SAFSA CELEBRATES SPORTING ACHIEVEMENTS

One hundred and ninety-seven Colours awards and seven top awards were handed out at the Singapore Armed Forces Sports Association (SAFSA) Awards 2017 ceremony held at Temasek Club on 4 Jul to recognise the sporting achievements of SAF athletes and teams in the past year.

Among the top athletes was national shooter 2nd Warrant Officer (2WO) Poh Lip Meng who clinched the Best Sportsman award for his achievements in Shooting.

When asked what ignited his passion for the sport, the Commando said: Shooting is a unique sport. It is one that requires both mental and physical resilience. You need mental resilience as you will be placed under great pressure for each shot, and your shots have to be consistent and accurate.

2WO Poh feels that shooting not only allows him to keep fit, but the lessons and values learnt from the sport can be applied to different aspects of his life, even at work.

He said: I treat each task assigned to me as a shot that I would take when shooting, so I will strive to make sure that my work remains consistent and of the highest quality.

At 47 years of age, 2WO Poh has no plans of slowing down. He intends to continue honing his shooting skills so that he can have a shot at the 2020 Olympic Games.

Winning a Bronze medal in the 25m Standard Pistol Team category in the 2014 Asian Games held in Incheon, South Korea, has fuelled his ambition to participate in the Olympic Games. He said: I will continue to work hard and participate in national and regional competitions to improve my game.

Speaking at the ceremony, Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General (LG) Perry Lim said: It is important to note that, behind these achievements and performances, there is a team of unsung heroes regarded by athletes as more than just coaches or officials, but as mentors and friends.

And as we celebrate the significance of (the athletes ) achievements, let us also remember that sports does not only provide a channel for healthy competition, but also builds camaraderie and sportsmanship.

Military Expert (ME) 5 Kuah Liap Hoe, who is the Division Sergeant Major and Division Sports Officer of Combat Service Support Command (CSSCOM), agreed, saying: I believe SAFSA can be the backbone of the development of sports in the various formations, as it provides various opportunities for servicemen to play sports while holding a full-time job, so as to produce generations of strong and fit soldiers.

To produce strong and fit soldiers in CSSCOM, a Healthy Lifestyle programme is put in place to encourage servicemen to exercise every week and build up their level of fitness for competitive sports.

ME5 Kuah added that CSSCOM invited the servicemen s superiors and colleagues to the training sessions to show their encouragement for the sportsmen.

Perhaps it is this formidable combination of competitive spirit and supportive environment that led to CSSCOM winning the Best Formation award for the fifth consecutive time.

ME5 Kuah said: There are no secrets to winning. We just make sure that our sportsmen remain motivated and well-prepared for competitions. We also make sure that sportsmen who show potential are exposed to different opportunities to compete and train.

When asked for his hopes for the formation in the future, the 52-year-old said: I am very proud of my sportsmen for giving their all and clinching the award this year. They have done extremely well year after year, and I believe that their achievements and work ethics will set a good example for future sportsmen in our formation, so that we can continue winning the award for the sixth year and beyond.