Netball Singapore chief executive Cyrus Medora steps down after 19 years at the helm
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Netball Singapore chief executive officer Cyrus Medora (second row, fifth from right) will step down from his role at the end of 2024.
ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY
SINGAPORE – When Cyrus Medora joined Netball Singapore in 2005, he did not know what to expect.
Apart from being briefly exposed to netball in school, he knew little about the sport, but that did not deter him.
Over the next 19 years, Medora learnt everything there was to know about it – from the rules to hosting a world championship to expanding the reach of netball in the region.
After nearly two decades, he announced on Dec 9 that he is retiring and will step down from his role at the end of 2024.
The 73-year-old said: “There’s no good time to let go. All my friends are retired and they’re all travelling, playing golf and going windsurfing and I’m like, ‘I can’t, I’ve got this event, that event’.
“It was also age and I thought while I’m still fit and able, I better do other things I want to do... It’s not easy, but it’s time to let go.”
Taking over from him is Daniel Ho, a hockey player and currently the chief operating officer at local media company Mothership, who joins the association on Jan 1.
During Medora’s tenure, the national team won four Asian Netball Championship titles, including the 2024 edition, and were crowned SEA Games champions in 2015.
The Netball World Championship, now known as the Netball World Cup, returned to Singapore in 2011 after 28 years, while the Nations Cup, an annual tournament involving international teams, was established in 2006.
Participation in the sport has grown, and netball is now played in about 220 schools and there are over 87 clubs across the country.
Looking back on his time at the national sports association, Medora said: “I hope we’ve lifted it up to a different level – every successive president and all that we’ve just kept growing. Hopefully, we’ve grown it into a good stage now, I think it’s extremely healthy.
“The pipeline is very strong, the development is very good, it’s in a good place and, hopefully, we’re leaving it in a good way to carry it and go to the next step for the younger people coming in.”
Pointing out the 2015 SEA Games gold and 2024 Asian Championship triumph as career highlights, he attributed their success to “a good team, everybody works, everybody’s got the passion, the drive, the hunger”.
For Ho, his priority will be ensuring the national team are well prepared for major events, such as the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand, which will be crucial as they work towards the 2029 edition held in Singapore.
He also aims to enhance the sport’s profile and impact here and in the region.
The 35-year-old added: “Netball, as a team sport and one so widely played by women and girls, means so much to so many. To be entrusted with taking Netball Singapore into the future is a responsibility and privilege.”
Paying tribute to Medora, Netball Singapore president Trina Liang said: “His leadership has laid a strong foundation for future growth, and we are excited to work closely with Daniel to build on this legacy to take netball in Singapore to even greater heights.”
