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Writes Bryan O’Connor, Director, Touch Football Singapore
Celebrating Singapore Girl’s - 3rd in the World!
Singapore has been emerging as a
respected touch playing nation for a
number of years by committing to technical
development; active participation at a
wide range of tournaments and events at
home and abroad and having participated
in world cup championships in Australia
(Sydney) 1999; Japan 2003 and South
Africa 2007.
Four Singapore representative teams
toured to Edinburgh Scotland in June -
the largest international touring group
to date - to again take on the best in the
World. And in the case of the Women’s
Open team especially - take them on they
did!
Singapore girls (pictured bottom right)
won bronze and positioned 3
rd
in the world
rankings, defeating all that stood between
them and victory - advancing past their
more fancied western opposition as the
championships progressed - a remark-
able feat and well deserved.
The win comes as a culmination of many
years hard work by many people and
not just as players. A large number of
Singaporeans and expatriates alike have
genuinely put their heart and soul into
the sport over the past 8 years since the
Japan world cup and this result is due
reward.
A key factor, Singaporean enthusiasts as
players have also taken on coaching and
refereeing roles – learning the game and
honing their skills and knowledge. They
have then gone out to their local schools
and communities and introduced their
game to peers and young people who
have enthusiastically adopted ‘Touch’ as
their team sport.
These local enthusiasts have created a
healthy Touch culture and allowed for a
foundation for future development.
Expatriates have eagerly participated and
supported this development and with a
healthy mix of local and expatriate zeal,
the combined effort has allowed for this
team of young women to bring home a
rare world championships medal in a
team sport for an Asian country.
The women’s team was all Singaporean
bar two junior expatriate school girls with
a healthy mix of young Singaporean girls
that have been developed through youth
programmes as age team representatives
and older, more experienced players that
have gained experience at the elite level
of the game.
They trained for 12 months as a squad
- toured as a representative group and
performed to their best as a team -
congratulations to all 15 players the 2
coaches and manager - and the entire
Singapore Touch community - all of whom
should be very proud.
For further information on Singapore
Touch Football please contact:
E-mail:
bryan@touchsingapore.org
URL:
www.touchsingapore.org
Insight