Showbiz celebrity Irene Ang, a former national fencer, is starting a new sports management arm at her artist management company Fly Entertainment. -- ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN

She is expanding her artist management company, Fly Entertainment, with a new arm that manages sports stars.

Sporting a new haircut at her three-storey shophouse office in Neil Road, the self-confessed 'kaypoh' said: 'When there is a gap, I want to fill it, especially when I see such a large market whose potential has yet to be tapped.'

To be launched at the end of this year, the sports management idea came to the star of now-ended sitcom Phua Chu Kang Pte Ltd two years ago when she was hosting events for the Singapore Sports Council.

She realised then that there was a dearth of support for athletes who had to juggle their sports with their professional careers.

A former national fencer who won a SEA Games silver medal in 1991, she recalled eating just a chicken bun for dinner about thrice a week so she could save up for her sport. 'I credit sports for developing in me perseverance, dedication and faith. These traits have helped me to be successful and this is how I feel I can give back to it,' said the 39-year-old who participated in 11 co-curricular activities in junior college.

While she hasn't signed any athletes yet, Ang is in talks with representatives of sportsmen from at least three different sports. She may also manage entire teams or sports groups that need help with increasing their profile locally.

'Singapore might currently have a small sports scene, but I see an enormous potential in the business of sport here in the long run. Maybe even an Asian David Beckham eventually.'

Esther Teo