17
August
2017
|
14:00
Asia/Singapore

Good luck, NUS athletes!

Some forty NUS students and alumni will be representing the nation at two major sporting events from 19 August to 30 August. 29 of NUS’ finest athletes are headed for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for the 29th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games), joining Singapore’s largest away contingent of 569 athletes. Another 17 are competing at the 29th Summer Universiade, more popularly known as the World University Games, in Taipei, Taiwan.

The NUS athletes will pit their skills against the best from around the world in a host of sporting events including diving, fencing, rugby and squash, while NUS alumna and decorated shooter Jasmine Ser will be the flag bearer for the Singapore contingent at the SEA Games.

As athletes, we train all year round to be the best versions of ourselves when it counts.

NUS Medicine Year 4 student and national track and field athlete Ang Chen Xiang, who recently broke his own national record in the men’s 110m hurdles event at the Thailand Open on 12 June, hopes to beat his personal best at the SEA Games.

“As athletes, we train all year round to be the best versions of ourselves when it counts. With 10 barriers at 1.067m high in my way, there is little room for error and my focus is always on sprinting over the hurdles as fast as possible,” shares Chen Xiang.

6-WaterPolo.jpg

Cleona (5th from left), NUS Law alumna Melissa Ooi (8th from left) and the women's water polo team huddle before their first match in Kuala Lumpur on 15 August (Photo: Singapore Swimming Association)

NUS Business Year 2 student Cleona Zhu is part of the Singapore water polo women’s team. A love for water sports flows in her, and she started out as a synchronised swimmer before taking up water polo.

“I am hoping to translate whatever hard work I have put in and the sacrifices I’ve made thus far into my performance during the Games. As a debutant, a specific target for me is to gain greater international exposure and game experience through this SEA Games,” said Cleona.

“As a team, we are really hoping to get back the Gold we had narrowly lost out to Thailand two years ago,” she added. The Singapore water polo women’s team kicked off their SEA Games campaign on 15 August with a narrow win of 7-6 against Indonesia. They played against host Malaysia on 16 August and will meet the Thai team on 19 August.

5-EmilySin.jpg

Emily Sin competing in the 2015 SEA Games that was held in Singapore (Photo: Reuters)

Wushu exponent Emily Sin, who recently graduated from NUS Engineering, is no stranger to the SEA Games having competed and won medals since 2011. She will be giving her all in this edition, competing in nanquan, nandao and nan gun events.

In fact, she will be pulling double duty and flying off on 24 August after her SEA Games events to also compete at the Summer Universiade. Emily said, “I am lucky that I’m competing in the same events for both competitions so I am able to prioritise SEA Games and simultaneously prepare for the Summer Universiade. The main challenge would be resetting my mental and physical states back to an optimal level for Summer Universiade because I am used to going into complete relaxation, especially after intense competitions like the SEA Games.”

Summing up what it means to be part of Team Singapore, final year NUS Accountancy student and rugby player Nicholas Yau said, “To represent Singapore is a top honour, and I get to represent friends and family out on the field.”

The NUS community wishes our NUS athletes all the best and good luck! Find out more on the list of NUS athletes participating in these international events here.