S’pore eyes SEA Games debut for women boxers

SINGAPORE — With Singapore hosting next year’s SEA Games, the Singapore Boxing Association (SBA) believes it is a golden opportunity to improve the profile of women’s boxing here.

The 2015 SEA Games boxing programme will feature four women’s categories — the 48kg, 51kg, 54kg and 60kg — and the identification process has begun for the SBA as it seeks to have Singapore participate in women’s boxing for the first time at the biennial Games since the sport debuted at the 2007 edition in Thailand.

SBA president Syed Abdul Kadir told TODAY that while he cannot guarantee medals, they will put up a strong show.

“Of course, we need to first convince the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) that the women boxers deserve a ticket to the SEA Games,” said Kadir, who competed at the 1972 Olympics in Munich. “But we have a strong case. We are hosting the Games, so there is no extra cost to have the boxers take part.

“More importantly, I believe we can field a competitive team. We are not going to take part if I think we will be led to the slaughterhouse.”

The 66-year-old added: “If you talk about winning medals at the SEA Games, then I cannot promise that. But they will put up a good fight.”

The 2015 SEA Games, which will be held from June 5 to 16, will feature 402 events across 36 sports and an estimated 7,000 athletes from 11 South-east Asian nations.

However, a major hurdle in getting the nod from the SNOC is that there are not enough competitions, domestically and regionally, for the female boxers to generate results needed to meet minimum requirements to be considered for selection.

But Kadir said: “I’m thinking of (sending them to) Taiwan where women’s boxing is popular and there are some quality boxers. If all goes well, we can send our women boxers there for training.”

So far, the SBA has identified several names, including Norshahidul Ramli, Angeline Devi, Tiffany Teo and Nur Shiren Rishyam, who are all actively involved in the sport.

National coach Arvind Lalwani also trains women boxers at his club, the Juggernaut Fight Club, including Teo and Nur Shiren. “There are a few of them whom I think can give the boxers from the other countries a run for their money. We lack the experience because we do not take part in many competitions,” said Arvind.

“Norshahidul has been fighting in the ring for a couple of years now and is now in Perth for further studies. I have given her a few contacts in Perth where she can continue to train. She’s good enough for the SEA Games.”

For Teo, a researcher who works in a laboratory, fighting in the ring has been a way of life for her since she took up Muay Thai three years ago before switching to boxing.

Said the 26-year-old: “For me to represent Singapore at the SEA Games would be perfect. Wouldn’t it be nice to carry the country’s flag in an international arena?”