New sports fund a shot in the arm for national athletes

SINGAPORE — Ahead of the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games in August, national squash player Vivian Rhamanan had to fork out some S$18,000 from his own pocket to train full-time and travel to compete in overseas competitions. 

With a house on the way, finances are tight for the father of two young children as he is not eligible for Sport Singapore’s Spex GLOW scheme that provides grants to national athletes for loss of wages.

Things could change for the 31-year-old, who won two gold medals at the recent SEA Games in the men’s team and jumbo doubles, with the launch of the One Team Singapore Fund on Tuesday (Oct 3).

Under the initiative, elite athletes could get a S$100 million boost in funding, with the Government to match donations of up to S$50 million from Singaporeans and corporate firms from 2017 to 2022.

The money will go toward the High Performance Sports (HPS) system for national athletes, which includes competition opportunities, coach development, sports science and medicine, and more. National sports associations (NSAs) will also be able to apply for matching grants for donations they receive through this fund.

The fund will be a boost for athletes like Rhamanan, who turned professional in 2015, as he aims for glory beyond the region.

“It’s really been a struggle to train and support my family at the same time…It’s tough to survive in Singapore with a new house on the way and paying for my kids’ education, so there’ll be sacrifices one way or another,” he told TODAY.

“Despite all the struggles, it was all worth it to be at the SEA Games to win with the team, to win for Singapore... I really hope that we get more funding so that our team can move forward and achieve higher goals,” he added. 

“We have the Asian Games next year and if we get the proper funding, who knows what we can achieve? The SEA Games is the first step, and we can develop further to succeed at a higher level.”

National sprinter and hurdler Dipna Lim-Prasad, who won two silver medals at the SEA Games in the women’s 400m and 400m hurdles, is hopeful that the fund will provide national athletes – particularly those like her who are not Spex Scholars – with sustained funding throughout the year.

“The existing support now is very campaign based, like the Final Push (funding for SEA Games) but it is very disruptive,” said Lim-Prasad, who broke Chee Swee Lee’s 43-year-old national record after clocking 54.18sec in the 400m final at the SEA Games.

While she is partially funded by Sport Singapore’s Spex Athlete, Career, Training programme, she has had to fork out her own money at times to travel overseas for competitions.

She added: “Right now, I’m not getting any funding. I’m lucky that I’m about to afford this (training and competition expenses) on my own, but not everyone can.

“I hope this fund will allow for continuity as it’s been very sporadic. Knowing your budget for training is important, because you will scale back your plans if there is no funding. Sports is something where all the work you do is not just in the months before, but the most important work is done in the off season, and that’s where support is needed.”

Para athletes will also be able to benefit from the One Team Singapore Fund as they aim for glory at the Asean Para Games, Asian Para Games and Paralympics.

Jason Chee, who lost three limbs and three fingers in a ship accident in 2012 and his right eye to cancer in May, believes that the fund will be a huge boost as he targets a spot at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo in 2020.

Chee, who won a men’s singles gold at the Asean Para Games in Kuala Lumpur, said: “My long term goal is the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, but I have to upgrade myself to the next level slowly.

“How I can improve to the next level is with support from the Singapore Sports Institute (SSI), through nutrition, sports psychology, they all play a part to develop me. This fund will benefit the Team Singapore athletes to reach the Asian and world level.”

National para archer and Paralympian Nur Syahidah Alim, who won gold in the women’s individual compound in Kuala Lumpur, is hopeful that the fund will help athletes to get more competition exposure.

“Para sports have a limited number of competitions…sometimes we are unable to go to para championships or able-bodied championships because they can be very expensive,” she said.

“There is also the factor of sustainability to allow para athletes to continue training. Some of the athletes are not as lucky as I am because I am a Spex Scholar. Some of my friends do not have the support financially and they can’t afford to buy equipment.”

Mr Kevin Wong, president of the Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC) was also delighted to hear about the One Team Singapore Fund. Earlier this year, the SDSC had unveiled an ambitious S$20 million, four-year plan to develop disability sports and its athletes.

The SDSC is set to benefit from the matching grant if it is able to raise money from individual and corporate donors, and Wong said: “I’m glad that the Government and Sport Singapore heard our feedback (when it was first announced in March) that this could cannibalise our sponsorship.

“I’m glad we have the opportunity to raise much needed funds, and this will help out high performance athletes and top up on campaign funding for major Games. Every donor wants the maximum potential from their funding, and knowing that what they give will have a matching grant from the Government, that lends credibility to our programmes and there is an incentive to give more money.” ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY RAYMOND THAM