Athletics: Ho Mun Cheong introduces team to contest in Singapore Athletics elections

SINGAPORE - Singapore Athletics (SA) honorary secretary Ho Mun Cheong has unveiled his 14-member team that will contest at the association's June 27 elections.

Ho, a 67-year-old director of an engineering firm, will run for the president's post, entering a fight against lawyer Edmond Pereira for the top job.

In a press conference held at furniture shop Big Box in Jurong East, Ho said: "I'm cautiously optimistic. (Loh) Chan Pew and myself have been working on the ground and we are close to all the affiliates."

He has assembled a team that include three incumbents: Vice-president (competitions organising) and veteran coach Loh, 71, assistant honorary secretary Dr Govindasamy Balasekaran, 52, and vice-president (finance) R. Rajandran, 61.

Another notable inclusion in the line-up is Margaret Oh, 56, who is the coach of national sprinter and SEA Games 200m champion Shanti Pereira.

One of the immediate tasks the team are hoping to do is to set up an Athletes' Commission to oversee the management and welfare of all the athletes, even after they retire from the competitive scene.

Succession planning has also shaped Ho's selection of his team, as he has included new faces such as former national sprinter Tan Min Jen and accountant Alvin Phua.

Ho's team:

President: Ho Mun Cheong

Vice-president (training & selection): G. Balasekaran

Vice-president (competitions): Loh Chan Pew

Vice-president (finance): R. Rajandran

Honorary secretary: Alexander C. Louis

Honorary assistant secretary: Tan Ming Jen

Honorary treasurer: Alvin Phua

Statistician: Peter Back

Women's representative: Margaret Oh

Chairman (officials): Joe Yap

Chairman (race walking): Dr Leong Lee San

Chairman (tech & equipment): Ong Choon Poh

Chairman (tug of war): Terry Tan

Chairman (cross-country & road running): A. Kannan