sport 쐽 THE STRAITS TIMES FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17 2008 PAGE B18

33 CHASE SPORTSWORLD
Singapore boost

YOG DREAM
Ban brothers among
those in 3-day national
table tennis trials
BY LIN XINYI
THEY would readily exchange every med-
al and trophy they have won for a chance
to represent Singapore at the 2010 Youth
Olympic Games (YOG).
That is how badly the Ban brothers –
Dylan, 14, and Benjamin, 12 – want to be
part of the inaugural Games in Singapore.
The paddlers are two of 33 youngsters
who will take part in the Singapore Table
Tennis Association’s three-day YOG se-
lection trials today, Monday and Tues-
day.
The hopefuls – 20 boys and 13 girls –
will train and compete with each other
over the three days under the watchful
eyes of new national youth team coach
Xu Xiangdong.
Xu has been given the task of spear-
heading Singapore’s YOG efforts.
With the help of coaches and officials,
he will cut the field by half at the end of
the trials.
The number of players eligible for se-
lection has already been restricted as ath-
letes need to be Singapore citizens, aged
12 to 14 and must have made the last 16 in
table tennis championships organised by
the STTA or the inter-school champion-
ships in the past three years.
The short-listed talent pool will be fur-
ther narrowed down to four girls and four
boys after an additional two weeks of
training.
Among those vying for a YOG place is
Isabelle Li.
The 14-year-old, who ousted compatri-
ot Zena Sim to win the Commonwealth
Youth Games women’s singles gold med-
al yesterday, is tipped to be one of the Re-
public’s biggest medal prospects at the
YOG.
The STTA’s chief executive Chew Soo
Sheng said: “While the results of the com-
petition are important, the candidates
will also be assessed on their achieve-
ments over the past three years, potential
and willingness to commit to a rigorous
training programme.”
Brothers Dylan (left) and Benjamin Ban with their collection of table tennis trophies and medals.
They hope to represent Singapore at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LEONG
The STTA has come up with a
22-month training plan for the selected
candidates.
It includes local training – 12 sessions
a week – and a proposed three-week
training stint in China this December.
The selected paddlers will spend at
least 30 hours a week training, but that is
not an issue with Dylan.
The Secondary 2 student at Raffles In-
stitution said: “Representing Singapore
means everything to me. I’ll do every-
thing I can if I’m chosen.
“Moreover, training twice a day is
tally to nine medals
SINGAPORE took their medal
tally at the Commonwealth
Youth Games in Pune, India, to
two golds, five silvers and two
bronzes yesterday.
Paddlers Isabelle Li and Zena
Sim accounted for three medals:
(women’s singles gold and silver
respectively, and women’s
doubles bronze).
The other medallists were
shooters Aqilah Sudhir (gold),
Christopher Chia, Eunice Chong
and Wan Tian Chong (all silver),
and swimmers Roanne Ho
(silver) and Ng Jia Hao (bronze).
The Games, for athletes aged
nothing compared to players in China, 18 and under, ends tomorrow.
who train three times a day.”
With limited places available, Ben-
jamin is mindful that he faces an uphill
Nalbandian out of
challenge. Madrid Masters
Despite being one of the youngest play-
MADRID: David Nalbandian was
ers going through the selection process,
ousted 4-6, 2-6 from tennis’
he remains undaunted.
Madrid Masters yesterday by
The Yuneng Primary 6 pupil said: “It
will be difficult, but it is worth the fight. Argentina Davis Cup teammate
Juan Martin del Potro.
The YOG is a once-in-a-lifetime
chance.” On Wednesday, Roger
Federer returned after a
linxinyi@sph.com.sg five-week lay-off and beat
Radek Stepanek 6-3, 7-6 (8-6)
in the second round.
The 2006 champion rallied
from a 3-5 deficit in the

Captain Kumble doubtful for second Test tie-breaker with some excellent
shot-making.
ASSOCIATED PRESS

MOHALI (India): Anil Kumble, struggling
with form and fitness, is facing intense
pressure to retain his place for the second
cricket Test against Australia today.
The spinner and India captain has
come under increasing scrutiny, follow-
ing a right-shoulder injury and his first
wicket-less performance in Monday’s
drawn series opener in Bangalore.
He compounded the scrutiny in a news-
paper column criticising the Indian me-
dia’s treatment of the team.
The 131-Test veteran wrote: “It was
not just my view; collectively, the team
back what I said and back me up.”
He bowled in the indoor nets yester-
day, but will not make a decision on his
fitness until this morning.
Rival skipper Ricky Ponting spoke
about India’s “predicament” in The Aus-
tralian newspaper: “If you had to look at
someone who was going to make way, it
would probably have to be him.
“If they happen to drop Kumble, it
would probably be a long way back for
him, so it will be interesting to see what
they do.”
Kumble’s reply was that it is time to
“concentrate on the cricket”. And, he has
the backing of coach Gary Kirsten, who
said that selection should be assessed not
just on one Test.
While the on-form Harbhajan Singh
may be the pick of the spin bowlers and
the Mohali pitch is likely to favour seam
bowlers, Kumble has a good track record
at the Punjab Cricket Association to back
his case.
He will be playing at a ground where
he has taken 36 wickets in seven Tests –
including two five-wicket hauls.
“I certainly enjoy bowling here,” he
said. “I’ve had a few landmarks here as
well. We’ll take a call first thing in the
morning.”
Australia will be without paceman Stu-
art Clark, who has failed to recover from
FA probes Derby’s
an elbow injury. win at Norwich City
Peter Siddle, a 23-year-old fast bowler
from Victoria, will make his Test debut. LONDON: England’s Football
The visitors will field a team featuring Association is examining Derby
four players with five or fewer Test caps. County’s 2-1 League
But Ponting, who is taking anti-inflamma- Championship win at Norwich
tory tablets for a minor wrist problem,
City on Oct 4 after reports of
was not concerned. questionable betting in Asia.
“There was a lot made of the inexperi-
ence factor coming here, but all those in- “We are looking into whether
experienced guys showed they are more there is any substance to this
than capable of performing well at inter- allegation,” the FA said.
national level,” he said. ASSOCIATED PRESS
ASSOCIATED PRESS, REUTERS

Corporate tournament
National bowler Remy Ong (from left),
Canon Singapore’s Lim Kok Hin, Senior
Parliamentary Secretary (MCYS) Teo Ser
Luck, Singapore Bowling Federation
president Jessie Phua and national bowler
Jazreel Tan at the launch of the Canon
SuperSeries yesterday at Orchid Bowl. The
corporate bowling tournament has
attracted 30 participating companies so
far. PHOTO: SINGAPORE BOWLING FEDERATION
Search on for
sports champs
THE search is on for Singapore’s “Everyday Cham-
pions” – people or organisations that have consist-
ently gone the extra mile so others can enjoy
sports.
It will be the country’s highest honour for sport-
ing inspiration, and was created by merging the
Coaches Recognition and Sporting Singapore Inspi-
ration awards.
Called POSB Everyday Champions Award 2009,
it was launched yesterday.
“Many people are familiar with the awards that
recognise our elite athletes who do well at major
events like the Olympics,” said Singapore Sports
Council chief executive Oon Jin Teik.
“But not as many are aware we also give out
awards to people and organisations that inspire the
man in the street to get involved in sports.”
He added that it would resonate well with Singa-
pore’s push to develop an active sports culture.
Sponsors POSB have inked a three-year deal
with SSC, and will pump in $1.4 million this year.

(From left) national water polo players Yip Ren Kai and
Alvin Lee, Paralympian swimmer Theresa Goh, Senior
Parliamentary Secretary (Community Development, Youth
and Sports) Teo Ser Luck, DBS Group CEO Richard Stanley
and SSC CEO Oon Jin Teik at the launch of the Everyday
Champions 2009 award. ST PHOTO: WANG HUI FEN

DBS Group chief executive officer Richard

Stanley said the decision was a sound one despite
the current turmoil in world markets.
He said: “We are doing this irrespective of the fi-
nancial markets, because it is very important for us
to always stay committed to the community.”
There are three award categories – individuals,
coaches and organisations.
Nomination forms are available at SSC’s office
at Kallang, SSC’s sports and recreation centres,
POSB branches and online at http://www.singa-
poresports.sg/posbchampions.
The closing date is Nov 16.
Already, there have been some nominations.
Senior Parliamentary Secretary (Community De-
velopment, Youth and Sports) Teo Ser Luck,
guest-of-honour at the launch at Jurong West
Sports and Recreation Centre, has put up for consid-
eration the names of some of his triathlon training
partners.
LEONARD LIM