WEEKLY ROUND-UP: Sports happenings in Singapore (4-10 Sept)

SINGAPORE — Here is a round-up of sports events and developments in Singapore in the past week (4 to 10 September):

Lions slump to 0-2 friendly defeat by Tajikistan

Singapore's national men's football team were jeered by fans at the Bishan Stadium, after they slumped to a listless 0-2 defeat by Tajikistan in an international friendly on Friday (8 September).

The Lions had been undefeated in four previous matches (one win and three draws), but struggled all match for attacking ideas against an ordinary Tajikistan side who were missing a large chunk of their first-choice players.

They were on the back foot as early as the sixth minute, when Tajikistan forward Muhammadjon Rahimov put his side ahead with an acrobatic volley, after he found himself unmarked near the edge of the penalty area during a corner.

Lions midfielder Adam Swandi was sent off in the 72nd minute in a clash with Tabrez Islomov, as the hosts put up just one shot on target all match when captain Hariss Harun fired straight at the goalkeeper early in the second half.

Tajikistan wrapped up the match in stoppage time, as Vahdat Hanonov scored from a counter-attack.

Singapore will next play Taiwan on Tuesday, their final warm-up match before taking on Guam in a two-legged 2026 Fifa World Cup first-round qualifier next month.

Loh Kean Yew's China Open run ended by Viktor Axelsen

Singapore shuttler Loh Kean Yew was unable to advance further into the China Open on Friday (8 September), losing to world No.1 Viktor Axelsen 17-21, 21-23 in the quarter-finals at the Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium in Changzhou.

Despite the loss, it was the furthest stage in which the former world champion had progressed in the prestigious tournament. Loh had beaten France's Christo Popov and Denmark's Anders Antonsen in previous rounds to advance into the quarter-finals, avenging losses to both shuttlers earlier this year.

Loh will next play in this week's Hong Kong Open, before heading to Hangzhou for the Asian Games, which starts on 23 September.

As for other Singapore shuttlers at the China Open, women's singles player Yeo Jia Min was beaten by China's Wang Zhiyi 17-21, 19-21 in her opening round, while mixed doubles pair Terry Hee and Jessica Tan were also defeated by China pair Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping 17-21, 12-21 in their opening round.

Flag presentation ceremony for Asian Para Games athletes

The Singapore National Paralympic Council (SNPC) held a flag presentation ceremony at Singapore Sports Hub on Saturday (9 September) for the upcoming Asian Para Games in Hangzhou from 22 to 28 October.

SNPC vice-president Monique Heah has been appointed as chef de mission for the Para Games. She has served as a committee member at the Equestrian Federation of Singapore for the past 16 years and is currently the secretary-general.

Para-swimmer Wong Zhi Wei has been named flag-bearer for Team Singapore at the Games. The NUS undergraduate won five medals (one gold, two silvers, two bronzes) at the ASEAN Para Games in Phnom Penh earlier this year, and this is his second appearance at the Asian Para Games.

A total of 33 Singapore athletes have been selected to compete across nine sports at the Asian Para Games.

SGX charity golf event raises over $218,000

The SGX Cares Bull Charge annual charity initiative teed off on Wednesday (7 September) with its charity golf tournament, bringing together corporates to raise $218,888 in support of underprivileged children and families, persons with disabilities and the elderly.

Close to 150 golfers and guests gathered in-person at Sentosa Golf Club’s Serapong course after a three-year hiatus, to mark the return of the charity golf event.

This is the first of three events anchoring SGX Cares Bull Charge, which will also include the charity futsal on 30 September Kick Off!@Kovan and the charity run at Marina Barrage on 27 October.

In partnership with the Community Chest, all fundraising proceeds will be channelled to the adopted beneficiaries for 2023: AWWA, Autism Association (Singapore), Fei Yue Community Services, HCSA Community Services and Shared Services for Charities.

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