Former pentathlete Shermaine Tung switches to kayaking for one last shot at glory
Shermaine Tung rediscovered her passion for canoeing while recovering from an injury. PHOTO: TEAM NILA
Former pentathlete Shermaine Tung switches to kayaking for one last shot at glory
SINGAPORE – Over the course of her 18-year sporting journey, Shermaine Tung has trained and competed in shooting, kayaking and pentathlon, which comprises five events – fencing, swimming, shooting, running and equestrian show jumping.
With the clock ticking as she enters the twilight of her career, the 30-year-old former national pentathlete is aiming for one last shot at sporting glory as she returns to the kayak.
The unexpected move happened in 2022, after she broke her back from falling off a horse. Feeling restless as she recovered from surgery, the break gave her room to rediscover her aptitude and love for kayaking.
She said: 'I had to undergo back surgery and because of that, I actually had to stop horse riding entirely… It was quite a bad fall.
'When I was resting, I tried to give canoeing a go again, purely just for leisure. Then the current head coach told me to give it a shot, at competitive canoeing (kayaking). So I decided, why not?
'I came back purely because I love the sport.'
Tung's sporting career began at the Singapore Sports School in 2007, when she trained and competed in shooting.
Ahead of the inaugural 2010 Youth Olympic Games, she took up modern pentathlon and despite not meeting the Games' age requirement, she continued training before moving on to kayaking in Singapore Polytechnic, which did not offer shooting or pentathlon.
After graduating from university and hitting a plateau in kayaking, she returned to pentathlon and donned national colours, winning a bronze medal at the 2019 UIPM Biathle-Triathle World Championships in the United States.
That same year, she won bronze at the SEA Games in the Philippines.
Tung eventually quit the sport after the world championships in December 2023.
Shermaine Tung is seen competing in shooting during her stint as a national pentathlete,
PHOTO: UPIM WORLD PENTATHLON
'When I left pentathlon, I initially thought that I would stop competitive sports altogether, I just wanted to chill, keep fit, paddle for fun and not gain weight,' said Tung.
'But then I think I missed the competitiveness, and that was what made me try competitive sports again. I'll just give it all that I have to qualify for the SEA Games (in December) and ultimately the Asian Games next year.
'There's a lot of work to be done, because compared to my peers, I'm still quite far behind, and they are younger, so definitely they're improving at a much faster rate.'
For this versatile athlete, choosing a preferred sport can be a challenge. Tung admitted that she misses the multi-discipline pentathlon sometimes, adding: 'I like running in general… And shooting, it's my strongest discipline out of all the five.
'But then training for five disciplines is actually quite hard when you're juggling a full-time job and furthermore, I was training alone, so that was really one of the main reasons why I left.
'I was quite tempted (to return) a few months ago, when they had the trials for the SEA Games. But it just so happened that it clashed with a canoeing trial and I really had to pick one.'
With her focus now on kayaking, Tung quit her job as a marketing executive with Singapore Singapore's CoachSG department to train full time. She is now living off her savings and hopes to be carded as a national athlete again to 'to pour all my efforts and time into this one last shot that I have'.
Noting that Tung had 'already quite good competency in the sport', national canoe coach Bill Lee, 39 said: 'As with every Olympic sport, especially our sport, which is a bit like swimming, both technical and also requires a lot of strength and endurance… It definitely requires time for you to see the hard work pay off.
'She may see it as one last effort, but she could surprise herself. It could potentially be even longer than just a short-term project, because she could achieve more in the sport and that could keep her going.'
Tung recently competed in the Asian Canoeing Championships in China, and is pencilled in for the South-east Asian Canoeing Championships in Thailand in June. The SEA Games selection trial will be held a month later.
While there are only four spots up for grabs for the Games in December, she said: 'Once I set my mind to go back to competitive sports, it's really my goal to achieve sport excellence in terms of winning medals.
'Because if I don't have the end goal in mind of winning, it will make it challenging to actually stay in sports because of how vigorous the training is and how taxing it is on the body and the mind.
'Yeah, so I have to really be mentally prepared that if I want to win, I have to go through this.'
Melvyn Teoh is a sports journalist at The Straits Times.
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Dr Nikhil Joshi, a senior lecturer in the Department of Architecture at the National University of Singapore (NUS), also noted its architectural uniqueness. 'It is the first 'garden folly' in Singapore. Follies began as decorative accents on grand estates in England and France during the late 16th and early 17th centuries, but they particularly flourished in the two centuries that followed.' The Jurong Hill Tower and its surrounding Jurong Hill Park grounds were opened to the public in 1970. It grew to be a popular recreational spot for locals, and was later included in the Jurong Heritage Trail – one of 24 trails developed by NHB to offer the public deeper insights into Singapore's built heritage and the stories behind them. Today, however, the area is cordoned off to prevent members of the public from accessing the tower, likely due to pending construction works. In a bid to shape the future of Jurong Hill and the adjacent former Jurong Bird Park site, URA and JTC launched a competition in October 2024 calling for fresh ideas to rejuvenate the area. The competition closed in January this year, but its results have not been publicly announced. Business adviser Loh Pui Wah, 61, used to visit the tower and park regularly with his father as a child. During his primary school years, it became a natural stop after excursions to the former Jurong Bird Park, located nearby. As an adult, Mr Loh worked as a project manager in contract manufacturing and was based in the Jurong industrial estate. The tower remained a part of his routine – this time as a venue to host visiting clients. He recalled business luncheons at the Japanese teppanyaki and Indonesian restaurants once located there, followed by walks up the spiral ramp to take in sweeping views of the estate below. Recounting how the site had often served as an introduction to Singapore's industrial ambitions at the time, Mr Loh said he felt a sense of pride to speak about the nation's achievements to foreign friends and overseas business clients. While Mr Loh has fond memories of growing up in the area, he noted that few landmarks from his youth remain today, as much of the landscape has been reshaped by redevelopment. This is why he strongly supports URA's proposal to conserve the tower, calling it a way to remind younger generations of Singapore's post-independence industrial growth and social evolution. Mr Alex Yew, who similarly frequented the tower over the years, said he was 'overjoyed' to learn about the proposal to conserve the tower. The 53-year-old human resource consultant recalled spending time at the tower with three generations of his family – from birthday celebrations at the restaurants there during his childhood, to date nights with his wife taking in the lights from the surrounding industrial estate, and more recently, visiting the spot with his own children. His most recent visit to the tower was in August 2022, when he made a stop there with friends during a night cycling trip. He returned in 2023, only to find that the tower had been cordoned off. 'I would say that (the tower) forms part of what makes Singapore today ... as a silent observer of the industrial growth that took place beneath the tower and hill, and the history of the place and the memories that they ignite in many Singaporeans.' Built in 1958 by the Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT), Dakota Crescent is one of the island's oldest public housing estates. SIT was set up in 1927 to tackle infrastructure and housing challenges in Singapore. It was subsequently dissolved in 1960, with its public housing programme taken over by the newly formed Housing and Development Board (HDB). Tucked away off Old Airport Road, the Dakota Crescent estate is marked by its white-bricked blocks – a mix of two-, three- and seven-storey buildings that are now hoarded up. Constructed just before Singapore's independence, the estate was part of early efforts to ease overcrowding in the city and offer more affordable homes to residents. The estate and road were named after the Douglas DC-3 Dakota, a 1930s passenger aircraft that frequently took off from and landed at the former Kallang Airport runway along Old Airport Road when Singapore was under British colonial rule. In 2014, the government announced that it would demolish the estate, and that existing residents would be relocated to the neighbouring Cassia public housing development. The move prompted a wave of protests from residents and members of the public. Some, such as social entrepreneur Cai Yinzhou and architect and Dakota resident Jonathan Poh, took it upon themselves to fight for the preservation of the iconic estate. Mr Cai, who is a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Bishan-Toa Payoh Group Representation Constituency, founded Dakota Adventures in response to the 2014 announcement. The educational tours were co-guided by Dakota Crescent residents – mostly seniors living in rental housing – and highlighted the estate's historical and social significance. In 2017, Mr Cai also set up the Cassia Resettlement Team – a volunteer group that stepped in to support elderly residents and former Dakota Crescent dwellers in adjusting to life in their new homes. He said: 'If we look at it from a social memories and social history point of view, the bigger case for conservation is actually the lessons that we can learn from heritage and history, and the lessons that Dakota Crescent has undergone in terms of its historical timeline, that enables us to be where we are today. 'It's kind of a snapshot of history, where that was where we were back then," said the MP. As for the educational tours organised by Dakota Adventures, Mr Cai said there was much to learn from the real-life stories from the residents who lived through that period, benefitted from the government's policies and "saw for themselves the transformation of Singapore relative to where they were living". "I think that's the most powerful part of heritage,' he said. Meanwhile, Mr Poh led the Save Dakota Crescent movement, advocating the estate's preservation due to its historical value and unique architectural features, such as the butterfly-shaped blocks and aesthetic influences from the British Modern movement. The founder and principal architect at Provolk Architects added that the estate also embodies the collective memory of Singaporeans who have lived in public housing estates. Together with a group of fellow architects, Mr Poh and Mr Cai published and submitted a conservation report to then-MP for Mountbatten, Mr Lim Biow Chuan. Speaking to CNA TODAY, Mr Lim said: 'I was initially looking at it from the government's point of view, which is that we need to develop this. This is prime land – a plot of land close to town, a plot of land of high value because it's very attractive, next to the MRT Station, next to the river, right next to town. How do you balance giving up this plot?' In this case, conserving part of the estate could mean less prime land is available to be redeveloped into new build-to-order flats. But he was eventually convinced after discussions with the group. 'I think one lesson that we all have to learn is there are always trade-offs ... And I think the group of them persuaded me that if we keep knocking everything down, then something will be lost forever." Mr Lim subsequently filed an adjournment motion in 2016, where he made a case in parliament for the estate's conservation. In 2017, the government announced plans to redevelop Dakota Crescent into new public housing, while retaining some of its iconic buildings and features. URA is now proposing to conserve six of the blocks that had been kept. These buildings frame the estate's central courtyard, home to the dove playground that has become a symbol of Dakota Crescent. The estate is significant as one of the last public housing projects built by SIT, said the authority, adding that it reflects the evolution of public housing in the years before Singapore's independence. It also reflects the government's post-war push to provide affordable mass housing with proper sanitation facilities, URA added. Parts of Tiong Bahru and Kampong Silat – two other SIT estates built around the same period – have also been conserved in earlier years to commemorate Singapore's public housing journey. SINGAPORE BADMINTON STADIUM – SECOND HOME TO SHUTTLERS In 1949, a team of Malayan shuttlers won the inaugural Thomas Cup in Britain – earning Malaya (later Malaysia) the right to host the next edition of the tournament. This paved the way for the creation of the former Singapore Badminton Stadium at 100 Guillemard Road. Designed by Singaporean architect Ng Keng Siang, the building features a protruding box-like structure at its entrance. Inside, its key features include a spacious open hall topped with a metal roof supported by steel trusses, along with tiered grandstand seating. Although the hall was not completed in time for the second tournament, it was ready by June 1952, and later hosted the third and fourth Thomas Cup tournaments in 1955 and 1958. By the 1950s, the stadium had become a cradle of local badminton greats such as Wong Peng Soon, Ismail Marjan and Ong Poh Lim. Beyond badminton, the venue also hosted other sporting competitions such as gymnastics, sepak takraw, table tennis, billiards and wrestling. It doubled up as an entertainment venue for plays, movie screenings, and talent-search and dance competitions. In 1962, the badminton hall was repurposed as the vote-counting centre for the referendum on Singapore's proposed merger with Brunei, Sarawak, Sabah and the Federation of Malay States to form Malaysia. Given its rich sporting legacy, the venue was marked as a historic site by NHB in 1999 – the first sports facility here to receive such recognition. In 2007, the Singapore Badminton Association (SBA) announced it would be closing the hall, as the 30-year lease between the Singapore Sports Council and URA was set to end in January 2008. The association later moved its operations to the Singapore Sports School. More than a decade on, SBA returned to its roots. In 2023, it signed a tenancy agreement with the Singapore Land Authority to take over the Guillemard Road site for redevelopment. After renovations, the hall reopened to the public in 2024, sporting a fresh coat of paint and a colourful mural on its exterior that pays tribute to Singapore's badminton greats. A group of Montfort Junior School alumni – who represented the primary school in national badminton competitions in the 1980s – recount spending several afternoons training at the stadium for their extra-curricular activity. One of taxi driver Patrick Chua's fondest memories of the badminton stadium was a school match against the Anglo-Chinese School (ACS) team. Representing Montfort, his team had lost the first two of five games but made a comeback – winning the next three matches to secure overall victory. Mr Chua, 52, said: 'Because ACS is a boys' school and we are also a boys' school, on the day of the finals, the whole hall was filled with mostly boys. 'Every time they won, they would bring their (school) flag around to our side and start showing off their flag. 'Those were the days. It was really quite enjoyable.' FORMER ROYAL MALAYAN NAVY ADMIN BLOCK – A SYMBOL OF MARITIME PAST Sitting in a corner of Woodlands North today is a cream-and-green-coloured building. The lone structure once formed part of the Royal Malayan Naval Base, which operated beside the former British Royal Naval Base. During the colonial days, the site was a key training ground for generations of naval personnel – from locals recruited by the British in the 1950s, to those serving under the Malayan government following the handover of the Royal Malayan Navy (RMN) in 1957, and later, RMN recruits who continued to train there even after Singapore's independence in 1965. Notably, the Malaysian Navy remained in Singapore until 1997, even after the countries' separation, said Historyogi's Mr Devadas. The site was eventually returned to Singapore in that year, and later repurposed as the now-defunct Admiralty West Prison, which operated from 2011 to 2018. URA is proposing to conserve the three-storey admin block – the only structure left standing from the former naval base – and is studying ways to give the building a new lease of life as part of the upcoming 'Housing by the Woods' public housing project. The admin block captures seven decades of naval history – from Singapore's colonial era to its early years post-independence – and reflected the 'urgent need' post-World War II for Malaya to build up its own defences, said URA. Built in 1953, the building was designed in the Art Deco style, reflecting the architectural trends of the time. The symmetrical structure features a central tower topped with twin flagstaffs and an observation deck on the third storey. Flanking it are two two-storey wings with open, naturally ventilated corridors that once served as a viewing gallery overlooking the parade square. It was at this parade square that several important figures – including Singapore's Chief Ministers David Marshall and Lim Yew Hock, as well as Louis Mountbatten and Tunku Abdul Rahman – inspected naval troops, said Mr Devadas. 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GRANDSTANDS AT BUKIT TIMAH TURF CITY – VESTIGES OF HORSE RACING In its heyday, the Bukit Timah Turf City was home to Singapore's second racecourse from 1933 to 1999, and was a popular venue for horse racing. At the height of horse racing in Singapore, the grandstands there drew thousands of spectators – including Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, who attended the Queen Elizabeth II Cup during her state visit in 1972. The classical-style South Grandstand, which opened in 1933, stands in contrast to the North Grandstand. Built in 1981, the latter is a striking example of Modernist architecture, with its bold, brutalist design. Professional racehorse trainer Jason Lim recalls his first visit to the racecourse with his father as an 18-year-old in 1997. '(The grandstand) was packed with punters and spectators,' said the 44-year-old. 'The horses were galloping past the grandstand and punters were shouting the different numbers they bet on. It was exciting and fun.' He remembered how it took them nearly an hour just to get into the club after buying their entry tickets. 'The atmosphere there was amazing,' he added. As the country progressed, however, the land on which the racecourse sat became more attractive as a site for redevelopment. It was eventually announced in 1993 that the club's Bukit Timah site would be used for residential development, and that it would have to find a new home. Following the relocation of the Singapore Turf Club to Kranji in 1999, the Bukit Timah Turf City was repurposed as a recreational and commercial hub, with spaces leased out for interim lifestyle and leisure activities until the end of 2023. Still, that first visit left a lasting impression on Mr Lim, sparking his passion for horses and set him on the path to a related career. In 2004, he went to Australia to learn more about horse racing and the ropes of the trade, before returning to work at the Kranji Turf Club. Today, URA is proposing to conserve the North and South Grandstands at Bukit Timah Turf City – two structures that reflect Singapore's transition from its colonial past to its post-independence years, and serve as reminders of horse racing's development as a popular spectator sport. A Heritage Impact Assessment was carried out in consultation with heritage interest groups to study and guide plans for the site. The assessment attributed Bukit Timah Turf City's heritage significance to its 66-year history as one of Southeast Asia's top racecourses and its ties to horse racing in Singapore. With this in mind, the grandstands will be adapted for new uses and serve as focal points for the future community. A central open space in front of the grandstands will honour the site's sporting legacy and is intended for sports and recreational activities. Together, the conserved grandstands and the open space are envisioned as the civic and recreational heart of this future precinct. URA said agencies will continue to document the site's heritage and explore ways to tell its story – including through storyboards and heritage trails – as a tribute to the former Turf Club. Agencies are also studying the potential retention and adaptive reuse of 25 other structures on site, including the former Secretaries' Bungalows and the Bukit Timah Saddle Club clubhouse. SINGAPORE'S APPROACH TO HISTORICAL CONSERVATION Singapore's limited land means a 'highly selective approach' is taken when it comes to conserving built heritage – one that balances preservation with future development, URA and NHB said in a joint response to queries from CNA TODAY. In deciding which buildings or sites are gazetted for conservation, the authorities consider whether retaining them contributes to Singapore's development story and if it helps to strengthen national and cultural identity. 'In particular, we would review the feasibility of adapting these heritage buildings for new uses to serve our needs when we integrate them with future developments to make them more accessible to the general public,' they added. At the same time, URA and NHB acknowledged that some buildings or structures hold value in contributing to the 'collective history of our memories and creating a sense of place'. Beyond physical conservation, the agencies also work with stakeholders to find ways to honour and celebrate the heritage and legacies of these spaces. This includes 'heritage interpretation' in various forms, such as through digital documentation, physical markers like storyboards and walking trails, and sensitive urban design. The agencies said they regularly engage stakeholder groups and expert panels – including URA's Heritage and Identity Partnership and NHB's Heritage Advisory Panel – to involve the community upstream in the planning process. 'We also work closely with building owners and industry stakeholders to ensure that conserved buildings are sensitively restored and well-integrated with future developments to ensure their relevance in the years to come,' they added. Under the Heritage Impact Assessment framework introduced in 2022, public projects that could significantly affect key heritage sites are required to undergo additional 'in-depth consultation' with URA and NHB. This process helps determine whether more detailed heritage studies or other mitigation measures are needed. For selected sites, URA and NHB may recommend conducting heritage studies to provide a more holistic understanding of the heritage significance of these buildings and structures, as well as how future developments may impact them. The findings from these studies may then be factored into shaping subsequent development plans. On what the most important aspects of a site that should be conserved are, NUS' Dr Joshi said that "significance" is an important factor in heritage management. This refers to the sum of various values, including architectural and aesthetic, social, communal, scientific, historical, rarity, associational and environmental. These are values that heritage professionals have to weigh when deciding what should be retained. Giving the example of Dakota Crescent estate, Mr Poh said that while conserving the estate's authentic form is important, it is just as critical to adapt to the needs of users today. This includes considering how much of its original design – including the fact that lifts were not built on every floor – should be retained. 'After all, I think we have to also balance the fact that people are going to live in this building, people are going to use the building,' said Mr Poh. 'Even if we are purist in our conservation intent, I think we shouldn't also discount the fact that people need to use it.' On a whole, heritage and architectural experts said that the proposals reflect a growing national emphasis on balancing conservation with development needs. Mr Devadas said that there is 'much greater awareness and appreciation' for heritage today, compared to the past where the focus was squarely on 'urgently needed progress'. Taken together, the sites provide a tangible and holistic snapshot of Singapore's development over the years. Dr Yeo of ICOMOS said the conservation of the five sites adds to a fuller and more nuanced narrative of the era that they were built in. Their architecture, he noted, also coincided with major global shifts such as World War II and Singapore's own independence and urban transformation. For instance, the post-war focus on defence in the 1950s coincided with the expansion of the Royal Malayan Navy and the completion of the former naval base. In the same decade, SIT also worked to address urgent post-war housing needs, as seen in developments like the Dakota Crescent estate. He then added that there are other sites beyond the five that are worth considering too. "It is essential to consider other conserved buildings, those yet to be conserved, and even those lost to history. Together, they offer a more comprehensive understanding of Singapore's architectural and developmental journey.' The experts also noted that there is a shift towards valuing everyday heritage – beyond just colonial-era monuments – in Singapore's conservation efforts. Mr Ho of the Urbanist Singapore said: 'We are seeing a broader recognition that heritage includes not just colonial buildings or shophouses, but also post-independence spaces tied to nation-building and community life.' He added that the five sites reflect a willingness to conserve not just the 'monumental or visually striking', but also spaces with emotional resonance and everyday significance. 'It reflects a growing recognition that places tied to daily life and collective memory deserve as much attention as grand landmarks. That is an encouraging step forward.' Agreeing, Mr Devadas said that the proposals acknowledge that buildings that once served more functional purposes are also important sites of heritage and memory, alongside the more familiar state and cultural monuments. NUS' Dr Joshi highlighted that nearly all of Singapore's 75 gazetted national monuments are colonial-era structures. The repurposing of such 'less significant' 20th-century buildings could represent a 'democratisation of heritage', he added. On Jun 25, URA will unveil the Draft Master Plan 2025, a blueprint outlining Singapore's detailed land use plans for the next 10 to 15 years. The conservation proposals for the five sites will be presented as part of its public exhibition. Ahead of that, experts told CNA TODAY that some key principles to guide conservation efforts include ensuring that any new use of the site aligns with its original purpose, and that any new design respects the heritage significance of the original structure. Where possible, original materials and building techniques should also be employed in restoration works. Equally important, they said, is involving the community early in the process – to ground conservation in shared memory and to ensure it stays accessible. Mr Ho from the Urbanist Singapore said: 'Make (the site) accessible, meaningful, and visible. A conserved building that no one enters is little different from a demolished one. 'Additions or interventions should also be reversible. Future generations should have the freedom to update, not be trapped by our decisions.' Mr Devadas also highlighted the importance of the site not becoming part of a 'private fenced-off development'. 'The sites should become part of the surrounding area's community life rather than being monuments to gaze upon,' he added. Agreeing, Mr Ho said: 'Preserving only the shell without public access risks turning heritage into a backdrop rather than a lived experience. A meaningful conservation project keeps the building in motion. It remains part of daily life.' Beyond the physical conservation of the sites, the experts also pointed to the need to preserve the intangible heritage and social memories tied to these places. Ultimately, the sites carry 'emotional memory', and losing these would mean losing the physical evidence of stories that have shaped the nation, said Mr Ho. 'Conservation is not about freezing time. It is about keeping history visible and usable. Every building we preserve gives Singapore more cultural depth and more space to reflect.' For the Merdeka and Majulah generations, returning to the sites could bring back memories of who they were, who they were with, and what Singapore was striving to become back then. For younger Singaporeans, these places offer a tangible glimpse of the country's early years – which must also be paired with 'thoughtful heritage interpretation and storytelling', said Mr Ho. 'A city without visible layers of accessible history becomes harder to love and harder to explain to the next generation.'
