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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.'
AsiaOne
07-07-2025
- Sport
- AsiaOne
Lions stalwart Safuwan Baharudin returns to the Singapore Premier League after 14 years, Singapore News
SINGAPORE — The last time Singapore national team stalwart Safuwan Baharudin played in the domestic league, it was still called the with teams such as Etoile FC, Singapore Armed Forces FC, Woodlands Wellington and Gombak United, while the iconic Aleksandar Duric powered Tampines Rovers to the league title. That was 2011 and Safuwan was an up-and-coming player with the Young Lions. Now, 14 years later, Safuwan is back home as a Lions veteran. The 33-year-old has joined Singapore Premier League (SPL) and Singapore Cup champions Lion City Sailors on a season-long loan from Malaysia Super League (MSL) giants Selangor FC. Singapore Premier League (SPL) and Singapore Cup champions "To be honest, I have not been counting the years. But it feels surreal knowing it has been that long," said Safuwan, who has 124 caps for the national team. "When I was still playing for the Young Lions, there were very different teams to what there are now. I remember playing against Beijing Guo'an Talent (2010) and Etoile. "But I am excited to be back and I want to give credit to Selangor, for agreeing to this deal. "The Sailors came in strong, we had a good discussion on what we can expect of each other. That was important to me." The loan move ends a period of uncertainty for Safuwan, who was left in limbo at Selangor. Safuwan made his professional debut in 2009 with the Young Lions and made 58 appearances in the local competition before joining LionsXII — the now-defunct Singapore team in the MSL — from 2012 to 2015. He had a memorable, but short, loan stint in the A-League with Melbourne City in 2015. A year later, his journey as a foreign player in Malaysia started. He joined PDRM in 2016 and spent two seasons there, initially in the MSL before a season in the second-tier Malaysia Premier League after they were relegated. He then joined Pahang FA for the 2018 season and won the Malaysia FA Cup before he was snapped up by Selangor for the 2020 season. Safuwan left the Red Giants to join Negeri Sembilan for the 2023 season, but rejoined Selangor later that year. In two stints, he racked up 71 appearances with Selangor, donned the captain's armband and was also a firm fans' favourite. But in June, The Straits Times reported that although he still had a year left on his contract with Selangor, the defender had been told he was no longer part of their plans for next season. The ambiguity surrounding his career took a personal toll on Safuwan, who in the past two weeks had even been made to train with the club's Under-23 side. "It was very tough mentally. After the last national team break, there was still a lot of uncertainty and I was not sure what was going to happen in terms of my club career. But I am glad that now everything is in place and it feels good to know that I am in a club of the Sailors' calibre," said the centre-back, who has also been deployed in midfield or even up front on numerous occasions. As he looks back on his time in Malaysian football, Safuwan is grateful for the experience which has shaped him as a footballer. While he admitted that he is unsure if that spells the end of his Malaysian stint, he is looking forward to showcasing his ability to Singapore football fans on a more regular basis as well as winning over new fans. He said: "When you are away and miss out playing here for so long, not many of the newer generation know you too well. Yes, they do see me playing for the national team but it is a bit different to playing week in and out. Now it's time for me to prove myself. It doesn't matter what credibility that you had before, if you don't come back and prove yourself." In sorting out Safuwan's immediate future, the Sailors have also added arguably the best local defender to a backline that already has two players who made last season's SPL Team of the Year - Australian defender Bailey Wright and Croatian centre-back Toni Datkovic. Sailors' executive director Bruce Liang said: "Safuwan is a proven top player in the region. His calming presence, winning mentality and versatility will add valuable strength and depth to our squad." The Sailors will be looking to go on a deep run in the AFC Champions League Two (ACL2) again, improve on last season's display in the ASEAN Club Championship — where they were knocked out at the group stage — and defend their domestic titles. Safuwan said: "I have already looked out for the first match of the season which is the Community Shield and I can't wait to get started. This club has made the ACL2 final and still wants to do better and I am going to do my best and help them progress even more." The Sailors' season will kick off with the Community Shield clash against BG Tampines Rovers on Aug 16, followed by SPL's first round on Aug 23. [[nid:719423]] This article was first published in The Straits Times . Permission required for reproduction.
Straits Times
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Lions stalwart Safuwan Baharudin returns to the Singapore Premier League after 14 years
SINGAPORE – The last time Singapore national team stalwart Safuwan Baharudin played in the domestic league, it was still called the with teams such as Etoile FC, Singapore Armed Forces FC, Woodlands Wellington and Gombak United, while the iconic Aleksandar Duric powered Tampines Rovers to the league title. That was 2011 and Safuwan was an up-and-coming player with the Young Lions. Now, 14 years later, Safuwan is back home as a Lions veteran. The 33-year-old has joined Singapore Premier League and Singapore Cup champions Lion City Sailors on a season-long loan from Malaysia Super League (MSL) giants Selangor FC. 'To be honest, I have not been counting the years. But it feels surreal knowing it has been that long,' said Safuwan, who has 124 caps for the national team. 'When I was still playing for the Young Lions, there were very different teams to what there are now. I remember playing against Beijing Guo'an Talent (2010) and Etoile. 'But I am excited to be back and I want to give credit to Selangor, for agreeing to this deal. The Sailors came in strong, we had a good discussion on what we can expect of each other. That was important to me.' The loan move ends a period of uncertainty for Safuwan, who was left in limbo at Selangor . Safuwan made his professional debut in 2009 with the Young Lions and made 58 appearances in the local competition before joining LionsXII – the now-defunct Singapore team in the MSL – from 2012 to 2015. He had a memorable, but short loan stint in the A-League with Melbourne City in 2015. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. 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He then joined Pahang FA for the 2018 season and won the Malaysia FA Cup before he was snapped up by Selangor for the 2020 season. Safuwan left the Red Giants to join Negeri Sembilan for the 2023 season, but rejoined Selangor later that year. In two stints, he racked up 71 appearances with Selangor, donned the captain's armband and was also a firm fans' favourite. But in June, The Straits Times reported that although he still had a year left on his contract with Selangor, the centre-back had been told he was no longer part of their plans for next season. The ambiguity surrounding his career took a personal toll on Safuwan, who in the past two weeks, had even been made to train with the club's Under-23 side. 'It was very tough mentally. After the last national team break, there was still a lot of uncertainty and I was not sure what was going to happen in terms of my club career. But I am glad that now everything is in place and it feels good to know that I am in a club of the Sailors' calibre,' said the centre-back, who has also been deployed in midfield or even up front on numerous occasions. As he looks back on his time in Malaysian football, Safuwan is grateful for the experience which has shaped him as a footballer. While he admitted that he is unsure if that spells the end of his Malaysian stint, he is looking forward to showcasing his ability to Singapore football fans on a more regular basis as well as win over new fans. Safuwan said: 'When you are away and miss out playing here for so long, not many of the newer generation know you too well. Yes, they do see me playing for the national team but it is a bit different to playing week in and out. Now it's time for me to prove myself. It doesn't matter what credibility that you had before, if you don't come back and prove yourself.' In sorting out Safuwan's immediate future, the Sailors have also added arguably the best local defender to a backline that already has two players who made last season's SPL Team of the Year – Australian defender Bailey Wright and Croatian centre-back Toni Datkovic. Sailors' executive director Bruce Liang said: 'Safuwan is a proven top player in the region. His calming presence, winning mentality and versatility will add valuable strength and depth to our squad.' The Sailors will be looking to go on a deep run in the AFC Champions League Two again, improve on last season's display in the Asean Club Championship – where they were knocked out at the group stage – and defend their domestic titles. Safuwan said: 'I have already looked out for the first match of the season which is the Community Shield and I can't wait to get started. This club has made the ACL2 final and still wants to do better and I am going to do my best and help them progress even more.' The Sailors' season will kick off with the Community Shield clash against BG Tampines Rovers on Aug 16, followed by SPL's first round on Aug 23.
