National Archives Release No.: 23/DEC 16-O/86/12/10 SPEECH BY MR ONG TENG CHEONG, SECOND DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE FIFTH ASEAN SCHOOLS BADMINTON CHAMPIONSHIPS 1986 AT TOA PAYOH SPORTS HALL ON WEDNESDAY, 10 DECEMBER 1986 AT 9.00 AM I would like to thank the Ministry of Education and the Singapore Schools Sports Council for giving me the honour of officiating at the 5th ASEAN Schools Badminton Championships. The ASEAN Schools Sports Council, in organising regular competitions fulfils its role of helping to raise standards of the various sports and games as well as to promote greater understanding and closer rapport among our young citizens of ASEAN. It therefore gives me great pleasure in extending a warm welcome to all of you. I hope your stay here will be enjoyable and fruitful and may you bring back with you fond memories of Singapore. So far, best badminton players in ASEAN have proven themselves to be among the best, if not the BEST, in inter- national competitions. They have been highly successful in most of the premier badminton championships. The most worthy of note are their achievements in the Thomas Cup Championship which takes place every two years. The first Thomas Cup Championship was instituted in 1948. up to 1986, a total of 14 contests have been held. The players from our ASEAN region were successful in winning 12 of the 14 contests. This is indeed an illustrious record. However, with competition getting keener each year, we have to strive even harder for continued success. 2 The first ASEAN Schools Badminton Championships was held in Singapore in 1978. Among those who took part were Luis Pongoh, Bobby Ertanto, and Icuk Sugiarto. These players have made the grade to international stardom. Icuk Sugiarto is the current world singles champion. Bobby Ertanto, in partnership with Liem Swie King, are currently the world doubles champions. Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to urge the competitors present here to further their training after this championships and I hope their dedicated efforts would help keep our colours flying high in the badminton world. Beginning today, and for the next four days, our young potentials will be pitching their skills against one another and vying for honours. Let us compete in earnest, but let us also compete with a cordial spirit. As members of Asean, we have a common bond. And may this bond be further strengthened with each new generation. It is now my pleasant duty to officially declare open the 5th ASEAN Schools Badminton Championships. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ Ml5/Ml/Pgs.l-2 .