'Red Lions' name for aquatic athletes likely to change

SINGAPORE - Singapore's aquatic athletes are likely to get a new name, four days after they first adopted "Red Lions", which was coined in 1995 for the country's elite military skydiving team.

Sources have told The Straits Times that the Singapore Swimming Association (SSA) will most likely stop using "Red Lions" and choose another name for its athletes.

The swimming body's decision is believed to be made after its representatives met their counterparts from the Ministry of Defence on Wednesday morning.

News of the SSA's move to adopt the "Red Lions" name broke last Saturday, drawing flak from soldiers past and present, as well as, members of the public.

They blasted the SSA for not coming up with an original name and copying from the iconic Singapore Armed Forces' freefallers, who have been a favourite at every National Day Parade since 1996.

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