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Young Olympian Daily

2010 https://hdl.handle.net/10356/80190

Downloaded on 30 Sep 2021 14:00:28 SGT talk to us at facebook.com/youngolympiandaily WED from 15th to tog u her than they beyondt cul ural tweet OF THE DAY third look convention today a Ukraine dude gave me European pair surges Gymnasts rise from setbacks Girls inspire peers with a big Ukraine flag when i asked 25 forward sporting passion him if he had pins! AUG @wangsimin 2010 3 4 7 Wang Simin, Student Reporter The official Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Village newspaper

A publication by the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, NTU the oranje strike gold

The Netherlands Penalty and extra time victory for the end of full time, as the match for them as legs began Argentines were awarded a to tire in extra time. team pose for a Dutch girls hockey team series of penalty corners in “We are the most fit team photo after the gold quick succession due to jittery of the tournament and that medal match victory by Bhavan Jaipragas Goal scoring opportunities Dutch defence. Goalkeeper helped us to continue running ceremony. were few and far between Saskia Van Duivenboden kept in extra time while PHOTO: SPH-SYOGOC/ he Netherlands fitness for both sides in the first 20 her cool to make a crucial save looked tired,” said Broek, who and penalty corner minutes as midfielders battled from a point blank flick shot. scored four field goals in the TAN KOK PENG expertise proved to be for possession. The newly invigorated tournament. Tdecisive as they clinched the Argentina, which started Dutch attack needed little Argentina’s coach Gonzalez gold medal in the girl’s hockey with top scorer Agustina prodding in extra time, with was upbeat, despite his team’s competition last night. Alvarez on the bench, Ouwerling orchestrating loss. “These things happen in They beat Argentina 2-1 capitalised on a penalty corner fluid passes from the midfield. tight games like this and we through a golden goal. in the 25th minute. Forward The ever-reliable Lieke cannot fault our defence which The Dutch team’s late surge Agustina Albertarrio stepped duly delivered again in the played excellently against New was characteristic of their up to score a tap-in from 78th minute, converting her Zealand and Korea,” he said, performance throughout the close range after the initial fifth penalty corner goal of the refusing to blame his team competition, with a second shot rebounded off the Dutch tournament and clinching the for conceding costly penalty half resurgence pulling them goalkeeper. winning goal. corners. through their games against Fans eager to see a greater Speaking to reporters after For the Dutch, celebrations Belgium and Argentina in the display of attacking hockey the match, Dutch coach Ageet on the pitch were due to preliminary stage. in the second period were Boomgaardt was full of praise continue through the night. Both teams had met just five left disappointed; both teams for Lieke, whom she calls one When asked about the team’s days ago, with Netherlands reverted to their cagey style of of two “experts of the drag post-match plans, Roos said: scoring at the death to finish play when play restarted. flick” in the team. “Mcdonalds, definitely.” 2-2 on that occasion. Their efforts paid off in the “Penalty corners can define Playing to a stadium packed 47th minute as drag flick expert a game and at her age to score “Penalty corners can define a to the rafters with athletes Lieke Van Wijk converted a two in such a crucial game is and fans from both countries, penalty corner with a sweet really something.” game and at her age to score two Argentina and Netherlands strike. For forward Roos Broek, the in such a crucial game is really started the game with almost Dutch fans were left at the superior fitness of the Dutch something.” no intention of attacking. edge of their seats towards team was what clinched the — Dutch coach Ageet Boomgaardt on Lieke’s penalty goals 2 YOV in numbers YOUNG OLYMPIAN DAILY MEDALS WON yesterDAY NEWS column CNOU TRY IN NUMBERS Miracle Sunday INE ALPHAB TICAL ORDER A rgentina 0 1 1 by chuang bing han Zimbabwe, Montenegro and Haiti — the fans were there. 0 1 0 On Sunday, And they were not just there Chile 1 0 0 the Jalan as spectators. The crowd rose as Besar one, to cheer and to jeer. Every China 1 1 0 stadium was foul against the Cubs was red Colombia 0 1 0 packed to the card worthy. Every foul they Egypt 0 0 1 rafters: all conceded had to be play-acting 6,000 tickets on the opponents’ part. Equatorial Guinea 0 1 0 photo: internet were sold out. And it is not just football. In Hungary 0 0 1 The next other games, whether tennis, India 0 0 1 day, local tabloid The New Paper swimming, or badminton, the reported that a group of fans, venues were packed as well. Korea 0 1 1 490 having missed out on the tickets The Games have often The year (BC) Greek soldier Lithuania 0 0 1 to the Haiti-Singapore football been derided as the Olympics’ Pheidippides ran from match, resorted to watching the younger, and poorer, cousin. 0 0 1 Marathon to Athens (about game from a nearby multi-storey “Chey, these are just kids,” Moldova 0 0 1 25 miles) to inform Athenians carpark. naysayers said. “What can they Netherlands 1 0 0 the outcome of the battle with A few foolhardy teenagers do?” New Zealand 0 0 1 even scaled up to the rooftop for But these ‘kids’ did do invading Persians. The first a better view. It was a “directors’ something. Where other teams, Poland 0 0 1 modern in 1896 box”, as they called it. athletes and competitions had Russian Federation 1 0 1 introduced the marathon event One of the few times failed, they succeeded. They Saudi Arabia 0 0 1 to commemorate him. Singapore fans came out in brought us out from in front of force was when English football the television sets, and into the Turkey 0 0 2 mega-clubs Manchester United stadiums. Turkmenistan 0 0 1 and Liverpool were in town. On Sunday, the scoreboard Ukraine 2 1 0 The same cannot be said might have read 2-0 to Haiti, 7 for the national team. Even but in truth, the winners on 1 0 0 The time, in hours, a Masters the fiercely contested rivalry that night were the young Uzbekistan 0 0 2 Championship fencing bout in matches with Malaysia could not footballers, and all the athletes Venezuela 0 0 1 New York in the 1930s lasted. draw them out. who competed in YOG. Today, the time limit is 3 But in the last three matches Thank you, for helping us minutes for 5-touch bouts and the Cubs played — against cheer for our team again. 9 minutes for 15 touches. “I’m so happy that no words CHIEF EDITOR COPY EDITORS PRODUCTION SUPPORT Elizabeth Law Anjali Raguraman Ng Heng Ghee can explain my thoughts now Cassandra Yeap PICTURE EDITOR Chuang Bing Han TEACHER ADVISORS because I never thought I’d be Ng Jun Sen Kwan Hui Xian Andrew Duffy 55.92 Ng Hoe Guan Juleen Shaw an Olympic champion and the NIGHT EDITORS Santhiya Kulasakeran The recorded time (in seconds) Joanna Hor Wang Simin DESIGN CONSULTANT Youth Olympics have given me Zakaria Zainal Rishad Patel clocked by Americans LAYOUT EDITORS that opportunity.” Nancy Hogshead and Carrie CHIEF LAYOUT EDITOR Maxie Aw Yeong — Uruguayan rider Marcelo Chirico Neo Wen Tong Yamuna Yeo Steinseifer, who registered A students’ newspaper published by the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information the first official tie in Olympic Nanyang Technological University, 31 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637718. Tel: 6790 6446 history in the 100m freestyle at Printed by KHL Printing Co. Pte Ltd., 57 Loyang Drive, Singapore 508968 Editorials are the opinions of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the policies or views of the Singapore the 1984 Olympics. Organising Committee or Nanyang Technological University, its employees, the students or the Council of the University.

facts of the world

Uin n ted ki gdom g rEECE British diver Tom The first Olympic CHINA Daley was the first mascot was first person to win the introduced at the In winning the BBC Young Sports 1968 Grenoble games 110m hurdles event Personality of the in . Since those in Athens 2004, Year award twice, in games each nation Liu Xiang was the 2007 and 2009. has chosen a mascot first Asian to win to symbolise their an Olympic gold nation. in a men’s track and field event. He is also the first Chinese athlete to win the “triple crown” of athletics: World Record Holder, World Champion and Olympic Champion. Egypt sin e gapor Rowing was first At Marina Barrage, used as a means athletes learn about of transport in the water conservation ancient cultures of and contributing Egypt, Greece and to the environment Rome. Rowing as a through hands-on sport probably began activities. in Victoria England in the 17th and early 18th centuries. YOUNG OLYMPIAN DAILY YOV 360 3 briefs Back with a vengeance Shoot for gold Lithuanian- Russian pair make a surprise comeback By darren tan Pho to: SPH-SYOGOC/Kent Chow he pair rightfully Bronze medal for the 10m claimed their bronze air pistol event yesterday medal, despite was secured in the closest of Tentering the run and shoot margins — 0.8 points. With relay in 15th place. Ukraine’s Denys Kushnirov Russian Gulnaz topping the scoreboard Gubaydullina and with 676.3 points, Brazilian Lithuanian Lukas Almeida Felipe Wu came in Kontrimavicius ended off second. Korean Choi Daehan just 72 points behind the nicked the bronze from eventual winners, Ilya Belarus’ Aliaksei Horbach. Shugarov of and Anastasiya Spas of Ukraine. Though they finished ninth in their respective Banking on individual events, Lukas Bronze medalists Gulnaz Gubaydullina (left) of Russia and Lukas Kontrimavicius of Lithuania present was quietly confident of their medals during the awarding ceremony of the Mixed Relay of Modern Pentathlon. sportsmanship their chances. Pho tos: xinhua/SYOGOC-pool/ liu jie In the C1 men obstacle “After the draw when I canoe slalom round one, a knew I had a strong partner, Sweden in June this year. finishing second, with Lukas and shooting, even though restart had to be called when I believed we had a shot at a Despite heading into the clocking a new personal best they never trained together Patryk Sokol from Poland medal,” the 18-year-old said final combined running for 100m. before the competition. jumped the gun. Despite about his partner. and shooting segment He thought to himself: This allowed them to the inauspicious start, The draw, which paired handicapped by 1min 1sec, “Do your best, fight strong rightfully claim the bronze Patryk defeated Croatia’s boys and girls of different the pair managed to turn and look to the work ahead. overall. Matija Burisa. After the nationalities, had landed things around with a final You have nothing to lose, On the result, Lukas said: highly competitive race, Gulnaz with Lukas. score of 4566. just do it.” “I’m surprised, but always however, the athletes showed Gulnaz was the The pair had a disastrous To add to his confidence, held a hope for it.” sportsmanship as they “high champion in the Youth A start when they finished Lukas knew that running Lukas, who picked fived” each other. European Championships second last in the fencing and swimming were his up modern pentathlon in Bulgaria in May, and leg, dashing their initial strongest points in modern five years ago, intends to finished second in the hopes of a medal. pentathlon. celebrate his victory at home Modern Pentathlon Youth C omeback kid They recovered in the The pair eventually with family and friends in A World Championships in swim relay segment by finished first for running Vilnius, Lithuania. After capsising in the C1 men’s head to head canoe sprint, Hayden Daniels from Canada fared better in the T-30 minutes to… C1 men’s obstacle canoe slalom. He managed to defeat 11:21am Timofey Yemelyanov from Alexandra Kazakhstan with his timing Merkulova does of 1:45.46 against the average Rhythmic gymnastics kick-off her last warm-ups 2:08.96 and qualified for 10:30am in the holding area, round three with a timing of swinging the hoop 1:47.73. Flexible bodies, In the warm-up hall, before entering the gymnasts stretch. For many playing field. nimble feet of them, it is their first and elaborate time participating on an Soccer shootout international stage. routines were The Chileans girls triumphed 10:43am over crowd favourite Equatorial Guinea in the girls on display at Gymnasts go into the changing room just behind football gold medal match, the Bishan the holding area to touch up winning 5-3 in the penalty their make-up. shootout after the game Sports Hall for ended 1-1 in regulation time. the individual 10:45am Orellana Romina’s splendid freekick from 25 The first gymnasts to all-around compete enter the holding yards out in the 25th minute area. Officials check their was equalised by Equatorial qualifications. equipment, such as hoops Guinea captain Ndong Judit’s Photojournalist and ropes, to ensure it meets 55th minute spot kick. competition requirements. The game went down to Xue Jianyue the wire and had to be settled through the penalty kicks. was there to 11:02am Sports presenters tell the capture the spectators that the judges are entering the field of play. As D ive in the dark moment the competition starts, the crowd sits up in anticipation. A brief lights-out did not stop Chinese diver Qiu Bo 11:06am who went on to win his Sports specialist volunteers second gold medal for the guide the first gymnast up to 10m platform event yesterday. the field of play. All eyes are He even managed a perfect on her when the music starts. ‘10’ from two judges for his fourth dive, which was in half-shadow. 4 YOV people YOUNG OLYMPIAN DAILY profile Madeleine Johnson Gymnastics Australia

gymnastic girls’ can-do spirit by Siti Latifah “It was really t the tender age of 10, Madeleine Johnson was diagnosed with a condition that threatened to crush any tough to do both youngA gymnast’s dream. She was diagnosed with juvenile chronic gymnastics at arthritis in her hands. The vivacious athlete started attending the same time. I classes with her cousin at the age of eight before trying trampoline gymnastics when she turned 10. spent my Friday She says: “It was really tough to do both gymnastics at the same time. I spent my evenings going Friday evenings going from one training to the other but I really enjoyed doing both.” from one training This was before doctors delivered the shocking news. Under the guidance of her to the other but gymnastics coach, Madeleine made a life- changing decision to make a permanent switch from artistic to trampoline I really enjoyed gymnastics. However, this does not imply that her journey has been any less trying as doing both.” she still continues to experience aches in her body due to her medical condition. — Madeleine on switching to trampoline from artistic Juvenile chronic arthritis is a gymnastics condition where the patient suffers from inflammation of joints, which causes pain and stiffness in the affected areas. The Australian gymnast who began PHOTO: LAM YARN competing internationally at the Indo Pacific Games in Canada at the age of 11 says: “My hands were always athlete DNA sore and I suffered aches at the hips and ankles. There were times when I couldn’t even grab the bars.” ge r gory english Still, to surrender and give up her dream as a gymnast was never an taekwondo option for the 17-year-old, who won first position in the under-15 category usa at the 2007 World Trampoline Championships. She fought for her dream instead. Johnson displays the same tenacity to overcome the odds at her recent performance in the Games’ trampoline gymnastics event last Friday evening. Despite starting the qualification round at 7th position, Johnson ended the competition at the 6th position during the finals. The gymnast who spent her year training five times a week expressed that she was happy with her performance. Throughout the interview, she speaks with enthusiasm. So, it is not surprising that she has already thought of her plans and goals after the Youth Olympic Games 2010. Her ultimate goal is to represent Australia at the Olympics Games one day. When asked when she wants to make her Olympic debut, her eyes sparkle as she says: “Hopefully, 2012.” YOUNG OLYMPIAN DAILY YOV people 5 C hat with a champion C arlotta Ferlito “It’s a great sport. But Gymnastics I would not be able to italy bear seeing (my child) fall or getting injured from it.” — Carlotta on the high chance of injury in artistic gymnastics Usain Bolt Athletics gymnastic girls’ can-do spirit Jamaica

by candice neo

he may not be a gold medallist Russian gymnast, but 15-year-old Carlotta Ferlito’s amazing performance at the SArtistic Gymnastics Individual Women’s All- photos: internet Around Finals had international spectators taking a second look at Italian gymnastics. Carlotta was third at the women’s Born in Trelawny, Jamaica, qualification and went on to clinch the bronze Usain Bolt was the first man medal at the women’s individual all-around final, with a total score of 55.350, just behind in history to set two world Russia’s Viktoria Komova and China’s Tan records at the 2008 Beijing Sixin. This came as a surprise to many, as Italy Olympics. His name and has always been famed for its footballers achievements in sprinting and racers, but seldom for its gymnasts. The Italian ‘dark horse’ admits that she is not have earned him the media the first from her country with outstanding nickname of ‘Lightning achievements in gymnastics. She speaks of , who in 2006 was the first Bolt’. Italian woman to win an all-around gold medal at the World Championships. Carlotta also achieved a silver in her pet event, the , and a bronze at the 9.58 . Usain Bolt’s current 100m and world Despite Carlotta’s love for the sport, she reveals after her competition on Thursday record (in seconds). It was set at the that if she were to have a daughter in the World Championships in 2009. future, she would not encourage her daughter to enter the sport, nor is she thinking of a future career as a gymnastics coach. “It’s a great sport,” she admits in Italian. “But I would not be able to bear seeing 2004 (my child) fall or getting injured from it.” The year Usain Bolt became a professional Gymnasts commonly sustain injuries through athlete. accidents during training or competition. The petite teenager mentions that it was her mother who introduced her to gymnastics when she was younger. Her family members are her motivators and best supporters. When 21 asked who she looks up to, she says without August 21, 1986, is Bolt’s birthday. hesitation: “Shawn Johnson, the US champion at Beijing (Olympics).” Shawn Johnson is an Olympic women’s balance beam gold medallist. The 15-year-old also confesses she has a liking for the Russian champion, fellow 2,253,843 gymnast and rival, Viktoria Komova. Number of people who “liked” his facebook While the two have spoken briefly, the language barrier prevented further page at time of print communication. Carlotta is learning French and English as her second and third languages in high school. “But she doesn’t like to speak (English),” her coach reveals with a twinkle in his eye. 1.95 She attends school in the evenings for Bolt’s height, in metres. three to four hours after her gymnastics training in the day. Now in the midst of the Games, she trains six days a week, six hours a day. “All I can say is: ‘Yo, Of her third position placing, Carlotta says she is “happy” but will strive to work even Jamaican sprinters, harder. “I want to win more medals,” she taking over the world.’” says, with an eye to competing in the World ­— In reference to his record-breaking runs Championships and the 2012 Olympics. PHOTO: ng jun sen 6 YOV leisure YOUNG OLYMPIAN DAILY YOVoice Shout-outs and Fn rie d, mentor or foe? dedications Despite different coaching techniques, athletes recognise it is always for their own good By Melissa Lin

ome yell, some cheer and TO TEAM FRANCE others even shed tears of joy or Allez les bleus!!! Go France! disappointment for their athlete. Alexia Sedykh, Athletics, France SThey are the coaches who, love them or hate them, play a key role in the athletes’ performance during the Youth Olympic Games. Australian freestyle wrestler Haris Fazlic may only have trained under his coach, Fabricio Itte, for 17 Fencer Wang Lianlian (left) says that her coach, Mr Wu Hanxiong, demands the best from days, but through the Games the two of them have developed a close her. Photo: WAng SIMIN relationship. he added. training, he is a stern coach. He Haris was full of praise for For Team Ireland’s athletics coach has high expectations of me and Mr Itte, whom he says he hangs Bernie Alcorn, her philosophy is to demands my best.” out with for about 12 hours a day help athletes reach their potential. Mr Wu revealed that his strictness during the YOG. “He’s very nice, To her, being nice, instead of being may be due, in part, to his wish TO TEAM NIGERIA very enthusiastic, funny and makes fierce, is the way to go. for his fencers to clinch a gold at Thank you Nigeria team for you laugh. When you do something “Sometimes, the athletes have to the Olympics because he did not all the hard work. wrong, he will yell at you but you’ll learn from their own mistakes. You manage to fulfil that dream. He was Emmanuel Gyang Gwom, Athletics, Nigeria know that everything he does is good can advise them and then they can a silver medallist in the 2004 Athens for you,” said the 16-year-old. decide whether to take your advice Olympics and a national player for 12 Mr Itte, 30, believes that a or not,” said the 52-year-old who has years before retiring to be a coach. coach should develop the athlete been coaching for 25 years. “In everyday life, we are friends. holistically. “You don’t just show However, some coaches adopt But during trainings, I’m her teacher. them how to do things, you give a stricter approach, albeit with the On normal training days, I have them the tools to be able to deal with same hope of unleashing the true a well-laid out schedule for them things,” he said. potential of those under their wing. to complete. So I want them to be “I’m very big on punctuality, Mr Wu Hanxiong, 30, who serious, and concentrate on their respect for myself and each other, on coaches China’s three fencing training,” Mr Wu explained. how they treat the opposition and athletes, is one such coach. how they deal with defeat because I Cadet foil fencer Wang Lianlian, Addi tioNAl reporting by think that lays a foundation for later,” who trains under him, said: “During Sia Geok leng and Ng Yee Theng TO VANUATU SOCCER “In everyday life, we are friends. But during training, I’m her teacher.” All the best to your future — Mr Wu Hanxiong, China’s fencing coach, explaining the intricacies of the coach-athlete relationship competitions. Petch Ham, Soccer, Vanuatu Starry starry-eyed By cassandra yeap

linging along barricades and partitions, the fans waited, notebooks at hand. Screaming Cathletes’ names, they jostled for TO HEIdi SCHMIDT prime positions and did not rest till they captured their target’s attention. Good luck for the following Many athletes at the Youth years competitions ahead. Olympic Games may not yet be And I hope to see you again! Evangelia Psaraki, Athletics, Greece known on the world stage, but to these fans, they are already every bit a star. One such admirer was ball boy Alex Chen. The fact that he had never Chinese tennis player Zheng Saisai signs autographs for clamouring fans. heard of any of the players at the Photo:S CAS ANDRA YEAP Kallang Tennis Centre venue before the Games did not faze him. trove, Alex boasted: “I got loads in Mandarin “Zai jie zai li” – keep “If they look really good on court of players. I got Gavrilova, Babos, doing your best. when they play tennis, I’ll go and get Golding, Rodriguez from Venezuela,” “To get to this position, they their autograph.” and displayed a signature-filled page must have put in a lot of effort,” she A school tennis player himself, the of his notebook as evidence. explained. “So I think they ought to 13-year-old student said that he and To housewife Tan Sok Hoon, be recognised for that.” other volunteers often approached getting players’ autographs is a way Her son was with her. Earlier TOU RUSSIA J DO TEAM players during their practices or after of supporting them. The 42-year-old in the week, she also brought her All the best, good luck and see matches. was one of a crowd persisting to get two younger children to watch the you in the next championship. Between themselves, they Chinese tennis player Zheng Saisai’s matches. Krisztian Toth, Judo, Hungary have amassed a hefty collection of attention. The autographs will serve as a PhotoS: sia geok leng autographs, photographs, players’ Following a brief but heated lasting reminder of what is possible negotiation, the 16 year-old’s minders when they give their best: “It’s very Leave a message for someone on headbands and wristbands and discarded balls. relented. When Saisai came over, inspiring for myself, my children, my facebook.com/ Madam Tan repeatedly cheered her family.” youngolympiandaily When quizzed about his personal YOUNG OLYMPIAN DAILY feature 7 Breaking out of the box

with her sport. For these athletes, “Either I do it or not do it at all,” cultural restrictions the Egyptian said after consulting the religious authorities in her are not an obstacle to country. Like her, many female athletes sportsmanship from Islamic countries want to By audrey lim change the misconception that dressing conservatively, like and ng yee theng wearing the hijab (headscarves worn by Muslim women), prevents them ot comfortable with from taking part in sports. exposing her shoulders This follows the incident in April for the swimming leg of when football’s governing body modernN pentathlon, Egypt’s Jihan El FIFA prevented the Iranian girls Midany nearly quit her sport. soccer team from playing in their Swimming’s governing body traditional headscarves. FINA had stricter requirements for The girls now wear long-sleeved swimwear that made the 18-year- tops, trousers that fall below the old ditch her full body suit for a knees and long stockings. conventional one. Meanwhile, Tunisian The Iran girls football team pose for a traditional group photo before the start of the In Islam, women’s clothing must steeplechase runner Nour Sioud cover the entire body with the does not wear a hijab when girls bronze medal match. PHOTO: SPH-SYOGOC/EDDIE CHEN exception of the face and hands. competing. “I only intend to wear a Despite this, Jihan continued hijab when I grow up,” the 17-year- being talent-scouted through futsal mother, who is now a member of old said. She added that most girls competitions around the country. the Olympic Committee and tennis in Tunisia only start wearing the Though there is usually greater federation, was a ping pong player. hijab in their 30s. support in sports for men in Iran, Sharing a similar sporting Currently, there are over 50 female national teams do have background is 17-year-old Bahya, predominantly Islamic countries sufficient training facilities as well. who has cousins who are shooters. participating in the Games. “If the government sees that we “I am trying to show that girls Qatari shooter Bahya Mansour are improving, they will provide can do it – studying and playing Al Hamad said that fathers often more funding,” said Iranian girls’ sports at the same time,” said Jihan, have the final say in the matters of football coach Shahrzad Mozafar, 39. who was Egypt’s flag bearer at the their daughters’ lives. Some of the female athletes from YOG opening ceremony. This is the first time Qatar is Islamic nations were introduced She adds: “It won’t be easy but sending female athletes to the to sports because their family the end will be very nice.” Olympic Games. members were former sportsmen. When the Iranian girls were However, the fathers of 15-year- Libyan NOC official Masara asked if they want to inspire other old Iranian football girls Mogharrab Khraif said her father was in the girls in their country, Nastaran Zad Hosseinali, Nastaran Moradloo national football team while her summed it up most aptly: “We are!” and Yasaman Pakjoo, all encourage them to play sports. They started with futsal before “I am trying to show that girls can do it – Jihan El Midany competes during the Girls’ progressing to football. Futsal is studying and play sports at the same time.” Individual Final of Modern Pentathlon. a variant of football. Their team — Egypt’s modern pentathlete Jihan El Midany, who hopes to be an inspiration and OHOTO: XINHUA/SYOGOC-POOL/LIU JIE was formed four months ago after role model to other Muslim girls

Faster, higher, stronger — with faith By cassandra yeap provided. He weathered the stress, and beat And nur asyiqin When interviewed, liaison his personal best. officers from Fiji and Austria had no Others also found comfort and thletes and officials from knowledge of any formal protocol to motivation in their faith. “Whenever Fiji and Gambia rubbed bring athletes to external religious I was troubled after a bad day shoulders with Singaporeans venues. at training, I would turn to God —A literally — on Sunday. Nevertheless, religious faith is an for encouragement,” 16-year-old They attended Mass at the important source of inspiration for Singaporean diver Timothy Lee said. Church of St Francis of Assisi, many of the athletes here. Meanwhile for Team Singapore receiving communion and kneeling Roughly half of the athletes in archer, Abdul Dayyan Mohamad at pews alongside the congregation. this paper’s informal poll said the Jaffar, religion is a source of Sitting in the front rows of first thing they do when they wake confidence that helps steady his the church, the Fiji team was an up is pray. A large proportion of hand. unmistakable sight in matching blue these were athletes from Caribbean “Before every shot, I say a little buttoned-down shirts. When the and African nations. prayer,” Abdul Dayyan said. priest signalled it was time to pass For Fijian sprinter Lepani As a Muslim, he wakes up before the peace to, or greet, one another, Naivalu, a finalist in the 100m race sunrise for the first of five prayers in they turned warmly to their last Saturday night, the 17-year-old the day. neighbours. recalled how his faith had helped In the archery mixed teams Attending the service was a him. competition last week, Abdul priority for teams, such as Team Fiji, “Before I ran, I asked for strength Dayyan clinched the bronze medal even when away from home. and guidance for me to run a good with his teammate Elif Begunham Fiji athletes, in blue, with heads bowed in “Fiji is a Christian country and race,” Lepani said. Unsal from Turkey. This was after unison at the Church of St Francis of Assisi. religion runs parallel to everything “It was tough, with every athlete a long battle with their opponents, we do, whether it be work or play,” with me on the track,” the Fijian Miriam Alacorn from Spain and PHOTO: CASSANDRA YEAP team official Eugene Panuve said. confessed. “There was a lot of Md Emdad Haque Milon from “In this case, being sport, we pressure.” Bangladesh. tens, leaving their opponents, with find it just as important to come to Having tied at five set points their total score of 19, in the dust. church as to compete in the Games,” “Before every shot, I each at the end of five rounds, the The 16-year-old is sure his faith the 23-year-old added. two teams moved into a tie-breaking helped him with his sport. While a multi-faith centre and say a little prayer.” shootout match. “It’s the month of Ramadan and, — Singapore archer Abdul Dayyan on how prayer rooms are built into the Abdul Dayyan and Elif won by a God willing, our prayers will be village, religious services are not religion acts as a source of confidence single point: they both shot perfect answered,” he said. 8 photo feature YOUNG OLYMPIAN DAILY Athletes’ day out

BSNY CAS A DRA YEAP The school’s Chinese orchestra and the Indian dance troupe ith the Youth Olympic performed, much to the delight of Games in its final days, the athletes. To the surprise of their athletes done with their hosts, the Fijians then took a turn on competitionsW have been taking in the instruments. local sights. Student Isabel Soh was delighted In the day, they toured schools by her encounter with the athletes. and the streets of Singapore. The Fiji Said the 14-year-old: “It was fun! team visited its twinning school of They were a lot more sociable than I St Anthony’s Canossian Secondary thought they’d be.” School. Percussion rhythms greeted A trip to Changi Museum and the athletes as they stepped from spot of shopping at Little India’s the bus, courtesy of the school’s mega department store Mustafa anklung ensemble. whiled the afternoon away. Principal Melanie Ann Martens, Electronics, chocolates, bags, and a herself a former national hockey zodiac necklace, were among their player, was on hand to welcome the buys. athletes. At night, some athletes rocked As she introduced her school of to tunes spun by DJs and mingled a few thousand students as a small by the beach. Teams from countries one, team officials and athletes like Germany, Gambia and Kenya exchanged bemused looks. took to Tanjong Beach Club for a The male athletes, in particular, chill-out party organised by the seemed to enjoy making friends in German Olympic Federation. the all-girls school. At the revelation Surrounded by coconut trees, that trim Charles Lolohea was they sipped drinks (non-alcoholic a weightlifter, his hosts gasped for the under-aged) and tucked into audibly. Gregarious tracker Lepani poolside dining. The strict bedtime Naivalu, 17, cheekily said he was 15 curfews no longer an issue, they when introducing himself, lowering lingered in the company of new- his age to match those of the girls found friends. around him. photos: Eunice Chan, Lam Yarn and Tan Yan Xi

ABOVE: German gymnast Oliver Amann (top) and friends create a triple-decker in the pool at Tanjong Beach Club, Sentosa, during a party organised by Deutsche Sportjugend.

TOP: Guam wrestler Christopher Aguon (centre) goes shopping with coach Lui Ting and athlete Michael Gaitan at Suntec City. ABOVE: It is back to school for Fiji athletes Lepani Naivalu and Diau Bauro, as they sit in for an English lesson at St Anthony’s Canossian Secondary School. RIGHT: Namibian coach Agnes Samaria and Botswanan official Basadi Akoonyatse dance with a mime at Tanjong Beach Club in Sentosa.