Pre-note : I’d like to thank VOXSPORTS for their graciousness in allowing me to use their photos for my article.
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.
Singapore's Yao Lei in tears after reaching the finals of the Li-Ning Singapore Open 2010 women's doubles finals
Perhaps it is the call of the Youth Olympic Games or simply just a change of mindsets. Perhaps its the drive to prove all cynics wrong, perhaps Singapore had it in them all along but it took a few events to catalyze the change in our sporting arena and culture. Regardless of the flaws, mistakes and steps taken, the big picture is that Singapore has come a long way in the sporting scene and the results are finally showing. When Yao Lei and Shinta Mulia Sari claimed the crown and hit a winning smash at match point, the scenes around the Singapore Indoor Stadium were ones for the road and something I’d personally never forget in this lifetime. Some were touched to tears while others openly displayed their jubilation and finally felt the pride in being a Singaporean supporter.
To me, winning this tournament for Singapore symbolizes more than just a title after 20 years but a catalyst for all of us to get behind our athletes and show them the support they so have so deservedly earned. Win or lose, they are out there wearing our flags proudly on our chests and representing our country as sporting ambassadors in foreign lands against the best in the world. Sometimes, what these guys need is to know that wherever they are, we’ll be rooting for them back home, whether its from our residences or from a coffee shop just below.
So what happens next? Honestly, I’m in no position to comment, but what I do know is that the sports culture in Singapore is certainly reaching a new high point and it makes me proud to associate myself with our local athletes. To all of you who may read this (I don’t even know if it will be published), its time for all of us to stand behind our athletes and be one huge family, to be there for them whether they win or lose.
To the Singapore Badminton Association, congratulations on the great effort invested in our athletes and to Yao Lei and Shinta, I’d personally like to congratulate both of you on a job well done and to keep up the good work in the upcoming Indonesian Super Series tournament.
