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Straits Times
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Jet-lagged Liyana Indah Rickit captains Meridian to three-peat in B Division Girls' football
SINGAPORE – She was not expected to feature in the B Division girls' football final on May 9, as Liyana Indah Rickit was still feeling the effects of jet lag after returning from an overseas trip the previous morning. However, the determined 15-year-old captain refused to be denied, leading Meridian Secondary School to a decisive 3-0 victory against the CBP W3 combined team at Jalan Besar Stadium, and even scored the final goal herself to seal the win. Her coach Fadio da Silva was full of praise for the dedicated captain after Meridian won their third straight National School Games (NSG) B Division title. 'She's a very important player. She came back yesterday morning from overseas. She's still jet-lagged, but she still wanted to come and play. It's not easy, so I really (have to) salute Liyana,' said the 51-year-old. 'Her leadership, her personality is very good. She's very committed.' Secondary 4 student Liyana, who scored all four goals in their 4-3 win over Queensway Secondary in the 2024 final, was glad to have the chance to mark her final outing for the school. 'I just want to win with my team. We worked very hard for this. I really am thankful that I have this opportunity to lead all my amazing teammates.' Liyana Indah Rickit (in red) played the full game despite being jet-lagged. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO An early blitz proved to be the difference in the final, with Nayli Elvira putting Meridian 2-0 up, her second goal an audacious lob over goalkeeper Claire Mok after a long pass from Liyana. 'I feel proud that I get to score early in the first half,' said Nayli, 15. 'It brings our spirits and confidence up so we can relax and control the game from there.' When asked about her finish for the second goal, she said: 'I saw the space behind the keeper so I just decided to chip (the ball) over.' Liyana Indah Rickit (left) and Nayli Elvira (right) combined for Meridian's second goal. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO Her electric pace and hard running earned acclaim from Da Silva, who described Nayli as the 'best player on the pitch'. He added: 'She's very fast and we have players that can make long passes to her. We know that she always has the opportunity to make the runs and face the goal. We did exactly that and we were able to score the goals in the first half. 'That's (our) way,' he said about his team's fast and aggressive start. 'We always try and get as (many) chances in the first half.' Liyana scored just before the half-hour mark as Meridian saw out the win, despite playing with one fewer player after one of the players was injured. 'I just tried to encourage them, to push to the end because it's our last game. If one got tired or went down then we would cover for that person,' said Liyana. For CBP W3, a combined team from Methodist Girls' School, Westwood Secondary School and Boon Lay Secondary School, luck played a role in their first appearance in an NSG final since their formation. There was nothing to separate them with Tampines Secondary School after the round-robin stage and CBP W3 won the final berth via a draw of lots. 'We thought it would not be possible. It was really a scare for us,' said captain Tessa Chang on their road to the final. 'There's always things you can't control.' Despite the defeat, she was still immensely proud of her team. 'I don't think we were just a bunch of players that were suddenly put together. We became a family and treated each other like family.' Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
St Hilda's late-night crisis meeting helps seal record 20th B Div volleyball title
SINGAPORE – In the run-up to the National School Games B Division boys' volleyball final, powerhouses St Hilda's Secondary School were the overwhelming favourites, having gone the entire season unbeaten without conceding a single set. But things had not gone well during training, heightening their anxiety as they prepared to defend their crown against Xinmin Secondary School on April 22. At the request of coach Teo Siew Lan, captain Matthew Wee called a late-night crisis meeting via Zoom on the eve of the final to calm nerves and iron out their strategy. The move worked wonders, as St Hilda's romped past Xinmin 25-19, 25-11 at Our Tampines Hub to claim their 20th B boys' volleyball crown. Matthew, 16, said: 'Leading up to (the final), there were a lot of doubts and fears. There were a lot of individual mistakes during training, and we all agreed we must stay patient and work together as one.' That strategy worked well, as St Hilda's stayed composed in the tight first set before finding their groove to take it 25-19. The boys then showed their attacking prowess in the second set, blowing away Xinmin 25-11 to claim the title. Teo, who has been at the helm of St Hilda's volleyball for almost 30 years, was happy her boys adapted to Xinmin's attack after the close first set to run away with the match. She said: 'First set we had a hard time blocking them. But towards the end of the first set, they started to get used to the way they spike, the direction and things like that.' St Hilda's captain Matthew Wee diving for a loose ball. ST PHOTO: TARYN NG Key player Jayvier Ang, 16 attributed the win to the trust the players have for each other. 'When I hear them (my teammates) calling, I can really trust them and just give them the ball and know that they will do their best to handle the ball. 'I think we played more as a team (in the second set). We adapted to the loud noises and communicated better.' St Hilda's Jayvier Ang celebrating a point won by his team. ST PHOTO: TARYN NG There was more agony for Xinmin when their girls' team succumbed 25-17, 25-21 in the B Division final to Nanyang Girls' High School, who reclaimed the title they lost to Bukit Panjang Government High School in 2024. 'I didn't think there was a lot of pressure,' said Nanyang captain Theng Jia Qi, 16, when asked if expectations were higher after their loss last season. 'We were really calm today and mentally stable.' Nanyang Girls' High School showed great camaraderie during their B Division Girls' volleyball final. ST PHOTO: TARYN NG Despite the double defeat, Xinmin were proud of reaching both finals. Elias Loo, teacher-in-charge for the boys' team, said: 'The girls have never been in the final before. The last time the boys were in the final was in 2009. It's historic. 'It also means that whatever hard work we have been putting in is paying off and that comes as a team effort, as a school. 'Despite losing in the finals, I think we have won in many ways. I'm really, really proud.' Boys' captain Timothy Lim, 16, said: 'I think this is the best that we (Xinmin) have ever played, and I'm very proud of my team for making it this far.' Girls' captain Jamie Sim, 15, added: 'They (future batches) will definitely look up to our batch and definitely strive to do better and come back and make history again.' More on this Topic Volleyball-Zhao charged with taking China's women back to Olympic podium Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
21-04-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Methodist Girls' School beat Singapore Chinese Girls' School for first B Div netball title since 2014
SINGAPORE – Shorn of their captain and another key player owing to injuries, a weakened Methodist Girls' School felt the pressure when they took to the court for their National School Games B Division netball final on April 21. But the replacements stepped up to the plate, helping MGS defeat defending champions Singapore Chinese Girls' School 29-19 at the Jurong East Sports Hall for their first title since their maiden crown in 2014. MGS captain Tessa Teo, who has been sidelined since February, when she suffered a torn ligament in her left ankle during the zonal competition, said: 'I think the team did a very good job, and we really tried to put away the game in the second quarter. 'I'm very proud of them, especially because of the injuries that we have got, there was a lot of depth on the bench and we were able to rotate our players. And I think that we've all displayed a lot of tenacity as well as a lot of teamwork. A solid defensive display saw Methodist Girls' School (in white) defeat defending champions Singapore Chinese Girls' School (in yellow) in the B Division netball finals on April 21. PHOTO: METHODIST GIRLS' SCHOOL Claire Cheong, who took over as captain, admitted that she 'felt pressure' when she found out that Tessa would be unavailable. The 15-year-old said: 'I felt more worried than anything for her injury, even though Tessa is out, she can still support from the sidelines, cheering us on and thankfully it's not that serious. 'There was (pressure), because she's the more talkative one, and I tend to show more in my actions and not much in my words. 'So it's a bit of a challenge in trying to lead a team, especially when I myself was stressed. But in the end, after going through so many matches together, I think I have definitely improved and found ways to bring the team together.' There was also a replacement for the centre position as first-choice Paris Ong, 14, had also suffered a ligament injury to her right ankle during the quarter-finals. Up stepped Emma Goh, who had played only a peripheral role as wing attack before the semi-finals. Emma, 15, said: 'I was super nervous when she got injured because I know Paris is a really good centre, and I really admire her. I was really worried, but I realised the moment I stood on court that there were six people supporting me, and it really put me at ease.' MGS coach Joanne Ong credited her team for playing well and never giving up. She added: 'Pressure, of course we have, because it's also dependent on the condition on the day. But I always tell the girls to try to convert it to excitement and change their mindset of thinking into a positive way.' The final had got off to a cagey start, with both teams neck and neck at 4-4. But MGS scored eight points in a strong second quarter, making it 15-6 for a lead that they did not relinquish. Several timely interceptions had resulted in vital turnovers for MGS as they converted most of their shooting opportunities to finish the third period 21-10. Despite a late surge from the SCGS attackers, scoring nine points in the last quarter, it was not enough as MGS saw out the game 29-19. SCGS coach Justin Teh said: 'MGS are a very, very strong team, so I'm just proud that my girls actually made it this far, and they tried their best. 'We made a couple of mistakes in our passes, which resulted in turnovers, and also our shots were not as sharp as our opponents', so we missed quite a few critical shots. That opened up the gap, and then once the gap opened up, it's very hard to chase back.' Captain Elizabeth Chng, 15, said: 'We came here with very high expectations of ourselves, and even though we lost, I thought we fought really hard, and really put in our best. I'm just really proud of my whole team, and the result doesn't matter. 'Our seniors did very well last year, and we have the pressure of getting first again, but we tried not to let that affect us, to play our own game instead of trying to live up to the expectations of getting national champs again.' In the earlier third-place play-off, CHIJ Toa Payoh defeated St Hilda's Secondary 34-25. Melvyn Teoh is a sports journalist at The Straits Times. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
