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AT THE FOREFRONT: SportSman of the Year Remy Ong (bowling) and Sportswoman of the Year Tao Li (swimming) will lead Singapore's hunt for golds. -- ST PHOTO: ALBERT SIM
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TEAM Singapore have been given a double-barrelled mission for next month's South-east Asia Games: Get between 35 and 45 gold medals and better your personal bests.
That challenge came from Singapore's chef de mission, Low Teo Ping, during the flag presentation ceremony at the Republic Polytechnic yesterday.
This year's Games, held between Dec 6 and 15 in Korat, Bangkok and Pattaya, will see Singapore field their largest contingent - 424 athletes in 35 sports.
Two years ago in Manila, Singapore's 380-strong contingent brought home a record haul of 42 golds in 33 sports.
Though more Singaporeans are competing in more sports this year, do not expect another gold rush, said Low.
'It would be unreasonable to expect another 42 gold medals,' he said. 'But, having said that, I believe a target of 35 to 45 golds is well within our reach.'
According to him, sports like swimming, table tennis, sailing, bowling, shooting, silat, water polo and badminton are expected to deliver the goods this year.
But, more importantly, every member of Team Singapore must strive to set new benchmarks for themselves.
Said Low: 'It doesn't matter if we get 10 more or 10 less medals compared to the last time round.
'What's important is that at least 80 per cent of the athletes perform beyond their personal bests.'
Parliamentary Secretary (Community Development, Youth and Sports) Teo Ser Luck , who presented the flag to Low yesterday, echoed the call.
'Instead of counting medals, we should look towards breakthrough performances,' he said.
This is important, he added, because the SEA Games is a launchpad for bigger stages like the Asian Games and the world championships.
Team Singapore are also pinning their medal hopes on the young, with 192 athletes aged below 21.
In sailing, for example, eight members of the 25-strong squad are 16 or younger.
The number of younger athletes ties in well with the Republic's bid to host the inaugural Youth Olympics in 2011, said Mr Teo.
'The young ones should have every chance to experience this competition and gain exposure if they have qualified for the Games,' he said.
'This will also put them in good stead if Singapore wins the Youth Olympics Games bid.'
That spirit is embodied by the youngest face in the Singapore contingent - 12-year-old petanque player Nur Izzati Ismail.
Said the Greenridge Primary School student: 'I'm a bit nervous, but I think I have a chance to win a medal.
'I'm willing to work hard - even though it's my first time at the SEA Games.'
Singapore's flag-bearer at the opening ceremony on Dec 6 will be shuttler Kendrick Lee, who won the Dutch Open last month.
At yesterday's event, another flag was presented to Henry Tan, the chef-de-mission for the Singapore contingent heading to the Asean Para Games in Korat from Jan 17-26.
Singapore are represented by 62 disabled athletes, who will be led by flag-bearer Mohd Syah Rezal, a budding field athlete.
Singapore's main contingent for the SEA Games depart on Dec 3, though the football and shooting squads will leave earlier as their events start sooner.
tvoon@sph.com.sg
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