SAFSA RECOGNISES TOP ATHLETES, SPORTS TEAMS

Sports is an excellent platform for achieving the Singapore Armed Forces Sports Association (SAFSA)'s vision of 'Energising ONE SAF Through Sports'.

Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General (LG) Perry Lim said this at the SAFSA Awards 2016 ceremony held at Orchid Country Club on 3 Aug.

LG Lim said: "Sports also serves as a channel for healthy competition, builds camaraderie, sportsmanship, and character."

Winner of the Best Sportsman award, Captain (CPT) (NS) (Dr) Nigel Tay Sin Chao, who is goalkeeper in the national water polo team, found special meaning in those words. He said: "Water polo is a team sport, so there has to be a lot of communication. Some are verbal and some are non-verbal, and we have to understand one another, pick up body cues and learn how to communicate effectively."

"Outside the water, there is a lot of planning and strategies involved, and we also have to visualise how certain strategies will play out in certain games," said the former Medical Officer of the Naval Diving Unit.

He added: "I'm very grateful to SAFSA as it has been very supportive towards the different athletes and sporting groups." He explained that SAFSA helped them to get time out from their units to train for competitions.

For CPT Nicole Tan Ling Chiao, who won the Best Sportswoman award for the third consecutive time, her interest in shooting came after joining the Army. She said: "It was through the Army that I got to shoot for SAFSA. I saw the seniors' commitment and dedication which inspired me to join the national shooting team."

"I hope that I can contribute to Singapore's sporting scene and do the country proud. If SAFSA continues its contributions to the sporting scene, I just know that Singaporean athletes can perform much better on the international platform," said the Platoon Trainer from the Motorised Training Institute.

Clinching the Best Formation Award for the fourth time in a row was Combat Service Support Command (CSSCOM). Sharing his views on the importance of taking part in SAFSA's sports competitions, the CSSCOM Division Sergeant Major and Division Sports Officer, Military Expert (ME) 5 Kuah Liap Hoe said: "The sports competitions organised by SAFSA enable people from different units to work together for a common objective and understand one another better, thus creating a more cohesive formation."

He added: "They also allow the men to widen their social circle and have connections throughout the different units. This is useful during work as they may need to cooperate across units for certain operations or activities."

In addition to the top awards, SAFSA also gave out 188 Colours awards to recognise the sporting achievements of SAF individuals and teams in the past year.