From representing the country on the playing field to inspiring the next generation of sporting excellence from the side-lines. In the fourth of a series that aims to illuminate the behind-the-scenes work of sports administrators, we speak to three former and current national athletes helping to pave the way for the future of Singapore’s sporting scene. 

By Prabhu Silvam

To dare is to dream

Gabriel Huang Jun’en, 32
Operations Manager and Coach Developer, Wrestling Federation of Singapore

A torn rib cartilage, a rotator cuff tear in the right shoulder, a medial collateral ligament and posterior cruciate ligament tear in the right knee and a nagging numbness around the lower back – Gabriel Huang Jun’en’s wrestling injuries read like a rolodex of pain.

Yet, without these battle scars, life would have no meaning. “As an athlete, injuries are frustrating but they don’t define you,” said the operations manager and coach developer at the Wrestling Federation of Singapore.

“I never felt like I was at a disadvantage because injuries were an avenue for me to improve myself — be it physically, mentally or technically.”

This relentlessness is ingrained. As a six-time national wrestling champion who has represented Singapore across three continents, he knows what it takes to perform at the highest level. A combination of physical power, speed, technical skill, mental toughness, and above all, he stresses — the right coach.

As a coach developer, he has made it his mission to develop the next generation of wrestling coaches through classes that instil advanced sports sciences knowledge.

It helps that he has learnt from the best. He was part of the pioneering team that developed the Singapore Wrestling Grading System in the late 2000s. A first of its kind programme in Singapore, it aims to uncover the next generation of wrestling talents by focusing on three key areas namely knowledge, competence and performance.

Some grading criteria include the total number of years competing, a wrestler’s personal skill proficiency and representation at national and international events.

“We might be a relatively young sport in Singapore but we’ve established our training curriculum. The key is to never stop growing.”

Rallying against the tide

Koh Ting Ting, 29
Sports Manager (Water Polo), Singapore Swimming Association

It happens when no one is watching. An elbow to the sternum, a sharp fisted jab to the torso area and even a yank of the swimsuit. On the surface, water polo exemplifies perseverance and tenacity.

But sports manager of the national water polo teams and current national athlete Koh Ting Ting knows all too well about the mayhem that unfolds down under.

Combining the psychological torment of aquaphobia with the brutality of ice hockey, water polo is a sport unlike any other. But for Ting Ting, this is exactly what makes it so alluring.

“The physicality of the sport is part and parcel of the game but what it teaches you is how to be adaptable.”

It is this versatility that has helped her overcome challenges in her current role as a sports manager.

For example, when COVID-19 regulations prevented players from training together, she decided to work alongside her colleagues, the technical director, the pathway manager and the Singapore Swimming Association operations team to relaunch the Singapore Water Polo National League in March.

The tournament features four-a-side showdowns to keep in line with current safe-distancing regulations.

Being captain of the national women’s team has also helped her understand the sentiment on the ground. From educating athletes on insurance coverage to updating them about the performance standards required to qualify for the national team, Ting Ting is both a leader in the locker room and outside of it.

“A privilege of being an athlete and the captain is understanding the team’s needs and ensuring that everyone is on the same page as we push forward together as one.”

Cycles of change

Junaidi Bin Hashim, 38
Director Sportive, ProCyclingSG and National Mountain Bike Coach, Singapore Cycling Federation

Riding full throttle down a nearly vertical 10m ramp on a mountain bike does a few things to you.

First, it heightens your senses as adrenalin takes over, underscoring the thin line between bedlam and mayhem in a sport where a microsecond can feel like an eternity.

Next — as Junaidi Bin Hashim puts it — it liberates you.

“From the first time I got on the mountain bike till today, the feeling hasn’t changed a single bit — it’s been about freedom and being able to express yourself on the track,” said the Director Sportive at ProCyclingSG and National Mountain Bike Coach at the Singapore Cycling Federation.

But there is more to mountain biking than just stunts and speed. There is also science.

As Director Sportive, he allocates tasks for riders during races. For example, a domestique is essentially a helper rider who helps gather water bottles to pass out among teammates and who rides in front of a team leader to improve the aerodynamics for him. Then there is the sprinter who can propel a team’s standing by earning the most points from stage wins and intermediate sprints.

“Even though you win a race as an individual, you need good team-mates to bring you up.”

As a former national cyclist from 2000 to 2019, he knows the sacrifices that athletes make to become the best.

From strength conditioning to proper nutrition and recovery, he makes it a point to educate the national cyclists with the right knowledge to improve their performance and help them achieve sporting excellence.

“Our goal is simple — we want our riders to be the best versions of themselves.”