Sports often have gendered connotations in our society and culture, with those that demonstrate strength and power, such as football and basketball, labelled as ‘masculine’, while aesthetic sports, such as figure skating, are feminised. These gender stereotypes have also long influenced our choices in what sport to pursue.

But some teams and athletes at NUS are changing the game by embracing the sports they are truly passionate about, promoting equal and inclusive participation across genders and enriching our campus culture.

Foo Jing Ning Joy: At the top of her game

Joy, a Year 3 Computer Science student at NUS School of Computing, played touch rugby throughout her Junior College (JC) years. At each practice, she would glance across the training field where a women’s rugby team practiced and was drawn by the adrenaline-fuelled gameplay and team camaraderie of the sister sport.

“There is no girls’ rugby (team) in schools here throughout primary school to JC,” explained Joy, who took the first opportunity she got as a freshman in October 2022 to join NUS Women’s Rugby.

“Unlike in touch rugby where you must stop each time you get touched, rugby allows you to keep advancing towards the try line^[1] if you can outmanoeuvre the defenders on the opposing team,” said Joy, explaining the key difference between the two games. “That sense of liberation that comes with breaking through the defence and running towards the try line with the ball in tow, knowing you are going to score, is simply the best part about playing rugby,” she added.

According to Joy, her background in touch rugby has helped fast-track her progression in the full-contact sport. In less than a year, Joy’s performance on the field caught the attention of Singapore’s national team coach and she was invited to train with the national training squad. If selected to play in the national team, Joy will join the ranks of a select group of NUS Women’s Rugby players to represent Singapore.

Apart from developing herself as a player, joining NUS Women’s Rugby has given Joy the opportunity to hone her leadership skills, first as team manager and now as team captain. With the support of her Executive Committee, Joy coordinates training sessions and ensures her teammates are present and ready to give their 100 per cent. If team morale is low, Joy takes it upon herself to boost their spirits. “At times, it can be difficult to balance responsibilities and having fun with the team. That is a skill I’m learning to master,” she said.

“When people hear that I play contact rugby, they are often surprised because they assume contact rugby is for men and touch rugby is for women. They have the impression that contact rugby is a dangerous and aggressive sport,” said Joy. While every sport has an inherent risk of getting injured, she believes that these injuries can be mitigated through form, technique and focusing on proper recovery each time.

“Once you start playing rugby and experience the different roles on the field, you realise that it’s quite a craft that can be perfected. We have lines that we play, and plays that we can execute, and these plays can be practiced into perfection – much like an art form,” she said.

Joy and her NUS Women’s Rugby teammates are eager to introduce the sport to more girls. “To join us, there are no prerequisites. We train all our players in technique; you just need to come with the drive to want to play and be daring to make the tackle and be tackled.”

As a rugby player and a Computer Science major, Joy’s resilience and determination isn’t just challenging gender stereotypes in sports, but also in ‘tech’. Off the field, Joy dabbles in web application development projects and is exploring ways in which Artificial Intelligence can be used to improve daily functions in life.

Muhammad Asyraf Bin Abdul Mutaliff: Discovering a new form of athletic expression

Asyraf, a final-year Political Science major at the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences is captain and a male base of NUS Alpha Verve Cheerleading.

His venture into the sport began rather serendipitously, during his freshman year at NUS, after watching a Netflix documentary that highlighted the athleticism and artistry involved in cheerleading. Seeing that NUS had a cheerleading team, Asyraf decided to step out of his comfort zone and give it a try, pivoting from soccer, his sport of choice throughout his youth.

"Cheerleading is an interesting sport that tests your physical, mental, and emotional endurance," Asyraf explained. “It requires not only strength but also precise coordination, trust, and communication among team members.” As a male base—a pivotal role in lifting and supporting the flyers during stunts—Asyraf brings his soccer-honed strength to the team, allowing for impressive partner stunts and acrobatics.

The journey into cheerleading wasn't without its challenges. With no prior experience before university, Asyraf had to adapt quickly to the rigorous training schedule of three times a week, along with additional gym sessions focused on exercises that translate into cheerleading stunts such as shoulder presses and squats. "It's a sport where you have to give your 100 per cent in everything," he said, reflecting on the demanding nature of practices to put together a 24-man, 2-minute, 50-second routine packed with synchronised movements, pyramids, and acrobatics.

Beyond the physical demands, Asyraf values the tight-knit community and friendships fostered through cheerleading. Team activities like bonding suppers and events like Cheer Mania, where different university teams come together, are highlights of his university experience. "It has really shaped my time here at NUS," Asyraf said, emphasising how cheerleading has enriched his university life beyond academics.

As team captain, Asyraf takes on additional responsibilities, ensuring the team's safety during training and orchestrating routines that highlight their strengths. Looking ahead, his main goal is to lead Alpha Verve to gold at the upcoming Nationals, a testament to his dedication and leadership within the team.

Outside of cheerleading, Asyraf maintains a rigorous academic schedule, balancing his passion for political science with his athletic pursuits. He plans to pursue a Master's degree after graduation, aiming to further his knowledge in public policy or administration.

Reflecting on his journey so far, Asyraf hopes to inspire others to get past stereotypes and pursue their passions wholeheartedly. "Cheerleading is a sport open to anyone willing to take the leap,” said Asyraf, proving that true strength lies not just in physical prowess, but in the courage to pursue one's passions against the odds.

As a fun fact, he shared that NUS Alpha Verve Cheerleading now has its first male flyer, a role previously reserved for females, further promoting equal participation in the sport.

This story is part one of a two-part series on NUS athletes who are challenging traditional gender stereotypes in sports and showcasing their remarkable talents, promoting equal participation and fostering a sense of inclusivity centred around sports.

This article is the first in a two-part series on Breaking Stereotypes. Read Part 2 here.

^[1] In rugby, there are two solid try lines at either end of the pitch. To score, a player must carry the ball over the try line and touch it on the ground within the in-goal area.

A transformative experience for everyone

Student life is an integral part of a holistic NUS education, with sports playing a crucial role in enriching the overall journey. Participation in the AUG certainly provides a wealth of sports opportunities, but it also offers a unique transformative experience for our NUS athletes.

Assistant Dean of Students Dr Kristy Fu, who attended the Games during the first week, said, “Our students faced challenges such as competing in diverse national teams alongside players from various institutes, navigating home crowd pressures in Indonesia, and adapting to environmental challenges like weather changes, different playing grounds, and limited equipment.” Dr Fu continued, “Through competing with their ASEAN sports counterparts, our students come to embrace inclusiveness and diversity while staying competitive and upholding personal and team excellence, as well as national pride.”

Dr Fu also highlighted the valuable learning opportunities for NUS staff at the AUG. For example, the NUS Office of Student Affairs Sports Section served as Sports Team Managers and Officials at the AUG, supporting the Singapore contingent and the ASEAN University Sports Council (AUSC). They learnt to collaborate with teams from other local and regional universities and schools to ensure that student-athletes were supported and inspired throughout the competition.

The power of belief and tenacity

For TeamNUS swimmer Nicholas Cheong, the men’s breaststroke 50m was the highlight of the AUG. He explained, “My brother—my idol and source of inspiration—won the event with a meet record at the last AUG, so it provided extra motivation for me to match his achievement.” Nicholas' brother is former Singapore national swimmer and NUS alumnus Christopher Cheong.

However, last November, the Year 2 NUS Business School undergraduate suffered a wrist fracture, breaking both his scaphoid and radius. Despite a typical recovery time of 6 to 9 months threatening his participation in the AUG, he displayed remarkable tenacity and committed fully to his rehabilitation. His dedication paid off with a stunning 28.96 seconds in the men’s 50m breaststroke, earning him a silver medal!

“Considering the rollercoaster of events over the past eight months, winning silver and going sub-29 seconds for only the fourth time in my life feels nothing short of miraculous. It is truly a testament to the power of belief and tenacity in achieving the unimaginable,” Nicholas shared. “I’m grateful for the results and hope to apply the lessons learnt in my next competition!"

Facing uncertainty and adapting

TeamNUS Silat exponent Nurul Irbah was one of NUS' top female competitors at last year's Tertiary Silat Championship in Singapore. However, recent rule changes for the sport at this AUG brought some uncertainty. “It’s my first international competition in five years, and I had to learn and adapt to many new techniques and gameplay styles,” she explained. Adding to that was the challenge of balancing studies and training as a Year 3 Faculty of Science student, which motivated her to improve her time management and efficiency in both school and sports.

Nevertheless, Irbah excelled, winning the AUG Women's Class A category, and securing a gold medal for Singapore in a thrilling finale against her Indonesian opponent. Her mother, Mdm Norrazlin Hamim, said, “This competition is the pinnacle of Irbah’s Silat journey and I am beyond ecstatic that she has come this far. I am so proud of her!”

Still, the former NUS Silat captain remembers her teammates back home. She said, “Participating in this AUG allowed me to learn from athletes from other countries, and I hope to bring these new techniques and strategies back to my NUS Silat team. I also hope to inspire the current members to strive for the chance to represent Singapore in the next AUG.”

One final hurrah

This AUG marked a significant achievement for the Singapore men’s volleyball team, which secured a medal for the first time in a competition featuring an expanded field of more than three teams. In the bronze medal match against Malaysia, TeamNUS volleyball player Ajay Singh Shergill was the top scorer, earning 17 points for Singapore across four hard-fought sets. “Winning the bronze medal means so much to the team and me,” Ajay shared. “I hope this inspires the next generation of volleyball players to believe we can achieve even greater things on the international stage.”

Currently pursuing a double major in Psychology and Business Management at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, the Year 3 undergraduate also revealed that this AUG will be his final international competition. “It’s a bittersweet moment for me but it’s a fitting way to retire,” shared the veteran, who started playing volleyball in primary school and has represented the National Team since 2015.

But this is not the end of Ajay's journey with volleyball. In 2023, he became a registered, qualified volleyball coach and is now coaching at two primary schools and two open category teams. “What I loved most about the sport were the values that it instilled in me,” he reflected. “When I started playing volleyball, it showed me that when I worked hard at something, I could achieve it, and that gave me confidence in other areas as well.”

“That’s why I believe it’s important for young kids to play sports and develop these attitudes and values,” Ajay emphasised.

Friendship over sport

TeamNUS Taekwondo exponent Valerie Kang clinched Singapore’s second-ever Taekwondo gold medal in the history of the AUG. “I was in shock and disbelief, especially since this was my first AUG and I hadn’t expected to win,” the Year 2 Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences undergraduate exclaimed. “It’s really the support and encouragement from my coaches, family, and friends that made this possible, and I’m immensely proud to have represented Singapore and NUS.”

Valerie also reconnected with her Vietnamese counterpart, Le Ngoc Han from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and Finance. The two had met briefly last year at another competition and connected on Instagram. They had agreed to try and meet at the next international event, which turned out to be this AUG. “It was a truly heartfelt moment! I am glad we kept our promise and finally had a chance to converse, despite the language barrier. I am really looking forward to seeing our progress in future competitions!”

Supporting the AUG

NUS Office of Student Affairs Head of Sports, Mahrunisa Fathiyah, is no stranger to the AUG, having taken part in seven editions. She has held team manager roles for various sports over the years: Tennis in Chiang Mai (2010), Silat in Laos (2012), Wushu in Palembang (2014), Athletics in Nay Pi Taw (2018), and Fencing in Ubon Ratchathani (2022). In 2016, when Singapore hosted the AUG in NUS, she served as the secretariat of the organising committee and team manager for Water Polo.

This AUG marks her first time serving on the AUSC Technical Committee for the games. The committee’s role was to ensure that the technical aspects of the games ran smoothly and met all necessary standards.

Additionally, she oversaw the accreditation process for the event, coordinating with local volunteers to manage over 2,000 athletes and officials. “This experience has been both challenging and rewarding, and I was fortunate to work alongside dedicated colleagues from both the AUSC and the organising committee,” she said.

A Team Manager’s experience

At the AUG, a Team Manager’s roles are crucial. For NUS Sports Manager Farhana Rosli, it is all about providing the best support for the student-athletes under her charge, so they are ready to compete to their fullest.

She shared some of her responsibilities: “We cheer them on during their matches, ensure that all administrative and logistical requirements are prepared in advance, and most importantly, take care of the team’s well-being.”

Her Singapore tennis team’s well-being took centre stage as they faced Surabaya's scorching weather and a packed competition schedule from early morning till late at night. As every player gave their all for Singapore, they pushed their bodies to the limit, making it crucial for Farhana to help them balance their expectations and safeguard their well-being. “As Team Managers, we need to remind them to stay healthy, happy, and enjoy the matches. After all, representing Singapore at the AUG shows they've reached a high standard, and I saw the immense effort our players put in on the courts. They should be proud.”

Medal tally of TeamNUS participants

Team Singapore took home 11 Gold, 27 Silver and 36 Bronze medals. Our TeamNUS athletes proudly contributed 7 Gold, 14 Silver and 16 Bronze medals to this total. Congratulations to all our student-athletes and sports managers for representing Singapore!

Gold

1. Athletics (Pole Vault) - Low Jun Yu (National Record)

2. Bridge (Men's Pair) - Yang Junyan, Gao Heng

3. Bridge (Men's Team) - Gao Heng, Yang Junyan, Timothy Wu, Teo Xue Heng

4. ⁠Silat (Women's Match Class A) - Nurul Irbah

5. ⁠Sport Climbing (Men’s Boulder) - Philus Tan

6. Taekwondo (Women's Individual) - Valerie Kang

7. ⁠Wushu (Women’s Qiangshu) - Le Yin Shuen

Silver

1. Athletics (High Jump) - Jade Chew

2. Bridge (Men's Pair) - Timothy Wu, Jerald Kiew

3. ⁠Handball (Men's Team) - Joshea Koh, Vernen Lim, Ian Tay

4. ⁠Judo (Men’s Under 66kg) - Zhou Yujie

5. ⁠Judo (Men’s Under 73kg) - Melvin Loo

6. ⁠Judo (Women’s Under 57kg) - Janelle Tan

7. Silat (Men's Artistic Double) – Kashyfi Bin Salleh & Mirza Nabil

8. Silat (Women's Artistic Team) – Rasyidah Binti Mudzzaffar, Nurul Helyna, Nur Sabrina

9. Silat (Men’s Match Class F) – Muhammad Shuhada

10. Silat (Men’s Match Class I) – Faiz Rusyaidi

11. Swimming (Men’s 50m Breaststroke) - Nicholas Cheong

12. Tennis (Men's team) – Tiah Jeng Ern, Ho Cheuk Hei

13. ⁠Wushu (Women's optional Jianshu) - Le Yin Shuen

14. ⁠Wushu (Women's optional Taiji Jian) - Teo Yu Xuan

Bronze

1. Archery (Recurve Men's Team) - Tan Wei Chuen

2. Archery (Compound Men's Team) - Desmond Kwa Jun Liang

3. Athletics (Men’s 10,000m) - Jon Lim

4. Chess (Men's team Blitz) - Tan Jun Hao & Bryce Tan

5. Chess (Men's team Rapid) - Tan Jun Hao & Bryce Tan

6. Chess (Men's team Standard Chess) - Tan Jun Hao & Bryce Tan

7. Climbing (Men’s Lead) - Philus Tan

8. Judo (Mixed Team) - Yujie, Melvin, Janelle, Hui Xin

9. ⁠Judo (Women’s Under 62kg) - Chua Hui Xin

10. ⁠Silat (Women's Artistic Solo) – Nurdianna Binte Sidek

11. Taekwondo (Men’s team) - Tham Chun Hoe, See Wei Wen

12. Taekwondo (Pair) - Tham Chun Hoe

13. ⁠Tennis (Women's team) - Tammy Tan, Claire Chan, Lim Lerr Min

14.  Volleyball (Men's team) - Ajay Singh, Avan Cheah, Edwin Lee, Jireh Tay, Kelvin Chua, Lee Zhan Hao, Nicholas Law, Wong Chang Wei

15. ⁠Volleyball (Women's team) - Astrid Lee, Ashley Goh, Natalie Lai, Chan Yao Yi, Chua Zi Tian, Tanya Phan

16. Wushu (Women's optional Chang Quan) - Kimberly Ong

Ms Ong picked up the mind sport in 2014, when she was a freshman at the University of Cambridge. She played bridge casually for a year before being scouted to Singapore’s national team, making her international debut at the World Youth Bridge Teams Championships in 2016.

Today, she juggles between being a full-time data scientist at NUS and a competitive bridge player participating in Asian and World championships. Her team’s most recent feat was winning bronze at the women’s event at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.

An early taste of the game

Ms Ong first got a taste of the timeless card game when she was just nine years old. “A senior taught me how to play floating bridge, a version of bridge that a lot of kids play,” shared Ms Ong. “I remember being hooked on the game, and kept asking all of my friends to play with me.”

She attributes her strong enthusiasm for the game to the way it tests a player’s concentration, stamina, mental deduction skills and “silent understanding with (one’s) partner”. “As each hand you are dealt with is different, your logic and strategy also need to change,” she noted.

“In a game of bridge, you have to deduce information on your partner’s and opponents’ hands, and anticipate their moves – all with imperfect information. That challenge is what really draws me to the game,” she explained.

Players in bridge can only use a limited dictionary of bridge bids and signals during the game, and all other forms of communication between them are treated as cheating.

Partners for the win

To prepare for the Asian Games last year, Ms Ong trained with her bridge partner Leong Jia Min for two years. Practice sessions can take up to 20 hours a week and the duo also has to complete homework given by their coach. Whenever she could, Ms Ong, who also plays for Singapore’s youth bridge team, would squeeze in practice sessions with her youth bridge partner as well.

“Jia Min and I started off as friends before we started playing bridge together. She is a very good communicator − a skill I have learnt from her. So, for example, if our bridge logic differs from each other’s, we are able to talk through it and appreciate each other’s views. We also share very similar values so when it came to the Asian Games, we both agreed we will do our best and have no regrets,” she said.

Drawing on her deductive skills at work

Ms Ong’s decision to pursue a career in data stemmed from a machine learning course she took at university. “It was quite an intensive course with daily 9am – 5pm classes for two continuous weeks. But it was the most interesting course I took as it opened my eyes to the power of data and data-driven decision making,” she said.

At ODI, her work typically involves creating reports and dashboards for stakeholders across campus, to help them derive meaningful insights and aid in strategic decision-making.

Much like a game of bridge, Ms Ong’s work also requires calculations, probabilities and deductions made with imperfect information. She enjoys tackling abstract problems for which she gets to explore and design a creative solution.

A project she is working on that fits the bill involves the use of natural language processing, a branch of artificial intelligence, to draw insights out of module feedback from students. Ms Ong is developing a code that can comprehend and analyse large volumes of student feedback and distil it down to meaningful and actionable insights that will help professors refine future iterations of the courses.

“Not all aspects of my job use the latest technology or cool algorithms,” Ms Ong shared candidly. “There are also mundane aspects such as data cleaning. But it is a critical first step in most of our projects because the quality of your output is only as good as the data you put in.”

Having spent two years working at ODI, Ms Ong is excited to continue contributing to a growing team, broadening her knowledge about different aspects of the University and sharpening her technical and analytical skills through her projects.

Many strings to her bow

“I used to be a youth sailor for Team Singapore some years back, and when I could no longer sail due to injuries, an opportunity came along for me to play bridge,” shared Ms Ong. “So, part of me is excited to see what comes next.”

For now, Ms Ong uses her creative problem-solving skills to play puzzle hunts – a type of puzzle game that is not accompanied by any direct instructions as to how to solve it and figuring out the approach is part of the fun. When she has time, she joins the NUS Contract Bridge club in their sessions as a mentor.

Most recently, a friend introduced her to pickleball, a game that blends elements from badminton, table tennis, and tennis. So now, on most days, you can find the go-getter at the multi-purpose courts on campus playing her new favourite paddle sport with colleagues and students who are keen to give it a try.