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Changes to NSG Junior Division: Are schools blunting excellence in sports?
Move to make sports less competitive for kids triggers debate
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Last month, the Education Ministry announced revisions to 21 sports in the National School Games Junior Division by 2021, to give children, even the less skilled, a chance to take part in the national games. In track and field, for instance, individual events such as the long jump, the 100m sprint and hurdles will be struck off the list. Instead, children will compete in an event that combines running, hurdles and beanbag throws.
ST PHOTO: JOSEPH CHUA
Jolene Ang, Amelia Teng
It took national sprinter Timothee Yap seven years to win his first individual medal.
He joined athletics at Rosyth Primary at age nine, trying out hurdles, the sprints and even cross-country. But he could not find an event he was particularly good at then because he was shorter and slower than most his age.
