SINGAPORE - In a boost to the local hockey scene, national sports movement ActiveSG launched its Hockey Academy on Saturday (July 15) morning.

The academy will work with the Singapore Hockey Federation (SHF) and local private academies to offer affordable and quality coaching programmes for children. Pricing and further details of these programmes will be announced later.

Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who was the guest of honour at the academy's launch at Sengkang Hockey Stadium, said: "I hope that through the ActiveSG Hockey Academy, more Singaporeans and especially our youth will come to love the game. Sports are one of the best ways we develop respect for others and develop ourselves for life, and it certainly was that way for me."

DPM Tharman was a former combined schools hockey player in his youth.

Mathavan Devadas, president of SHF, said: "We are excited to partner ActiveSG to grow the sport of hockey and to create a more robust calendar of events for the sport.

"I am optimistic that this academy will increase the talent pool of hockey players in Singapore, leading to a brighter future for our national team in the years to come."

As part of the academy's launch, past and present Team Singapore players were present to show their support. Among the former internationals were Olympians Ajit Singh (Melbourne, 1956), Anwarul Haque and Douglas Nonis (Tokyo, 1964).

Lim Teck Yin, chief executive officer of national sports agency Sport Singapore said, "We are delighted to have with us our hockey Olympians, who competed with the world's best hockey players during the 1956 and 1964 Olympics. Hockey has a rich history in our county and through this academy, we hope to keep this tradition going and interest more youths to try out this fun and exciting sport."

To find out more or register interest for the programme, visit www.myactivesg.com/academy/hockey.