With over 3,600 top seeded youth athletes, half a million spectators and 26 sports, the YOG – costing some $106m – is one of the biggest sporting events to take place on Singapore shores. Under the Olympic banner, it is also one of the most prestigious. As host nation, Singapore has spent about $10m revamping the 18 competition and 12 training venues, an amount which excludes the cost of preparing an Olympic Village and five football fields’ worth of warehouse space for Games-related equipment and infrastructure.
The preparations have been no less intense for Singapore’s top athletes. Even as the pressures of training take centrestage, Singapore’s own Olympic hopefuls take it in their stride, juggling school work, exams and dreams of glory. Singapore tracks down three such youth.
Sharir Mohd Anuar, 100m sprint
SHARIR MOHD ANUAR, SPRINTER
The day Singapore met up with 16-year-old Shahrir Mohd Anuar, beads of perspiration lingered on his forehead – evidence of the exhausting bout of repeated sprints he had just completed. Training was not the only thing on his mind; he was waiting for his GCE ‘O’-Level results and his anxiety was obvious. In many ways, the lean teenager is like any other adolescent boy, worrying over acne and exams and enjoying hanging out with friends.
Considering the demands and achievements that the last few years have brought Shahrir’s way, it’s hard not to be impressed. In 2007, when he was 14, Sharir won a total of 15 gold medals at local and international events. Three gold medals at the 2008 International Children’s Games in San Francisco followed. In 2009, in the middle of his ‘O’-Level year, Shahrir picked up the bronze for Boys’ 100m at the Asian Youth Games with a time of 11.13 seconds. So what keeps him going? “My dad told me: ‘If you want to do something seriously, don’t do it halfway – go all the way. Keep trying until you can’t go anymore.”
Isabelle Li, table tennis (mixed team & mixed doubles)
ISABELLE LI, TABLE TENNIS
Isabelle Li, 15, is no stranger to competitions or winning them; when she was 11, she became the youngest paddler to represent Singapore at a senior level when she competed in the 2006 Southeast Asian Table Tennis Championships. At the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games, she soundly defeated top seeded Indian paddler Neha Aggarwal 4-0. And in February, Isabelle won the girls’ singles title at the Egypt Junior Open in Cairo.
The YOG will undoubtedly be the biggest sporting test presented to the composed paddler who is well known for her distinct play. She uses the chopper style that involves slower repeated attacks to wear down opponents. Isabelle, who now trains about 24 hours a week, has even given up time with friends and family in Singapore to spend several month-long stints in China for training.
The self-described perfectionist looks forward to not just taking part in the YOG but the 2016 Olympics as well. She knows that her lofty goals mean being prepared for both wins and losses. “Being an athlete, you have lots of ups and downs, like a rollercoaster ride,” Isabelle mused. “Even if you aren’t as good as you should be you cannot lose your confidence. You just keep on believing. You never give up in the face of obstacles.”
Darren Choy, sailing (Byte CII race)
DARREN CHOY, SAILOR
As one of the brightest prospects in Singapore sailing, it comes with some surprise that Darren Choy, 16, was apprehensive when he was first introduced to the sport. But given his current winning streaks, it’s clear those uncertain days are over.
He won eight of the 10 races over six days in the Byte CII sailing category at the 2009 Asian Youth Games to bring in the gold medal. Last August, he defeated 32-year-old defending champion Jon Emmett to win the coveted title of Byte CII world champion. In part, intense training has helped secure his wins, but Darren’s reflexes, quick decision-making skills and calm and methodical sailing have also allowed him turn the tide and pip older and bigger sailors. It also helps that his strong competitive sense gives him a clear goal at each race. “Wherever I go, the pressure is the same; there’s always pressure to win,” he said.
COUNTDOWN!
Before the medal tally takes centrestage, keep score on the YOG with these numbers
• 850 tonnes – the total amount of meat, vegetables, pasta, rice and fruit for 700,000 meals for the athletes
• 30,000 sqm – the total coverage of tents to be used, equivalent to four football fields
• 3km – the span of 500 containers for office space and storage during the games
• 600 – the number of cleaning staff to help keep venues spick and span
