Tchoukball targets debut at the National School Games

SINGAPORE – For the first time in 16 years, the National School Games (NSG) looks set to welcome a new sport to its calendar, with tchoukball expected to join the roster in 2027, The Straits Times has learnt.

The annual inter-school competition currently hosts 29 sports, featuring around 69,000 student-athletes from more than 300 schools. The last sport added to the NSG was fencing, in 2011.

Tchoukball is a non-contact team sport combining elements of handball and volleyball, with players scoring by throwing the ball onto an angled rebound frame. Teams score points when their opponents are unable to catch the rebound.

The sport was introduced to Singapore by the People’s Association in 2003, and the Tchoukball Association of Singapore (TBAS) was formed three years later. There are more than 3,000 people who play the sport here.

While tchoukball is currently not part of the NSG, it already has a foothold in schools through TBAS’ annual inter-school competitions.

At present, more than 1,000 student-athletes compete across five divisions (from primary to tertiary level) while six teams take part at the POL-ITE level – for polytechnics and the Institute of Technical Education – and seven compete in the Singapore University Games.

TBAS general secretary and International Tchoukball Federation president Delane Lim told ST: “We are now working towards the final stages of bringing tchoukball possibly into the National School Games, and this is an important step for the long-term development of our sport in Singapore, though the decision lies with the Ministry of Education (MOE).

“If and when it’s included, the NSG will give more students the opportunity to experience tchoukball, represent their schools and discover the sport in a structured competition environment.

“Not every student needs to become a national athlete; what is important is that more young people have the opportunity to play, compete, make friends and develop through sport.”

Noting that the inclusion in the NSG was “about participation, development and opportunity”, Lim added that this would allow TBAS to “build a strong and inclusive base in our schools, (and) high-performance success will follow naturally over time”.

Responding to queries from ST, an MOE spokesperson said that it “will provide updates when there are changes to the National School Games sports roster”.

News of tchoukball’s possible inclusion in the NSG has been welcomed by the fraternity.

Fadli Abdul Latheef, a tchoukball coach at Broadrick Secondary School, said: “It will give my CCA (co-curricular activity) students a morale boost and confidence, knowing that they are competing at the same level of competition as their peers in basketball, football and other NSG sports.

“Developing more teachers and coaches, having teachers keen to start a tchoukball CCA and enough coaches to support the school team are vital to growing the sport in schools.”

He added that TBAS’ experience running the inter-school competition with ActiveSG in the past four years has prepared them for next season’s NSG, noting that the former “follows the format of NSG competition with pool and league format, longer playing duration per match, and matches over a few days”.

Being part of the NSG roster would also help win over sceptical parents, said fellow coach Lai Jia Jun, 33.

Lai, who coaches the national Under-13 boys’ team and Pei Hwa Presbyterian Primary School, added: “Having tchoukball at the NSG level would definitely give the sport greater recognition and credibility. As tchoukball is still relatively new, some parents may be hesitant to let their children pursue it.

“Having that recognition would give both parents and students more confidence and a stronger reason to take the sport seriously and pursue it competitively.”

Ayden Wong, a Bendemeer Secondary School student and national youth development player, is happy to be able to don school colours in the NSG.

The 13-year-old said: “I’d be representing not just myself, but my school and my teammates as well.

“We get to challenge ourselves by competing against other schools, and all the training and effort we put in would feel even more meaningful when we step onto the court representing our school.”

His father, Sean Wong, also welcomed the development. He said: “Sport teaches children to handle pressure, accept setbacks, learn from mistakes and come back stronger.

“So while NSG would mean a greater commitment, I see that commitment as part of their education and personal development.”