Little known about rivals but hosts should achieve five-medal goal
By
Terrence Voon
Quah Ting Wen's recent freestyle times would have won her medals in the 50m, 100m and 200m events at the 2006 Asian Games. -- PHOTO: GAVIN FOO FOR THE NEW PAPER
AFTER months of intense preparation and selection trials, it boils down to this: Seven days of bare-knuckles competition against the best young talent Asia has to offer.
MANY UNKNOWNS
'It was tough to find out who were our biggest threats, as there aren't many major international competitions for this age group.'
MERVYN FOO, bowling team manager, on the lack of information on rivals
From Bishan Stadium to Sentosa, Team Singapore's 96 athletes will compete in all nine sports - with the exception of diving, which is part of aquatics - to vie for the 90 gold medals on offer.
But just how big will the Republic's slice of the medal pie be?
Officials have shied away from predictions and target-setting in recent days, preferring to cocoon the teenage athletes from competitive pressure.
The fact that little information is available on the foreign contingents makes it even more difficult to divine how Singapore will fare, say team managers like bowling's Mervyn Foo.
'It was tough to find out who were our biggest threats, as there aren't many major international competitions for this age group,' he said.
Last month, however, Senior Parliamentary Secretary (Community Development, Youth and Sports) Teo Ser Luck set a minimum target of five medals, including one gold.
The figure is achievable, should Singapore's athletes perform well in sports that the country has traditionally excelled in: bowling, sailing, shooting and swimming.
In bowling, where lane conditions are often decisive, home-ground advantage will be key.
Coupled with the absence of traditional powerhouse Malaysia, there is a good chance that Singapore's keglers can shine, even against formidable rivals like those from South Korea and the Middle East.
Read the full story in Tuesday's edition of The Straits Times.
