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Straits Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Arsenal arrive in Singapore for pre-season matches with AC Milan and Newcastle
Find out what's new on ST website and app. SINGAPORE – The Gunners have landed. English Premier League giants Arsenal arrived in Singapore on the afternoon of July 20, kickstarting their pre-season tour in Asia. They have settled in the eastern corner of Sentosa – at W Singapore hotel – ahead of friendly matches against Italian side AC Milan (July 23) and fellow EPL outfit Newcastle United (July 27) at the National Stadium. Manager Mikel Arteta, who captained the Arsenal team during their 2015 outing to Singapore, is here with a 30-man squad which features fan favourites such as Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta signing autographs for fans at W Singapore hotel on July 20. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG The travelling squad also includes new signings Christian Norgaard, Martin Zubimendi and Kepa Arrizabalaga. But notably missing was winger Noni Madueke, who just joined from Chelsea on July 18 after being part of the Blues' Club World Cup campaign. A crowd of about 50 fans, many donning jerseys and holding umbrellas, braved the unrelenting heat to catch glimpses of their favourites players as they arrived at the hotel. Arsenal's Bukayo Saka taking photos with fans at W Singapore hotel on July 20. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG Arsenal's Martin Zubimendi signing autographs for fans at W Singapore hotel on July 20. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG Vaishnavi, 28, and sisters Diyana Amir, 27, and Erina Amir, 21, had their arms perched atop the barricades in anticipation since 1.30pm. While dabbing droplets of sweat from her brow, Erina said: 'I'm looking forward to meet David Raya the most. He's one of the goalkeepers that have really come into the spotlight recently and he has been so promising.' The sisters first met Vaishnavi, who goes by one name, while supporting Arsenal's youth team at the Lion City Cup in Singapore in 2013, and watched matches together when the senior team visited in 2015 and 2018. 'It's been a very long time since we've seen them in Singapore, so we're really looking forward to this week,' Erina added. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 1 in 3 vapes here laced with etomidate; MOH working with MHA to list it as illegal drug: Ong Ye Kung Singapore HSA extends hotline hours, launches new platform to report vaping offences Singapore 2-in-1 airport police robot on trial can patrol and serve as PMD with ride-hailing feature Asia Tearful relatives await news of victims in Vietnam boat capsize Singapore ComfortDelDro to discipline driver who flung relative's wheelchair out of taxi Multimedia How to make the most out of small homes in Singapore Asia Over 380,000 people affected by autogate glitch at JB checkpoint over 2 days Singapore Minor Issues: Why I didn't send my daughters to my brand-name primary school The two matches are part of the Singapore Festival of Football at the National Stadium, where fans can also watch Arsenal's players go through their paces in an open training session on July 25. Tickets for all three events are available on Ticketek . Arsenal last visited Singapore in 2018 for the International Champions Cup, where they faced Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid.
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Seven more youth footballers awarded Unleash The Roar! overseas scholarships
Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo (left) speaking to Edan McCulloch (extreme right) ahead of the UTR scholarship award ceremony. SINGAPORE – Just five days after her exploits at the inaugural Lion City Cup girls' competition, Singapore's Chantale Lamasan made history by becoming the first goalkeeper from either gender to receive the Unleash the Roar! (UTR) overseas football scholarship. She was one of seven recipients, aged between 14 and 16, to be awarded the scholarship at Parkroyal on Beach Road on July 17. Chantale will be heading to IMG Academy in Florida, United States, for a three-year tenure and is excited to continue her development at the same institution as the previous two batches of recipients. 'Going online (and) seeing the school, it's really huge. In IMG there are like 16 football pitches and a huge gym. Hopefully (I will) have the freedom to work on myself and improve over there,' said the 16-year-old, who noted that the training facilities are a far cry from those in Singapore, which are 'quite hard to get'. The Singapore Sports School (SSP) student added: 'It's exciting for me to try out how different goalkeepers from different countries train, especially from such a big powerhouse like (the) US.' Chantale was part of the Lion City Cup squad that finished second behind champions South Korea in the four-team tournament. Despite conceding nine goals against the Koreans, she recalls how that was 'the best moment for me'. She said: 'Looking back on it, not only did I have the most to do (in that game), I actually played a full 90-minute match against such a strong opponent. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Driverless bus in Sentosa gets green light to run without safety officer in first for S'pore World US strikes destroyed only one of three Iranian nuclear sites, says new report Business 5 things to know about Kuok Hui Kwong, tycoon Robert Kuok's daughter and Shangri-La Asia head honcho Asia Air India probe into Boeing 787 fuel control switches finds no issues Singapore Man charged over manufacturing DIY Kpods at Yishun home; first such case in Singapore Singapore Sex first, then you can sell my flat: Women property agents fend off indecent proposals and harassment Singapore Two women jailed for submitting fake university certificates to MOM for employment passes Singapore Fatal abuse of Myanmar maid in Bishan: Traffic Police officer sentenced to 10 years' jail 'We were 5-0 down at half-time. I think in the past, I would have cried in the locker room. It'll be game over for me. But I feel like now, living in the moment, I just think as positively as possible. It's not 5-0. It's 'I tried my best'.' Being a goalkeeper, she understands how 'draining it can be mentally' and she hopes that her scholarship will change the wider perspective around the position. 'On social media, I always see how a goalkeeper can make 10,000 saves but one mistake that cost them the game will always (look) bad on the goalkeeper. '(But) I think I'm appreciating the position a lot (more) now. Having the whole team rely on me to be their last line of defence is an honour,' said Chantale, who cites German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer as her inspiration. This batch of UTR scholarship winners has only one boy in Edan McCulloch, who became the youngest ever recipient of the award. He will be attached to Rayo Alcobendas, a top youth side in Madrid, Spain. The SSP student, who received the scholarship on the eve of his 14th birthday, downplayed any nerves over the prospect of living away from his family. 'In sports school, I was boarding there five days a week so I'm quite used to the system where I'd only see my parents (for) two days. But this will be a bigger challenge,' said Edan, whose father is Scottish and mother Singaporean. Edan, who transferred out of Dulwich College to join SSP in 2024, considers the opportunity to train abroad as 'a leap of faith'. The attacking midfielder added: 'I was there (Dulwich) for nine years. I left all my friends and went to a new school so that I can improve my abilities. It's a big step but it's also a big achievement. I'm very excited to face this challenge.' The other recipients are all from the Lion City Cup girls' squad – Liyana Rickit, Seri Nurinsyirah, Verona Lim, Yuvika Suresh and Celine Koh, younger sister of Chloe, who was part of the inaugural cohort. They are the first pair of siblings to receive the UTR scholarship. Celine, 15, said: 'I saw how much my sister grew during her time in IMG Academy. It inspired me to aim for this. Now that I've earned this opportunity, I want to make the most of it and continue pushing the limits.'
Independent Singapore
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Independent Singapore
Singapore U16 boys triumph over Hong Kong in the Lion City Cup finale
The Singapore U16 boys' team successfully concluded their Lion City Cup with a 4-1 victory over Hong Kong, China on July 13 (Sunday). With their win, they captured the hearts of 1,383 fans who gave them a standing ovation at the Jalan Besar Stadium. The national team finished the tournament with six points from the three matches. They secured second place after a 2-0 loss to the champions, the Philippines. Singapore's head coach, Ashraf Ariffin, was inspired by the progress of his team throughout the six-day tournament. 'Against the Philippines, the boys showed their potential; the game against Cambodia (3-0 win) was us showing our progress; and today we showed our consistency – and that we are developing and improving every step of the way,' he said. The coach added: 'Now I can say that the result against the Philippines was a glitch.' Ariq Rizzuwan, the player of the match, was joyful to be on a strong team that improved during the competition. The athlete admitted: 'We didn't achieve our goal of winning the Lion City Cup… But I think we can be proud of ourselves. We are happy with our development and performances.' See also 26 athletes to represent Singapore at 12th ASEAN Para games 'At the start of our centralised training, most of us (the players) were not close to each other. Eventually, we grew closer. It helped us to improve on and off the pitch,' he added. Highlights of the match Unity showed on the field when the Singapore U16 team had an early lead in their final game. Defender Aaryan Hermi delivered a perfect cross to Ariq, who then headed the ball into the net to score the first goal. The national team scored a second goal in the 31st minute, all because of striker Lukyan Tan. In the 65th minute, Singapore's goalkeeper Ilhan Rezal made an amazing save by stopping three shots in a row, helping keep his team's small lead. Striker Izzan Farid increased the lead, getting the ball low past Hong Kong's goalkeeper, Tang Pui Chun. With six minutes left, substitute Aidan Irfan scored a powerful long-range goal. Goalkeeper Ilhan made another great save, reaching out to stop a hard shot from substitute Sephrey Ma. On social media, the Football Association of Singapore shared a post: 'Good crowd. Great vibes. Convincing finish. Our boys wrap up their Lion City Cup campaign in second place.' Netizens expressed their support by saying: 'Congratulations Team Singapore. Spirits First, Results Second Respect Thank you very much', and 'Overall good show by the boys, just try to be more consistent.'
Straits Times
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Singapore sporting heroes before they were famous
They are now household names, known for their standout moments in stadiums and swimming pools. But once upon a time, these Singapore sporting heroes were chasing a dream. We dig into our archives for the first, or nearly first, time their faces appeared in The Straits Times. (Clockwise from top left) The likes of Fandi Ahmad, Feng Tianwei, Yip Pin Xiu, Loh Kean Yew, Joseph Schooling and Shanti Pereira have achieved great success, not just regionally, but on the biggest sporting stages. Fandi Ahmad on Dec 9, 1977 Fandi Ahmad (taking a shot) was deployed as a midfielder in the Singapore Under-16's 2-1 win over Penang in the inaugural Lion City Cup in 1977. The 15-year-old impressed those who were taking in the action. PHOTO: ST FILE Just 15, the future football star and Lions captain was part of the Singapore Under-16 team that beat their highly fancied Penang counterparts in the opening match of the Lion City Cup, a youth tournament, in front of 10,000 fans at the National Stadium. After retiring in 1999, Fandi turned to coaching and enjoyed success with several clubs, winning the S. League twice with SAFFC (2000 and 2002 ) and the 2015 Malaysia FA Cup with LionsXII. He was interim national coach of the Lions in 2018 and held various positions within the Football Association of Singapore. He returned to his former club, Sri Pahang, and is its current head coach. All four of his sons are professional footballers with the three oldest, Irfan, Ikhsan and Ilhan, Singapore internationals. Noting that The Straits Times has been like family – 'we had many laughs and good memories, which I really appreciate' – Fandi says: 'I still remember the April Fool's Day prank in 1984 when there was a front-page story about me joining Manchester United. Then, in 1993, Wilfred Yeo (a former Straits Times deputy sports editor) wrote my first autobiography, which helped chronicle the key moments of my life up to that point.' Yip Pin Xiu on May 16, 2006 Yip Pin Xiu, then 14, was lauded as a promising member of the Singapore Disability Sports Council's junior swimming programme. The article accompanying this photo was about how Singapore Press Holdings Foundation had given $28,000 to the council to develop a grassroots programme for young swimmers with disabilities. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO FILE Now 33, Yip is the most decorated Singaporean para-athlete, with seven Paralympic gold medals to her name. All that was still to come in 2006, when the 14-year-old Bendemeer Secondary School student made her debut in a story about a grassroots programme for young swimmers with disabilities. She was described as 'highly rated' in the main photograph, but it was Yip's good friend and fellow para-swimmer, Theresa Goh, who was cited in the article as a contender for a medal at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics. The older Goh, now 38 and retired, returned empty-handed – she would clinch a bronze at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro – and it was Yip who rose to the occasion in the Chinese capital, becoming Singapore's first, and still only, Paralympic champion in the 50m backstroke S3 event. She would add further golds at the 2016, 2020 and 2024 Paralympics. Yip notes that at the 2008 Paralympics, The Straits Times was the media outlet 'most keen on covering the Games', and its coverage over the years has boosted the profile of para sports in Singapore. Seeing stories move from the charity pages to the mainstream sports and local news pages was a 'game changer', she adds. She also cites the publication's annual Straits Times Athlete of the Year award – which counts para-equestrienne Laurentia Tan and Yip as past winners – as significant for its inclusion of para athletes. 'I and the community are really appreciative of that.' Feng Tianwei on Feb 2, 2008 Feng Tianwei represented Singapore at four Summer Games. Her haul of one silver and two bronze medals makes her the country's most decorated Olympian. PHOTO: ST FILE On Jan 11, 2008, Feng's application for Singapore citizenship was approved, paving the way for the then 21-year-old to represent her adopted country at the Beijing Games in August. A promising youth player, the Harbin-born Feng was recruited by a Singapore Table Tennis Association coach in late 2006 and arrived in March 2007 under the Foreign Sports Talent scheme. She quickly impressed officials before securing her spot on Singapore's Olympic team. There, she played a starring role alongside Li Jiawei and Wang Yuegu to clinch a n Olympic silver in the women's team event, the Republic's first medal at the Summer Games since weightlifter Tan Howe Liang's silver in 1960. Then President S R Nathan and Defence Minister and Singapore National Olympic Council president Teo Chee Hean cheered on the players in the exciting best-of-five format semi-final against South Korea at the Peking University Gymnasium. Back home, Singaporeans in their living rooms, in offices and coffee shops were glued to their TV screens during the see-saw contest which eventually ended 3-2 in Singapore's favour. The paper would devote six pages, including the front page, to this historic achievement. Feng was also instrumental in leading Singapore to a shock victory at the 2010 World Team Table Tennis Championships, beating China, who were bidding for a ninth straight title, in the final. She added two more Olympic bronze medals (singles and women's team) at London 2012 and spent the majority of her career ranked among the world's top 10. She retired after winning three golds at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Joseph Schooling on March 22, 2009 In March 2009, Joseph Schooling rewrote Singapore's oldest junior record, the Under-14 200m butterfly, with a time of 2min 10.56sec, almost three seconds faster than Tan V-Meng's previous mark set in 1987. PHOTO: ST FILE The skinny 13-year-old with an awkward smile was some years away from the strapping and confident Olympic champion he would become. Schooling's first appearance in the paper was part of a Sunday Times package about Singapore's up-and-coming swimmers. The teenager was then breaking numerous national age-group records. In 2011, he competed in his first SEA Games at the age of 16, winning two golds. The medals kept coming – at the 2014 Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, the World Championships a year later, and finally, in an improbable victory at the 2016 Rio Olympics where he beat American great Michael Phelps and set a new Games record in the 100m butterfly. The paper devoted almost 10 pages to his win the morning after and many more in the days following, splashing his winning smile several times on the front page. A live stream of his victory parade, with thousands lining the roads in Singapore, was also part of the paper's coverage, as were numerous stories on The Straits Times' digital platforms. Looking back on that period, what stands out for Schooling was a video produced by The Straits Times chronicling his rise and an interview with his parents. Schooling, who retired in April 2024, says: 'It was nice to hear them reflect on our journey, and it just hits a special place in my heart, hearing those things my parents are saying about me on camera. It brought back a lot of good memories. I'll always remember that forever.' Shanti Pereira on May 4, 2009 While she was at the Singapore Sports School, Shanti Pereira dominated the sprint events in the C and B Division and rewrote several age-group records. PHOTO: ST FILE As the younger sister of national sprinter Valerie Pereira, much was expected of Shanti from an early age. She was only 12 when The Straits Times highlighted her potential in a 2009 article titled 'Meet the school sports heroes'. She did not disappoint, breaking numerous age-group records before establishing herself as Singapore's fastest woman – at the ripe old age of 16 – when she claimed the national 100m record in 2013. Two years later, she was the darling of Singapore track and field when she won the 200m title at the SEA Games held on home soil, ending a 42-year gold medal drought for the Republic in a sprint event. After that high, however, she struggled with her form, enduring criticism for several years – including comments about her weight – and predictions from various quarters that her best days were over. But she proved her naysayers wrong, bouncing back in spectacular fashion by winning gold in the 100m and 200m sprints at the SEA Games in May 2023. She broke more barriers later that year at the Hangzhou Asian Games, clinching a silver in the 100m before her historic victory in the 200m, Singapore's first track and field gold medal since the 1974 Asiad. Loh Kean Yew on May 18, 2015 Penang-born Loh Kean Yew (back row, second from right) received his Singapore citizenship in February 2015 and would make his international debut for the Republic at that year's SEA Games on home soil. PHOTO: ST FILE If not for his all-bright turquoise outfit, you could be forgiven for overlooking Loh in this group photo of Singapore's badminton squad selected for the 2015 SEA Games. After all, he was only 17 with modest results so far in his career and about to make his international debut for his adopted country – having received his citizenship in February that year – at the upcoming biennial Games. The Penang-born Loh, who enrolled at the Singapore Sports School on a scholarship in 2010, would exceed expectations when he clinched a bronze medal in the men's singles. He served further notice of his talent in 2019. Ranked world No. 125, Loh stunned two-time Olympic champion Lin Dan in the Thailand Masters final before making history two years later by winning the world championships , the first Singaporean to do so. Loh also reached a career-best world No. 3 in late 2022. A full-page comic strip in the paper depicting his 2021 world title stands out for him. 'Be it the ups or downs, the achievements or the struggles, I will look back in the future with appreciation that there was such a documentation of my playing career that I can share with my future generation.'
Independent Singapore
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Independent Singapore
Singapore U16 Girls finish Lion City Cup as runners-up after a win against Cambodia
Photo: SINGAPORE: Singapore's U16 girls wrapped up their Lion City Cup debut with an impressive performance, finishing as runners-up to Korea Republic when they defeated Cambodia 2-0. After the final match, head coach Yeong Sheau Shyan expressed satisfaction with the team's improvements throughout the competition. The coach declared: 'I think the girls did well to absorb as much as they could, and they followed (our) instructions really well. At the same time, when we gave them instructions, they trusted us and they dared to try.' Highlights of the match It was evident that Singapore controlled the first half of the game, even though Cambodia tried their best. Ain Salleh struck early to put Singapore ahead. The 15-year-old got a great pass from Liyana Rickit just five minutes into the game and shot the ball into the top of the net. The crowd also cheered when Yuvika Suresh scored a second goal, but it was called off because of offside. Ain had another chance to score just after 30 minutes, but her close shot hit the bar and didn't go in. Singapore's head coach said she boosted the players' spirits during half-time. She remarked: ' After we got back into the dressing room, we reorganised. You could see that the team came out with a different mentality. We started to play the ball more, we started to hold the ball and keep possession through the middle, through the sides, and that's when we really started to show a bit more of ourselves.' The home team stayed strong, with Verona Lim and Ain almost scoring a goal. However, Cambodia's goalkeeper Khann made an amazing diving save to stop it. Later on, Ain sent a high cross to substitute Risqya Rizqyqa. Khann couldn't catch the ball, and Risqya scored easily to make it 2-0. After the match ended, the players continued celebrating with their families and friends who came to support them. 'I think we have some die-hard fans in the stands — family members, relatives, and some of our players who missed out on the tournament. They have been very supportive throughout the tournament,' Yeong said. View this post on Instagram A post shared by FAS (@fasingapore) After showing their mettle at the Lion City Cup, the Lionesses now prepare for the ASEAN U-16 Women's Championship and the AFC U-17 Women's Asian Cup qualifiers. Yeong mentioned that there will be changes in the team line-ups due to scheduling conflicts with other competitions and the players' academic commitments. She said, 'We will bring in some younger girls, and then there's a need to bond the team and maybe change some tactics. We're also missing a few players for O-level prelims, so it will be a different squad, but we are still gonna try our best. It's good for the younger girls to have a chance.' On social media, netizens expressed their support by saying: 'Congratulations!!! Such an inspiring week for all of our young female footballers in Singapore! Thank you for showing them what passion and hard work can do!', 'Well Done!!!! Congrats girls !🔥🔥🔥', and 'Well deserved! 👏.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by FAS (@fasingapore) () => { const trigger = if ('IntersectionObserver' in window && trigger) { const observer = new IntersectionObserver((entries, observer) => { => { if ( { lazyLoader(); // You should define lazyLoader() elsewhere or inline here // Run once } }); }, { rootMargin: '800px', threshold: 0.1 }); } else { // Fallback setTimeout(lazyLoader, 3000); } });
