The Ben Davis episode has sparked a national conversation on long-term national service deferment for national athletes.
The 17-year-old footballer will have to return to Singapore in December to serve NS after his application for deferment was rejected by the Ministry of Defence (Mindef), jeopardising his hopes of pursuing a professional career with English Premier League (EPL) club Fulham.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Dive deeper at $0.99/month
Want more exclusives, sharp insights into what's happening at home and abroad? Subscribe to stay informed.
ST One Digital Package - Monthly
$9.90 $0.99/month
No contract
$0.99/month for the first 3 months, $9.90/month thereafter. T&Cs apply.
Unlock these benefits
All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com
Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device
2-week e-paper archive so you never miss out on any topic that matters to you