Paris Olympics a platform for Singapore’s athletes to build on, learn to land ‘winning touch’: Top sports official

PARIS: While not all of Singapore’s athletes may have been able to land the ‘winning touch’ at the Paris Olympics, the Games will provide the experience for them to learn and grow, said a top sports official.
Speaking at a wrap-up press conference for the Paris Olympics on Saturday (Aug 10), Singapore Sports Institute (SSI) chief Su Chun Wei said the contingent is young and will learn with experience.
“Yes, we need to string together the consistency and that winning touch. No doubt about it. We may not have fully done so in each of our athletes’ performances. However I would like to share something more optimistic: It is that our cohort of athletes are very young,” he told reporters.
“Two-thirds are debutants and a number of them are teenagers. If you track each and every one of their performance … in the last one, two years, you will see at the regional and at the Asian level, they have overcome higher-ranked opponents.”
Building on that, Dr Su added that the athletes need to come away from this Olympics with knowing how to win at the critical moment and be “ruthless” about it.
“They have an indomitable fighting spirit. But I agree that learning to win that winning point takes experience, and our consolation and optimism is that our cohort of Olympians … have cycles ahead.”
He also added that there were “no regrets” process-wise on preparations for the Games
“We always want to review what else we would have done differently and what can we improve. That’s how we always keep ourselves at the cutting edge,” said Dr Su.
“We have done absolutely what we can from as far as two years ago, and we prepared our athletes as best as they could, and so we trusted in the process.”
A total of 23 athletes across 11 sports represented Singapore at the Paris Olympics. The contingent returns home with a medal – the first in eight years – courtesy of kitefoiler Maeder.
“We are very, very proud of all our athletes’ hard work, determination, fortitude, and especially their indomitable fighting spirit that they have displayed during these Games,” he said.
At a big stage such as the Olympics, one has got to get their act together at the “very moment” and it is “very, very difficult”, he acknowledged.
“This is not to find an excuse for any of the performances that athletes have or have not done. I firmly believe that in their hearts, they are convicted to do their very best,” he explained.
“I’m pretty sure that this particular campaign will spur them to do much more and much better and to be the best version of themselves that they have not already discovered.
“So I’ll just say that we have done what we can, the athletes have done what (they) can. We are still very proud of each and everyone … let’s continue to celebrate and support (them).”
He added that the current cohort of athletes will inspire the next generation.
“Our every success stands on the shoulders of past winners,” he said. “I’m pretty sure that these performances here inspire the younger ones … We will continue to work to review how we can sharpen the performances.”