Kannan is sitting right in front of some the athletes that were able to attend for this photoshoot at Toa Payoh followed by a send off lunch.
35
Singapore masters athletes will be competing in the 20th Asian Masters Athletic
championship in the city of Rugao in Jiangsu China from 24-28 Sep.
Rugao is famous for having the most centenarians alive and is most suitable to
host such an event. In Singapore we have a strong pool of senior athletes enjoying themselves in the gruelling sports of athletics and would not call it a day until their bodies failed to move, their legs failed to run and their hands failed to lift or throw. These masters athletes are self funding and doing their own training totally on their own without any support from the govt except for some generous individuals and private organisations.
The
Singaporean Team of athletes, age 35 to 80+, with some ex state
runners like Paul Su, have been training very hard in the past months to do battle
with the other Asian athletes, all 3,000 of them from across Asia in this meet. Some of
the competitors that have registered for the events were in their 80s
and 90s.
Just my event for the 65-69 age group for 100m sprint draws 28 runners. The events include long and middle distance, 10,000 metre walks and field sports like short putt, javelin, discuss and the jumps.
The
man behind this Singapore Team is A Kannan from the Singapore Masters
Association. Working closely with him and assisting in coordinating all the
travel arrangement and logistics is Jason Wong from the Singapore Masters Track and
Field Association. The athletes from both associations and some free individuals are all going as Team Singapore to fly the Singapore flag.
Old but not out, with still many good years ahead.
ReplyDeleteThankyou Chua Chin Leng for taking the trouble to write about a wonderful of group of Sportsmen, from interesting but different walks of life; who trains together @ various locations to compete regularly for glory & fun. They are the best in the country & the region. Much scarifice from all of them. Congratulations & Best of Luck for these courageous lot.
ReplyDeleteThe government everyday talked about the health of senior citizens and encouraging them to take up sports to stay healthy. Why they don't bother to report on this healthy activity of the seniors and not giving them more support and promoting their healthy lifestyle?
ReplyDeleteGrace Foo got anything to say about this?
Senior citizens not to be heard, not to be seen?
Well done! The collective spirit of participation in this event is itself sufficient to bring honour to Singapore.
ReplyDeleteOn the other side, the dark side, the failure to show support financially by the government speaks volumes.
For a country, being one of the riches in the world, that gives freely taxpayers' money to other countries in terms of aids, or whatsoever, in order to gain goodwill, fame and popularity, refusing to recognise and appreciate the efforts of the oldies only reflects one thing: In the eyes of the country's leadership, oldies are expendables!
Which other country's leaders behave in such a manner? Billions of dollars from taxpayers' money and cpf savings are carelessly lost by the two sovereign wealth funds of the state, and with annual budget surpluses to be used to buy votes, yet refusing to even donate a single dollar to support a national team of oldies (albeit privately organised through their own initiatives) that brings honour to our country?
This is a huge signal that the country is rotting and on the decline!
No recognitions were given to these masters competing overseas ! Masters just do your best for the country. Good luck !
ReplyDeleteThese masters athletes did not keep fit by picking cardboard and pushing carts. They run and do workouts despite the pains and injuries to their bodies from the training. They spent a lot on medicine, supplements and treatments on their injuries without complaining. Don't forget the hours put in/spent in the gym and the stadium to craft their muscles and athletic competence.
ReplyDeleteThey put in a lot of sacrifices at an age when many would be sitting in their rocking chairs.
ReplyDeleteAll The Best!
Cheers...........
Hi Chew Piak Leng,
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the blog. These masters athletes are good role models on how to live a healthy and active life that is being promoted by Activesg.
Thanks to the author for introducing Rugao. This town is known for high proportion of population living above 90, and hundreds live above 100.
ReplyDeleteHope the Masters will come back with messages for ah long to do more for the generations that built this nation, not exclusively to the pioneers only.
Enjoy the process of sports, do not act beyond one can do to acquire the results. A win is empty bubble to the already master status.
Staying alive spirit is what Rugao people do since year 441, 2000 years ago (wiki).
Mr RB,
ReplyDeleteFrom the photo you can see Trulely the True Blue Singaporeans of different races harmony together.
Why at present century after so painstakingly built up the harmonious state of affairs, they goes back to divide and wedge all the races to be subconsciously be aware of Race Again.
Wish you all the Best.
Singpore flag is like an islam flag.
ReplyDeleteWah. My Kind of people. I wish them all the best!
ReplyDeleteI see some motherfuckers here like to talk smack...Please make it to these folks ages and maintain/ achieve a high degree (COMPETITIVE degree) of fitness and health, then talk lah. i.e. Stay alive long enough, that's your first step. 🤣
They are not called "Masters" for nothing.
👍🏾
Please give a little more respect to these folks too. Part of the reason they are the people they are is that they don't wait for the fucking government to tell them "be active", nor do they expect any "fame" in a society and culture which treats its senior citizens as if they are INVISIBLE. These folks are TOUGH, primarily from excellent genetics, but also from their own efforts.
Uncle RB, these r the Unsung Heroes of The Little Red Dot that deserved our respect & salute to the Highest Order ( no PBM nor BBM is enough to decorate these undying spirit of true Sportsmenship)...Baris..Homak.. Our Seniors Masters Sportsmen..Homak ...Sen Jia Ta...
ReplyDeleteYes Sir, hormat senja ta!
ReplyDeleteThere is a Singam in the group, now 80 and competing in the 5,000m and 10,000m walk if I am not mistaken. How's that for a senior citizen?
And if I overheard correctly, he is running in the 4x400m for those above 70s!
ReplyDeleteAll the Best
to All the Elder
Sportmen of Sin.
May You do You best
and make us, your
Fellow Sinkies glory
and pride.
patriot
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
Delete
DeleteMy apology.
Please replace Last
Sentence in my preceding comment to
May You do Your Best
and bring us, Your Fellow Sinkies, glory and pride.
patriot
DeleteMy apology.
Please replace Last
Sentence in my preceding comment to
May You do Your Best
and bring us, Your Fellow Sinkies, glory and pride.
patriot