Mr Kenneth Khoo
Mission Most Possible

Mr Kenneth Khoo is a man with a mission. The mission in question is a podium finish in the Singapore Men’s 4X400 Relay Team at the 2015 SEA Games in Singapore.

In order to prepare himself for the forthcoming games, Mr Khoo trains every day – and even twice a day when he is not in school. His demanding training regime consists of a mixture of weights, speed and speed endurance sessions, which vary in intensity, with recovery time in between.

Mr Khoo has already represented his country at the SEA Games on no less than four previous occasions, winning a bronze medal in the 4X400m event at the 2011 Palembang games. Prior to this he secured a Silver Medal in the individual 400m event at the 2008 ASEAN University Games in Kuala Lumpur. His other honours include participating three times in the Asian Athletics Championships and being nominated by both NUS and NTU as their Sportsman of the Year in 2005 and 2009 respectively.

Mr Khoo is very proud to be representing Singapore again in 2015 and says it means everything to him to be able to do so: ‘When I was younger I used to look up to our sporting greats like Fandi Ahmad, Ang Peng Siong and James Wong and be in awe of them. When I was first selected for the national team, it was like a dream come true for me. The country has given much to me in terms of education, safety and stability, so I see my representing Singapore itself as another form of National Service and consider myself privileged to be able to give something back to the country in this way.’

Mr Khoo first became interested in athletics when he was in school, but it was in Junior College that this ‘interest’ became serious, when he joined Athletics CCA and began formal training under a coach.

Even though Mr Khoo acknowledges that the Singapore team are not the favourites for the 4X400m event – ‘We are up against some really strong teams such as the Thais, the Filipinos and the Malaysians’ – he nevertheless believes that with hard work, some luck and through the grace of God anything can happen on the big day itself.

As a P.E. Teacher, Mr Khoo firmly believes in the benefits of sport: ‘Sport has taught me many important lessons that I will always remember. Beyond the obvious physical benefits, sport teachesus perseverance and respect: perseverance in terms of never giving up and respect for our opponents. These are the same lessons I try to impart to our students. I would like to see more students involved in sports, either as participants or as spectators, as there are so many rich experiences they can draw from such
involvement.'

We all wish Mr Khoo the very best for the SEA Games later this year and hope that he succeeds in fulfilling his ‘mission’.

Ms Joan Anne Lim
Hooked On Hockey

Ms Joan Anne Lim first ‘discovered’ Field Hockey when she was eleven years old: ‘My sister and I were choosing our CCA at the Open House and found hockey to be really interesting and fun, so we decided to try it out and I have been hooked on it ever since.'

The Food and Nutrition Teacher and member of Singapore’s Women’s Hockey Team is currently training four times a week for the forthcoming SEA Games. The team is aiming for a Silver Medal, which is certainly a realistic target, considering that they finished a very respectable fourth at the 2013 SEA Games in Myanmnar.

Ms Lim has also enjoyed notable successes with her hockey club, the Jansenites, who emerged as Champions in the 2012 and 2013 Hockey Nationals, whilst in 2014 they finished in second place.

Ms Lim is extremely proud to be representing her country again at the next SEA Games: ‘I am honoured that I can play for Singapore as we host the SEA Games. I want to bring home a medal and, if I do so, it will be my pride and glory because I have sacrificed a lot for the sport I love so much.’

Ms Lim also hopes that success at the SEA Games will help to raise the profile of women’s hockey here in Singapore: ‘The hockey scene here has always been somewhat neglected and we hardly receive any coverage, so these games are a time for us to show Singapore just what we can do.’

Hockey is very much a ‘family affair’ in the Lim family. Ms Lim has two sisters who have also been playing hockey for as long as Ms Lim herself, whilst her four other sisters also train with her. All six hope to be selected for the national team.

As for Ms Lim, she has no doubts as to who she owes her successes so far to: ‘My parents are my biggest supporters. They have encouraged me through everything and have never once doubted my ability to succeed in hockey.’ Ms Lim hopes that at the forthcoming SEA Games she can reward her parents for all the faith they have shown in her and her sisters: ‘We all hope to get selected and make our family and friends proud of us.’

Ms Lim is sponsored by JDH Hockey and The Project Group. This enables her to attend hockey clinics, conducted by international players, in which she learns to hone her already impressive hockey skills.

We wish Ms Lim every success at the SEA Games later this year - and hope that she will indeed bring home that Silver Medal she is aiming for.