For decades, Singapore had been water polo kingpins in the region but were always found wanting against Asian heavyweights like China, Japan and Kazakhstan.
National head coach Kan Aoyagi, however, is feeling bullish about the team's potential after taking over in March 2021 and has set ambitious targets for the Republic to clinch a medal at the 2030 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar.
First on his agenda, though, is reclaiming the SEA Games title that they lost in 2019, which ended their 27-gold streak at the biennial competition, and the Japanese believes they can achieve it.
"We have a lot of confidence and I hope that our players believe in what we're doing. Our players are very keen to get back the gold medal," said Aoyagi, who is also the Singapore Swimming Association's (SSA) water polo technical director.
"Many senior (players) of 2019 want the gold medal and they start to practise and they want to come back to play. This is very good for us, so my main target is for us to get back the gold medal in May before we prepare for the Asian Games."
The 42-year-old hopes that recapturing the gold in Cambodia in 2023 will pave the way for Singapore to attain a top-three finish at the 2030 Asian Games.
The last time the Republic won a medal at the quadrennial competition was at the 1986 edition in Seoul. Since then, their best performance at the competition came in the 1990 Games, where they finished fourth.
この記事は The Straits Times の January 01, 2023 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は The Straits Times の January 01, 2023 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
Ex-Riize member Seunghan to make solo debut in 2025
South Korean singer Seunghan had to leave K-pop boy band Riize due to controversy surrounding his private life. But he is set to rise again as a solo artiste in the second half of 2025.
Ex-Riize member Seunghan to make solo debut in 2025
South Korean singer Seunghan had to leave K-pop boy band Riize due to controversy surrounding his private life. But he is set to rise again as a solo artiste in the second half of 2025.
Spore-born hitmaker S. Atan wrote over l,000 songs
Singapore-born lyricist, composer and producer S. Atan died at his home in Selangor, Malaysia, on Nov 16. He was 75.
Obsessive fans pose threat to K-stars' safety
The darker side of fame continues to haunt stars, as the South Korean entertainment scene was recently rocked by a series of incidents involving \"sasaeng\" obsessive fans who engage in behaviours that invade the privacy of celebrities, including stalking.
Denmark's Victoria Kjaer Theilvig crowned Miss Universe
Victoria Kjaer Theilvig was crowned Miss Universe on Nov 16, the first contestant from Denmark to achieve the honour.
Stories hold power to open spaces for alternative voices
Two panels on the closing day of the Singapore Writers Festival found unexpected synchronicity in advocating alternative narratives.
Moderators make and break pop culture panels
The Singapore Writers Festival (SWF) closed on Nov 17 with examples of how moderators can make or break panels.
Closing debate ends event On a high
(From left) Jo Tan' Crispin Rodrigues, Melizarani T. Selva and Hafidz Rahman at the closing debate of Singapore Writers Festival at Victoria Theatre on Nov 17. ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE
British folk singer Sam Lee jams with nightingales every spring
Nightingales are the jazz musicians of the bird world, said British folk singer and conservationist Sam Lee (right), who has jammed with the night-singing bird in the woods every spring over the past decade.
Off-season cruising in the Mediterranean offers bargain prices, fewer crowds
After a summer of overtourism in cruise ports such as Barcelona and Amsterdam, and talk of caps on ship arrivals in Greece and other places, the cruise industry has come up with a surprising suggestion for where to sail in winter: Europe.
