concern is to enable the players to benefit from his tutelage by ensuring that they come down for the training sessions as whenever possible.
6) What do you think is necessary to lead a team of young adults who have to balance their academics and sports at the same time?
A lot of understanding and patience. For all of us, our main priority will always be our studies and at the university level, it is extremely hard to give 100% of our attention to just tennis. So there times when a player is unable to come for training for period of time, due to projects or others reasons. I have to understand that this is just the way it is. But it isn’t a major issue as I know that the next time they come down, they would put in extra effort to make up for the lost time.
7) What are some of the challenges you are currently facing as Captain of the team?
One of the unique aspects of the NTU tennis team, is that we tend to get a few foreign/exchange players every year. So one of the challenges I face is ensuring that the whole team is cohesive as one unit and that those foreign players don’t feel left out. Another challenge I facing is that being appointed as the captain in only my first year, there are somethings that I’m unsure about or have totally no clue of. But the team’s sport secretary, coach and seniors have been great in guiding me through it, so it hasn’t been too much of a problem.
8) As the new incoming Captain, what would you like to say to the members of the team?
Guys, you all been great so far. I’m stilling learning the ropes, but I hope to be as good a captain as Warrick (the previous captain) was to us.
9) On the same note, what would you like to tell all the NTU / Varsity tennis fans out there?
Please continue to support and look out for the NTU tennis team for the 10/11 season! We have many new talented players that have joined us, as well as gifted returning members. So expect to see high level tennis from us as we make a name for ourself during the next Uni Games.
10) Who is your favorite tennis player?
I would like to say Roger Federer, but that sounds like too easy an answer. So I’ll go with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Why? Because I like his energetic and aggressive style of play. And he’s a great showman, so its always interesting to watch him play.
11) On a lighter end note, if you were asked to pick one animal to describe the tennis team, which would it be?
Haha interesting questions. If I had to pick one, it would have to be Meerkat. I once saw a National Geographic Channel special on the Meerkat, and it mentioned how they demonstrate altruistic behavior within their colonies. Similar, I think the NTU tennis team has the same team spirit/bond within the group, always looking out for each other and giving a helping hand whenever needed. Hopefully under my captaincy, we will continue this culture.
Interview with Warrick Tan (Outgoing Men’s Captain 2009/2010 season) :
1) Please kindly introduce yourself to our readers
I’m a final year mechanical engineering undergraduate in NTU and 2010 would be my fourth year in the tennis team. I enjoy engaging in various sports, reading, traveling and trying anything new. Of all these hobbies, tennis takes up most of the time simply because i particularly enjoy it.
2) How long have you been the captain of the NTU Tennis Team?
From 2007 to 2009. About 3 years.
3) Has being Captain of the team increased your passion for the game?
That is a difficult question. There are many reasons why I enjoy tennis: It is engaging; gives you a good workout; I can identify myself closely to it etc. Being captain had given me the opportunity to gel closer to my fellow team mates which increased my attachment to them, and in a way, to tennis as well. So well, you can say that being captain had somehow increased my attachment to the sport.
4) What are the most memorable moments of being at the helm of the team?
Some of the most memorable moments we had were: the times we struggled during tough training sessions; the tennis trips to Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur; the special occasions (tennis marathon, welcome gatherings, farewell gatherings, Chinese New Year gatherings, Christmas gatherings) that we shared together as a team; all the little moments we shared on and off the tennis court. All these memories were special because every one displayed their own uniqueness while sharing a strong common interest.
5) According to our records, the team has performed quite well in the past SUNI Games, starting in 200, just as you became the Captain. What do you think are the important factors that allowed the tennis team to achieve the results that they did?
I think one of the most important factors lie deep within each player – the will to strive and achieve greater heights. Coupled with team spirit and dedication, it was very endearing to see everyone improving and developing their tennis through the years of practice and matches.
6) What do you think is necessary to lead a team of young adults who have to balance their academics and sports at the same time?
That is another difficult question. I would say that instilling a sense of responsibility in each of the team members helps to keep the team alive. Each of the players should feel that they can to contribute to the team (E.g. Keeping others motivated or improving the playing standard). The team comprises of players from different backgrounds, personalities and interests. As such, it is very difficult to stay committed to the team if they feel that they are not a part of it.
7) What are some of the challenges you faced while you were Captain?
Well, I would say one of the greatest challenges I faced was finding a balance between my family, studies and the team. I am glad that I have the support of my family who never objected me to participate actively in the team. In NTU, I have found that the tennis team is my family – where we look out for each other and keep each others’ spirits lifted.
8) As the outgoing Captain, what would you like to say to the remaining members of the team?
Keep an open mind in all that you do – both on and off the tennis court. Part of the beauty in life lies within its waywardness that we can never truly expect what can happen in future. Keep giving yourself the chance to learn, explore and discover – you never know what lies beyond. Cherish every opportunity to learn and every moment to be happy about.
9) On the same note, what would you like to tell all the NTU / Varsity tennis fans out there?
Keep striving and smiling. Do what you think makes you feel good about yourself and the people around you.
10) Who is your favorite tennis player?
Michael Chang! I enjoy watching his tenacity on the court and he is role model to tennis fans who feel that they are not gifted enough for the sport.
11) On a lighter end note, if you were asked to pick one animal to describe the tennis team, which would it be?
Maybe a monkey? A monkey likes to be curious and find new ways of enjoyment. The team is so dynamic that you won’t know what to expect – which brings about the fun and laughter.
Interview with Steffi Goh (Acting Women’s Captain 2010/2011 season) :
1) Please kindly introduce yourself to our readers
Hi all! I’m Steffi, a Year 1 Economics student in Nanyang Technological University. I have been playing tennis since young, and enjoying it, thus my participation in NTU Tennis Team.
2) How long have you been the acting captain of the NTU Tennis Team?
I have only been appointed the acting captain of the NTU Tennis Girls’ Team recently this semester.
3) Has being the acting Captain of the team increased your passion for the game?
It has made me more confident of my performance on court as well as off court, and that definitely increases my passion for tennis.
4) What are the most memorable moments of being at the helm of the team despite your short tenure?
The support that the team has given me, as witnessed in the coordination and effort made for our teammates’ birthday celebrations, have been most memorable.
5) According to our records, the team has performed quite well in the past SUNI Games, what do you think the team can do more to keep up the high standard?
The team can strengthen itself within – such as enhancing the team spirit, forging closer bond among ourselves. This will boost the team morale, and encourage passion not only for the game but also for the team.
6) What do you think is necessary to lead a team of young adults who have to balance their academics and sports at the same time?
Being their fellow schoolmate and teammate, it is essential to possess understanding of the need to balance both work and play. Also, to support the leadership role given, it is important to portray the same, if not higher, level of commitment and attitude to both academics and sports.
7) What are some of the challenges that you face as a player?
I would say that mental strength is challenging to me as a player. One can get physically strong after sessions of training, but the mind does not toughen up as easily.
8) As the current acting Captain, what is your advice to the team?
Train hard, play smart. But most of all, enjoy your game.
9) On the same note, what would you like to tell all the NTU / Varsity tennis fans out there?
Thank you to all those who have supported us, especially during the crucial matches in SUNIG! Do hope to keep more of you guys in this year’s upcoming SUNIG!
10) Who is your favorite tennis player?
Justine Henin, for her mental toughness and beautiful play.
11) On a lighter end note, if you were asked to pick one animal to describe the tennis team, which would it be?
A wolf, for when we come together, we work as a ‘pack of wolves’ towards a similar target.
To begin with, it was truly heart-warming to see the Singaporean team of Yao Lei and Shinta Mulia Sari clinch our first ever Super Series title in 20 years. When I was there, the atmosphere was electrifying and for once in a long while, I truly believe that Singapore sports is moving the right way and most importantly, we are moving forward. Many will argue that Yao and Shinta are hardly Singaporean in nature as one is a China native and the other from Indonesia. I beg to differ as they donned our Singapore flag nonetheless and competed with their hearts and a mental strength not seen in many Singaporean athletes in the recent past. We’ve started a glorious run by winning the World table tennis championships, beating the world champions China in their own domain. Today, we saw a new era of sporting excellence as we fought, clawed, shed tears and shed blood for the nation we so truly love and have come to call our home. After 20 long years, the Republic is once again placing ourselves in the global sporting arena as a force to be reckoned with.
Beautifully crafted and to the point, this article aims to inspire and challenge our young local athletes in becoming professional athletes. Read more to find out!
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