Sporting Times

From the Editor: Logo Contest

Welcome to the

February issue of the

SAAB newsletter. I am

pleased to announce our

first ever SAAB contest.

We would like to invite our

readers to help us design

a “SAAB” corporate logo to

be used in future SAAB

representation. The

winner will stand to win a

book of his/her choice from

Amazon.com. For more

details about the contest,

please see pages 7 and 8.

Farewell We would also like to take

this opportunity to bid

farewell to Mdm Suhaily,

ex-manager of the BPPS

Badminton Team who left

the team last December to

pursue her other interests.

We will miss her smiles,

enthusiasm and generosity

and wish her well for her

future endeavours.

Anthony Leow

HELP US TO MAKE IT HAPPEN! From Cashew Road to Bukit Batok West Ave 5, loyal fans lined the

streets of Bukit Panjang and Bukit Gombak by the tens of

thousands on 17th February, hoping to snatch a glimpse of history

as Bukit Panjang Primary School (BPPS) battles Nanyang Primary

School (NYPS), the Senior Boys defending champion, in the epic

semi-final of the 2012 West Zone Badminton Tournament.

NYPS’s hopes of defending their title were extinguished by the

underdogs, BPPS after an extraordinary five-set encounter in Bukit

Gombak. For those who had the privilege to witness the creation of

history, it was a well-fought match and was one of the best matches

BPPS has played, both tactically and emotionally. BPPS rebuffed

the attacks of NYPS successfully to book their place in the final

against Henry Park Primary School on 24th February 2012

(3.30 p.m.) at the “Theatre of Dreams” Bukit Gombak Sports Hall.

As we advance to the final stage of the tournament, we need your

support and presence more than ever. Help us to make it happen!

Come on down to cheer for our boys as we take on Henry Park in

the final.

This issue BPPS— The David of West Zone

Badminton P.2

Deans of Sporting Education

Meeting P.4

SAAB 2012 Annual Meeting P.5

SAAB Logo Contest P.7

Parents’ Voices P.9

Call for Student Representatives P.12

International Sports Scene P.13

2012 FEBRUARY ISSUE

Issue 23 A Newsletter of the Sporting Achievers Association of BPPS (SAAB)

2

Reported by Anthony Leow

History was created in Bukit Panjang on 17th February 2012. It was well after working hours when

BPPS finally tamed the Senior Boys defending champions NYPS 3-2 in 2 hours and 15 minutes.

While NYPS gets the chance to extend their 2011 West Zone dominance, the critical question is how

much energy the West Zone No. 1 has left to face the underdogs in the all important semi-final match.

Their mind-numbing duel came on top of lengthy back-to-back matches against other top teams in the

West Zone since the end of the Chinese New Year holidays.

There was no time for either team to ease into the match as the power and tension was at high revs from

the opening point. The first set was littered with powerful smashes and tricky drop shots as well a heap

of other “kill” opportunities that went begging as the 1st singles player from both sides slugged it out in

front of the net. Lee Jia Wen of BPPS cashed in on their first match point when the NYPS player

missed a forehand.

Despite NYPS engineering a formidable pair in the line-up, the momentum remained with BPPS as their

1st doubles, Danson Tan and Ong Yin Yu, moved 2-0 up in the second match as the NYPS pair

struggled to deal with Danson’s wiles and Yin Yu’s sheer power.

The defending champions saw a glimpse of hope when their 2nd singles conquered Bryan Lim who put

up a valiant fight but succumbed in the end.

BPPS - The David of West Zone

Badminton

“NEA” at the Battleground

3

In the all-important 2nd doubles, Kenneth Tan and Ng Zheng Kai’s misfiring serves and unforced

errors provided NYPS with a chance in what proved a decisive momentum. The boys seemed to be in

deep trouble when they surrendered several serves in the opening game and had to stave off the fast and

furious attacks of NYPS. The interval talk by BPPS coach, Mr. Zou Erong, seemed to take effect and

turned the tide around as the pair’s defence was impeccable following Coach Zou’s advice. There was

now a crispness to their partnership and attacking moves hitherto lacking. NYPS seemed crippled by

nerves at this critical juncture and a string of errors allowed BPPS to push ahead to win 3-1! BPPS is

through to the finals!

While the last match was inconsequential to the results, in the name of sportsmanship, the 3rd singles

player from both teams continued with their match and played their hearts out. The NYPS player,

towering at 1.7m on the other side of the net, was clearly the better player with his deft strokes,

powerful overhead smashes and impenetrable defence. Although Gerald Teng, the 3rd singles of BPPS,

pulled out all stops to overcome the odds, he finally capitulated 21-10, 21-13 under a series of precise

and dominant smashes from the opponent.

This has been a long and arduous journey for BPPS. Having eliminated the “Goliaths” of Yew Tee

Primary, the 1st runner-up in 2011 and Nanyang Primary, the defending champion, en route to the title

decider, will there be a fairytale ending for the “David” of West Zone Badminton? Watch this space.

The BPPS Team at the Theatre of Dreams - 17th February 2012

Next Stop: Bukit Panjang vs Henry Park (24th Feb)

BPPS - The David of West Zone

Badminton

4

An electronic version of this newsletter is available from: http://www.bpps.moe.edu.sg/SAAB/badminton.html

2012 BPPS Badminton Team (Senior Boys)

Team Manager and Teachers-in-Charge: Dr. Anthony Leow Chee Siong (TM) Mr. Nicholas Ee Lin Hui Mr. Lew Huai Jie Coach Mr. Zou Erong Senior Boys Squad Tan Yan Zhe Kenneth (Captain) - 6K Pereira Odyel Bonifacio - 6H Lim Yee Tong Bryan - 6I Gerald Teng Wang Xian - 6J Ong Yin Yu - 6J Ong Kok Kiong - 6K Tan Hsien Jie Jared - 6K Tan Tee Hing Danson - 6K Lee Jia Wen - 6L Ng Zheng Kai - 6L