Singapore sports round-up (22-28 Jan): 15-year-old golfer earns coveted spot, Loh Kean Yew at Indonesia Masters

SINGAPORE — Here is a round-up of sports events and developments in Singapore in the past week (22 to 28 January):

Chen Xing Tong, 15, earns spot at HSBC Women's World C'ship

Singapore amateur golfer Chen Xing Tong has clinched a coveted spot to compete in the upcoming HSBC Women’s World Championship, emerging victorious in the two-day national qualifying tournament on Thursday (25 January)

The 15-year-old carded an even-par 144 total over two days (70 and 74) to finish four strokes ahead of flight mates Amanda Tan (76 and 72) and Aloysa Atienza (74 and 74) at the Sentosa Golf Club's Tanjong Course.

The Singapore Sports School student, who won her first international title at the Selangor Amateur Open in 2023, thus earned the right to share the stage with some of the world’s top players, including Lilia Vu, Ruoning Yin, Celine Boutier, Minjee Lee and Ko Jin-young Ko, when the Women's World Championship takes place at Sentosa Golf Club from 29 February to 3 March.

"I am very excited but also very nervous to be able to play with some of the best in the world. These past two days, I really wanted to be consistent, such as keeping the ball in play and hitting the fairways and greens. Basically, playing simple golf," Chen said.

Loh Kean Yew falls to nemesis at Indonesia Masters

Shuttler Loh Kean Yew reached the quarter-finals of the Daihatsu Indonesia Masters, but was eliminated after a 17-21, 19-21 loss to nemesis Anthony Sinisuka Ginting on Friday (26 January).

The world No.12 former world champion had advanced after victories over India's world No.8 H.S. Prannoy (21-18, 19-21, 21-10) and Taiwanese qualifier Su Li-yang (21-11, 21-16), but suffered his sixth straight loss to the Indonesian world No.4 at Istora Senayan in Jakarta.

In the mixed doubles, Singapore's husband-and-wife duo Terry Hee and Jessica Tan made it to the last-16 after beating Japan's Yuki Kaneko and Misaki Matsumoto 21-10, 21-15 on Wednesday, but narrowly lost to China's world No.1 pair Zheng Siwei and Wang Yaqiong 12-21, 21-16, 19-21 the following day.

In the women's singles, Yeo Jia Min was beaten by China's world No.10 Wang Zhiyi 21-9, 15-21, 18-21 in her opening round.

New guidelines for safer aquatic sports environments

Sport Singapore (SportSG) and the Singapore Standards Council (SSC) have on Thursday (25 January) set out more robust guidelines for safer aquatic sport environments. Organisations vested in aquatic sports and fitness, and those managing aquatic facilities, are encouraged to adopt the new guidelines to support and enhance aquatic sport safety standards.

The new guidelines come under the Singapore Standard (SS) 700:2023 Code of Practice for Water Safety – Aquatic Facilities and SS 701:2023 Code of Practice for Inland and Open Water Sporting Activities.

The SS 700:2023 is updated with additional safety considerations for shallow water blackouts and prolonged breath-holding, while the SS 701:2023 set out requirements for users to exercise safety practices and precautions, particularly pertaining to water safety requirements for the common inland and open water sporting activities in Singapore.

Both Codes of Practice will be available for purchase on the Singapore Standards e-Shop. Organisations can use the new standards to build on their existing water safety protocols or to establish new ones.

Chinese New Year festivities at Sports Hub

The Singapore Sports Hub will be celebrating the Chinese New Year with a host of activities from now until 25 February.

The Prosperity Run will flag off at Arena Park at 8am on 24 February, the 15th day of the Chinese New Year. Besides a limited-edition finisher medal, each participant will also receive a Prosperity Bag, which includes an event tee, a run bib, Singapore Sports Hub-themed hongbaos and an exclusive God of Fortune headpiece.

Following the run, there will be a carnival featuring Lion and Dragon dance performances, as well as traditional handicraft and game booths. The carnival runs from 8am to 11am and is open to the public. Registration for the Prosperity Run closes on 5 February.

Meanwhile, spend a minimum of $68 ($88 for FairPrice Xtra) at Kallang Wave Mall to redeem a pack of Singapore Sports Hub hongbaos. Patrons can also receive a mandarin orange carrier and a $10 FairPrice voucher if they spend more than $188 (or $228 at FairPrice Xtra).

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