Singapore hockey sisters Nadiah and Dayana Ong aiming for Women’s Junior AHF Cup glory
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Nadiah Ong (left) and Dayana Ong are sisters who will be playing in the Women's Junior AHF Cup from June 14 to 23.
ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE
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SINGAPORE – Five years ago, Dayana Ong watched in awe as her elder sister Nadiah Ong won the 2019 Women’s Junior Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) Cup title with the Singapore Under-21 team.
It inspired her to work hard to earn a spot in the team, and this week Dayana will make her U-21 debut at the June 14-23 Junior AHF Cup at the Sengkang Hockey Stadium.
The 17-year-old attacking midfielder said: “Having my sister as a family member I’m really close to on the pitch gave me a sense of pride.
“I’m seeing someone I’m so close to being out on the field representing Singapore.”
The siblings started playing hockey when they were in primary school. Dayana followed in her sister’s footsteps after her parents brought her to watch Nadiah’s matches and “watching the way the game was played left me in awe”.
They went on to win trophies at the National School Games – Nadiah, 19, clinched the A Division girls’ hockey title in 2022 with Eunoia Junior College and Dayana did the same in 2024.
This is the first time they will be playing in a tournament together. Dayana said: “I will remember this forever, because we have always talked about being in the same team, being in different positions especially.
“We just want to see that kind of sibling energy and chemistry on the pitch.”
Team captain and striker Nadiah is aiming to make up for a lost opportunity in 2021, when the Women’s Hockey Junior Asia Cup was cancelled owing to Covid-19 travel restrictions.
Nadiah Ong (left) in action against a member of the senior national team, during a friendly match at the Sengkang Hockey Stadium on June 6.
ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE
The team need to finish in the top five to qualify for the next Women’s Hockey Junior Asia Cup. Seven teams will feature in the Women’s Junior AHF Cup this week, including three-time champions Chinese Taipei.
Team manager Laura Tan said: “For Singapore hockey in general, the Asia Cup is quite a pinnacle. If they are able to qualify and go, it will be an amazing experience and they will really learn a lot, especially when they are facing off with the giants in the world.”
K. Vijayan and Henry Wong are the respective head coaches of the men’s and women’s national teams, with both men also responsible for the development of young players. Wong is targeting Singapore’s first-ever qualification for the Women’s International Hockey Federation (FIH) Hockey Junior World Cup, the next step up from the Junior Asia Cup.
For this tournament, Wong has chosen to field players as young as 15, as part of the plan to win a gold medal at the SEA Games when it is hosted in Singapore in 2029.
Dayana Ong (right) in action against a member of the senior national team, during a friendly match at the Sengkang Hockey Stadium on June 6.
ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE
The Republic’s women’s team won a SEA Games hockey gold in 1993, while the men clinched the title at the 1973 South-east Asian Peninsular Games.
For Singapore’s junior men’s team, preparations for the Men’s Junior AHF Cup have not been smooth sailing due to national service commitments for a number of players.
Team captain Yap Wee Lee has since adjusted his goal from top four to top seven, noting that Thailand – their first opponents on June 14 – will be the toughest to beat.
Members of the men’s team, who are participating in the Men’s Junior AHF Cup, in parachute training.
ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE
Still, Vijayan is eyeing qualification for the Men’s Hockey Junior Asia Cup – they will need to finish in the top five out of 11 teams to do so.
“That will be our ultimate goal,” said the 59-year-old.
Correction note: In an earlier version of the story, we identified K. Vijayan and Henry Wong as the head coach and high performance coach respectively. The Singapore Hockey Federation has since clarified that they are the men’s and women’s national team head coaches, and are also in charge of development of youth players.
We also reported that Singapore’s sole SEA Games gold was won by the women in 1993. That is incorrect as the men’s team won the SEAP Games gold in 1973. We are sorry for the error.
