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Straits Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Singapore triathlete Ben Khoo smashes his own national Ironman record in Hamburg
Benjamin Khoo clocked 8 hours 49 minutes and 46 seconds in Hamburg on June 1 to break his own Singapore record in the Ironman race. PHOTO: COURTESY OF BENJAMIN KHOO SINGAPORE – Battling the choppy waves and cold wind, Singapore triathlete Ben Khoo struggled at the start of the Ironman race in Hamburg, Germany, on June 1. But the 34-year-old pushed through the swim leg in the Alster Lake, made up ground on the bicycle before completing the marathon to clock 8 hours 49 minutes 46 seconds. In the process, he smashed his own Singapore record of 9:02:24, set at the Ironman Copenhagen race in August 2023. The Ironman race comprises a 3.8km swim, 180km bicycle ride and 42km run. Khoo, a business executive in the chemicals sector, said: 'There was a thunderstorm, so the race was delayed, and we were afraid that that might affect the conditions. 'I didn't have a very good swim and the swim was longer than expected – 4km instead of 3.8km – but I was quite happy to make time on the bike. 'So I went much, much faster than I expected. And then I got off the bike, I was like, 'okay, more or less there already', I just need to finish a marathon conservatively, and I will be able to break the record with quite a comfortable buffer.' Triathlon Association of Singapore president Paul Rachmadi said Khoo 'delivered a monumental race'. He added: 'Smashing his previous best of 9:02:24, Ben continues to redefine the limits of endurance, discipline and dedication. 'An extraordinary achievement and a powerful inspiration to the next generation of triathletes in Singapore.' In April, Khoo had also competed in the Singapore leg of the T100 triathlon series at Marina Bay, where he finished as the quickest Singaporean in the open category. The T100 is a shorter event, with participants completing a 2km swim, 80km bike race and 18km run. Khoo said: 'The intensity of racing is higher (for the T100) and in Singapore, the course is also much more difficult, because it's hot and it's hilly, so it requires a lot more fitness and skill, whereas the Ironman is more of a test of endurance. 'They always say that the Ironman only begins at the last 10km of the marathon, which is not true. It's a nine-hour race… But the last 40 to 50 minutes are incredibly hard. With 14 km to go, my body shut down. So I couldn't run fast, couldn't take in nutrition, which was difficult. 'It was not a race against the rest of the field but a race against the clock. So I'm always checking the clock, looking at the total time.' Khoo was introduced to multi-sport racing at Raffles Institution, where he participated in adventure racing – running and cycling – as part of his Boys' Brigade co-curricular activity. After secondary school, he dabbled in triathlon and first represented Singapore in the Under-23 category of the Asian Triathlon Championships in Taiwan in 2011. Khoo, who holds a master of science in management science and engineering from Stanford University, said he chose the Ironman Hamburg race as it is known to be a fast course, adding: 'The age group world record was set there last year, and this year the pro women world record was also set there.' Having lowered his own national record in Germany, Khoo is eyeing something else closer to home. He is hoping to be part of the national duathlon team for the Dec 9-20 SEA Games in Thailand. 'The Iron Man is a nine-hour race, whereas the SEA Games format for me would be 20 minutes,' he said. 'It's a real transformation of systems and I have to change from a long and slow athlete to high octane and pretty much a sprint. It will take some time to transform the body, so that will be my focus for the next six months.' Melvyn Teoh is a sports journalist at The Straits Times. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Kaska Watkins adds another gold medal to her haul as RI reclaim A Div netball crown
Raffles Institution's Kaska Watkins taking aim during the National School Games A Division netball final. She scored 20 out of 24 shots in the 45-40 win over Anglo-Chinese Junior College. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM Kaska Watkins adds another gold medal to her haul as RI reclaim A Div netball crown SINGAPORE – Competing in the National School Games swimming finals in April, Raffles Institution's (RI) Kaska Watkins collected a total of four medals – including a relay gold. Transferring that athleticism from the pool to the court, she added another gold to her haul on May 28. The goal attack played a key role as RI defeated defending champions Anglo-Chinese Junior College (ACJC) 45-40 at Our Tampines Hub to reclaim the A Division netball title that they last won in 2023. Kaska converted 20 out of the 24 shots she attempted, putting up an impressive 83.3 per cent shot conversion rate. The 17-year-old had claimed silver medals in the 50m freestyle and 4x50m medley relay on April 24, before adding a gold in the 4x50m free relay and a 100m free bronze a day later. But the water sport has given her more than just medals. 'Swimming has given me a strong core,' said Kaska, who is of English nationality. 'So whenever my teammates pass me the ball, I can grab it at different directions. Also, when I do weight training in swimming, I work on my legs and it helps me jump higher.' However, standing at 1.73m, she knew it would be difficult going up on the court against ACJC's goalkeeper Alyssa Tan, who is taller at 1.78m, prompting a different offensive approach. 'We knew we couldn't do any high balls because she (Alyssa) would intercept it, so I had to try holding her (back) so that I would block her off and get the ball,' said Kaska. RI coach Chng Li Li, 53, added: 'The AC (defence) is much taller than my shooters. We cannot play high, so we had to play the low balls (along the floor).' RI were without their first-choice centre Wang Yun Xi, who had to attend the International Biology Olympiad at Nanyang Technological University. Reserve centres Caitlin Ong and Emily Loi took turns to deputise in her place, and they both performed admirably. 'I played three quarters (in total) in the preliminary round, so this was definitely quite an overwhelming moment for me when I stepped on court,' said Emily, 17, who started the final as a substitute. Centre Emily Loi (in black, holding the ball) played well in place of their absent first-choice centre Wang Yun Xi. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM 'Even though our main centre wasn't here, it doesn't mean that our team won't be able to play well. We are still a team overall so we'll all be working together,' she said. RI started the game on the front foot, leading 13-8 after the first quarter. A combination of turnovers high up the court and neat interplay saw them take a commanding 25-18 advantage into half-time. ACJC fought back in the third quarter as they sought to narrow a 32-28 deficit. But it was ultimately too little too late as RI closed the game out to avenge last season's defeat in the final, where they lost 44-43 to ACJC. RI captain Lim Ruici , 18, said: 'The team was really hungry this year. I think our team's focus was enjoying the game because that is when we are at our best.' RI celebrating with the trophy after winning the A Div netball final. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM ACJC captain Keira Baptista was on the sidelines after a full anterior cruciate ligament tear and a partial medial collateral ligament tear ruled her out for the season. 'At first, I felt very helpless that I wouldn't be there for my team physically on court, but regardless I made sure that they knew that I would have their back,' said the 18-year-old. On-court captain Alyssa said RI played a good game and deserved their win. 'We fought hard and no matter the outcome, I think we put in our best effort today,' added the 18-year-old. In the third-place play-off, Victoria Junior College beat Eunoia Junior College 48-35. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Raffles Institution learn from past mistake to win first A Div cricket title since 2018
SINGAPORE – During their previous meeting in the National School Games A Division boys' cricket competition on May 13, Raffles Institution (RI) were confident they could outscore the 114 runs in 20 overs accumulated by defending champions Anglo-Chinese School (Independent). Confidence soon turned into complacency however, as RI, batting second, fell just short, amassing 113 runs in the same amount of overs, losing by just one run. As the two schools squared off again in the final at Ceylon Sports Club on May 23, RI were determined to not repeat that mistake. Keeping their focus in the sweltering heat, they won by eight wickets. RI captain Shreevathsa Chihnan said: 'That loss (by one run) helped us realise that we shouldn't be complacent at any moment of the game, regardless of whether we're leading or when we're losing. 'That's what we learnt from that game, and we won today because of that loss. It was a really needed loss.' Captain and wicket-keeper Shreevathsa Chihnan (centre) celebrating with bowler Sehgal Aarav (left) after bowling out Anglo-Chinese School's (Independent) captain and batsman Bhatnagar Aditya (right). RI recovered from their earlier loss to ACS(I) to win the title. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM The win marks RI's first A Division cricket title since 2018 and ended ACS (I)'s run of four straight titles from 2019 to 2024, excluding the Covid-19 pandemic years of 2020 and 2021. 'I think if any batch could do it, it would have been our batch because it's not about the skills or the talent. It's about how much chemistry we have and how well bonded we are. And I think truly for the last six, seven months of training, we deserve this really much,' added Chihnan, 18. There was immediately a sense of deja vu when ACS (I), just like in their last meeting, won the coin toss, elected to bat first and racked up 125 runs in 20 overs . Shree Bhala Raj, 17, who contributed 46 of those runs, said: 'I batted well and bowled well. Even when you're not on the right side of the score, it's important that you (still) get a (sense of) self-satisfaction that I've given my best.' It gave RI an even bigger mountain to climb when the teams changed hands between innings. What followed was a stellar batting performance from the Rafflesians, in particular, Nikhil Arora . In extraordinary circumstances, Nikhil found himself out on the pitch for the entirety of the inning, having not been caught out. In that spell, he greatly contributed to his team's score, slamming the ball out of bounds without bounce five times, a hit typically known as a six. Nikhil Arora (centre) scored five 6s during his time batting. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM RI went on to overcome ACS (I)'s 125 runs in emphatic fashion, scoring 126 in 18.5 overs, resulting in them winning by eight wickets. 'I think for every batter, hitting a six feels magnificent,' said Nikhil. 'But you have to tell yourself to not get carried away. In the game against ACS (which they lost by one run), we lost right at the end. So I just made sure that this time I had to be there to finish it.' The 17-year-old admitted that he got tired during the second inning, but 'all the adrenaline' kept him going. He added: 'We've really had such a shortage of trophies in the past. I hope my team has influenced the younger generation to carry on a tradition of success.' ACS (I) captain Aditya Bhatnagar had mixed emotions about his side's loss in the final, but they were not 'entirely negative'. 'We didn't panic today, nor did we choke. If you go to all 11 people who played, we all consider each other brothers. Everybody was calm and composed until the very last ball. That's the way it should be,' said Bhatnagar, 18. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Raffles Institution hockey boys reclaim A Div title amid penalty controversy
SINGAPORE – With the score finely poised at 2-2, both Raffles Institution (RI) and defending champions Victoria Junior College (VJC) knew only too well that there was little margin for error. The National School Games A Division boys' hockey title hung in the balance and any mistake in the May 22 final at Sengkang Hockey Stadium , no matter how small, would be punished. With 10 minutes remaining in the final quarter, the balance was tilted in favour of RI, who were awarded a penalty after a foul inside the shooting circle. Facing off against goalkeeper Jovan Teo in the VJC net, RI's Jaydon Poh stepped up and stroked the ball home to make it 3-2. It proved to be the winning goal, as RI reclaimed the title they lost to the same opponents in 2024. Speaking after the game, Jaydon said penalties were something he had been working on tirelessly. 'Usually during breaks (in training), I would just put the ball at the penalty spot and practise a few strokes against the 'keeper. I think such training paid off. (Today) I scored a crucial goal,' said the 17-year-old. RI's Jaydon Poh (right, in black) scored a crucial penalty that turned out to be the winning goal. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR He added: 'In the second half, VJC was on the ball more. They had more chances. So to score that goal really calmed the pressure down.' The penalty was given against the run of play, much to the frustration of those in the VJC dugout, who thought the decision was a controversial one. 'Our player got the ball first, very clearly,' said VJC coach Nordin Manaff . 'Then his momentum went into the defender and they clashed, but we have to respect the umpire's decision.' Despite the contentious circumstances, he was glad to be a part of a highly entertaining game after missing last year's final as he was overseas with the national women's indoor hockey team. 'I have not seen this kind of intensity in 10 years. Both teams played very well. I thought our players played better in the second half, just that we couldn't get the goal,' said the 58-year-old. Both RI and VJC played out an entertaining final. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR RI opened the scoring just four minutes into the game when Noor Adli Raimi stretched to stroke the ball into the goal and give his team an early lead. 'I thought it was a far effort, back stick. But then I suddenly heard everyone scream and that's when I realised I scored, and I was over the moon after that,' said Adli, 18. RI were pegged back when VJC's Pradeeban Krishnamoorthi latched onto a deflected through ball and smashed the ball beyond goalkeeper Sarthak Basak for the equaliser. But RI regained their lead before halftime, with Ajay Shanmugam lashing the ball into the net following a penalty corner in the 22nd minute. VJC restored parity with a goal from a penalty corner of their own. Their relentless second-half pressure was rewarded as Maheswar Chandramohan made it 2-2 before Jaydon's penalty nudged RI into the lead for the third and final time. 'I'm very proud of the team. Everyone gave their all. We fought for the past two years together, some of us for the past six, really,' said RI vice-captain Raynard Lim , 18. 'Most of the time they (VJC) end up being our toughest opponents and we face our toughest difficulties against (them). We always somehow inevitably meet, so winning this one really made us proud,' he added, acknowledging the fierce rivalry between the two schools in this competition. VJC captain Joven Woo n shared the same sentiments. 'It's always back and forth. They win one year, we win one year,' said the 18-year-old. VJC's Joven Woon (far left) fighting for the ball against RI's Ethan Wong. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR 'They were hungry to win following their defeat last year, and I think they were the better team today. (But) I'm proud of my team for pushing so hard to try and get a result that we wanted.' Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Raffles Institution overcome setbacks to beat Eunoia Junior College, retain A Division boys' softball title
Raffles Institution softball captain Raoul Gunalan (centre), lifting the trophy after winning the National School Games softball A Division boys final against Eunoia Junior College at Jurong East Softball Field on May 20, 2025. ST PHOTO: Brian Teo SINGAPORE – Despite encountering speed bumps along the way, Raffles Institution (RI) stepped up a gear when it mattered, beating Eunoia Junior College (EJC) 6-1 in the National School Games A Division boys' softball final at the Jurong East Softball Field on May 20. It was RI's fourth consecutive win in the finals against the same opponents, since the NSG returned to full swing in 2022 after the Covid-19 pandemic. RI captain Raoul Gunalan said: 'We have come a long way. I've played with some players since Sec 1, and some even from primary school. It's an honour to play alongside them and I'm filled with gratitude to be able to call them my teammates. 'I watch them play in awe and I'm proud to see the team grow as players and people, and I can't thank them enough. 'We admire their (EJC) resilience and desire to keep showing who they are. Props to them for putting up a good performance, even as I tip my hat to my teammates.' Raoul had to sit out the final after injuring his thumb in the 10-0 win over Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)/Anglo-Chinese Junior College (ACSI/ACJC) on May 15. The journey to the final was riddled with challenges – RI had to play the extra game against ACSI/ACJC after losing 9-8 to EJC in the May 13 play-off between the top two teams from the preliminary round. In that defeat, they were without first-choice pitcher Kevin Liu, who was hospitalised with stomach flu two days earlier. Kevin returned to the diamond for the final, and while he admitted to not being at his best with his pitching, he produced a good hit while batting in the bottom of the third inning to send two of his teammates home. RI then ran riot with six runs to seal their four-peat. Kevin, who lost 4kg due to illness, said he had to cope with the responsibility of being the only pitcher for his team this season. He added: 'The last time I played against EJC, I had almost a perfect game, but seeing them start to contact my pitches today really stressed me out. 'My team really helped me out when they started hitting, which took a weight off my shoulders. When it was my turn to bat (in the third inning), it felt good to see it go far. After that, I felt more relaxed and could focus on my pitching.' After two scoreless innings, RI's blitz in the third put their opponents under pressure and EJC could only score one consolation run in the fourth inning. Another shutout in the fifth and final inning gave the defending champions the win in front of 150 students, parents and teachers who packed the bleachers. While the EJC team shed tears of disappointment after the game, there were still lessons to be learnt in defeat. EJC captain Risdon Toh, who stepped up to the mound with regular pitcher Ephraim Wang out injured, noted that he almost stopped playing two years ago owing to the pressure of competitive sport. Thanking EJC's teacher-in-charge Trevor Tay and coach Seow Chin Keong, he said: 'Everyone worked hard to get us to where we are today. 'Being in EJC and working with such a nice and supportive coach has helped me rediscover the passion for softball. He taught me that we should play for the love of the game and not because of other people's expectations. 'Even though this loss is hard for the Year Twos because we are graduating, I'm confident the Year Ones will learn from the painful lesson to come back stronger and hopefully take the championship next year.' Seow, who has coached EJC since 2023, added: 'Winning is something we all want, but sometimes we learn better from failure. These boys have shown dedication, hard work and fighting spirit, and they did their best against strong opponents. They did well in every inning except one, hit Kevin's pitches many times, and I liked that they didn't give up. 'I hope they can continue to contribute to the softball community, and let this defeat be a springboard to go up to the next level.' David Lee is senior sports correspondent at The Straits Times focusing on aquatics, badminton, basketball, cue sports, football and table tennis. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
