A Girls Softball Finals

Our A Girls Softball team competed on 22 May in the Finals and managed to clinch National 2nd!

Well done girls!

Watch the following video for some of the action!

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Match Report: A Boys Basketball Finals 2013

For the eighth year running, Hwa Chong’s A Boys basketball team has done the school proud by emerging victorious from the A Boys Basketball Finals. Our boys dominated Pioneer Junior College (PJC), scoring a total of 69 points. PJC on the other hand, chalked up 43 points.

Here are our heroic male basketballers:

Tan Jun Wei (#4)

Zhang Si Yuan (#5)

Chun Wang Xuan (#6)

Chee Khan Liang (#7)

Nicholas Kek Zhi Hao (#8)

Johrathon Cheok Er Wen (#9)

Xu Xin Yi (#10),

Tan Kai Shawn (#11)

Keith Chua Zhi Qiang (#12)

Gao Wen Han (#13)

Ong Sze Chuan (#14)

Tan Jun (#15)

Before we start the game, let us look at how the game works.

Game play

The match is split into 4 quarters of 10 minutes each. Each team comprises 12 players, but only 5 will be on court at any one time. The aim of the game is to try to score as many points as possible. The team with more points wins.

Scoring system

1 point is awarded when a goal scored is from free throw. Free throws are awarded to a team according to some formats involving the number of fouls committed in a half and/or the type of foul committed. Fouling a shooter always results in two or three free throws being awarded the shooter, depending upon where he was when he shot. If he was beyond the three-point line, then he gets three shots.

2 points are awarded when the team scores within the 3 point line.

3 points are awarded when the team scores beyond the boundary marked out by the 3 point line.

Terminologies

Offense: The team with the ball

Defense: The team without the ball. They try to steal the ball, contest shots, steal and deflect passes, and garner rebounds.

Quarter 1

Soon after the whistle was blown, our boys got down to work. Sze Chuan scored the opening goal with a beautiful lay-up, bringing the score to HCI 2-0 PJC. The subsequent balls were played with much intensity. Both teams were neck and neck, with each team taking turns to score. This led to a 4-4 tie. Then, Jun Wei went on a scoring spree to bring the score to 7-4 with three free throws. All eyes were then focused on Wang Xuan as he dribbled swiftly across the court against the tight defence of PJC. As Wang Xuan approached the basket, he cleverly turned around to shake off all defenders.Seizing this opportunity, Wang Xuan threw a well aimed ball into the basket, adding 2 more points to our scorecard. Determined, PJC scored 3 baskets to bring the score to 9-10. Deafening cheers erupted from the PJC supporters as PJC got their first lead of the game. However, this lead was short-lived. Just before the quarter ended, Johrathon did a brilliant pass to Jun Wei, who then scored to regain our lead. The first quarter ended with the score 11-10.

Quarter 2

PJC started the opening of the second quarter by turning the ball over from a 24-second shot clock violation. Seizing this opportunity, Jun Wei did a reverse layup to  bring the score to 13-10. However, PJC retained their composure to score three straight baskets to regain the lead. One of the baskets was a menacing three pointer which drew large cheers from the crowd.

PJC’s lead was soon crushed in the hands of  Khan Liang, who impressively sank two consecutive three pointers to bring the score to 19–17. The crowd went wild with such a fine display of basketball. Our boys then picked up the pace to extend our lead. Jun Wei scored a free throw while Khan Liang, Tan Kai Shawn and Sze Chuan all managed to score a basket each. In the final few moments of the second quarter, Jun Wei managed a basket with a reverse layup to add two more points to our scorecard. The second quarter ended with a 32-21 HCI lead.

Quarter 3

Both teams were on fire in this quarter. Wang Xuan, with his precise aiming, started the scoring frenzy with a two pointer. Determined to close up the gap, PJC managed a three pointer soon after. Tan Kai Shawn responded swiftly with another three pointer. Not wanting to disappoint, PJC went to score another 3 pointer. The score now stood at 37-27. The crowd went insane after watching such an intense showdown of three pointers.

At 29-49, Wang Xuan managed two free throws successfully with a calm demeanor. Then, a slight misstep in defense enabled PJC to deliver a two pointer. Well coordinated passes between Jun Wei and Wang Xuan led us to score another two pointer. Continuing with the momentum, Johrathon initiated carefully planned attacks and eventually scored a fantastic three pointer to add to our lead. PJC then went on to score a basket at the final few moments of the quarter. Quarter three ended at 58-32.

Quarter 4

As soon as the quarter started, PJC went all out to score 6 consecutive points.  Wang Xuan then broke the scoring streak with two free throws to bring the score to 59-38. Rapid passes between Johrathon, Tan Kai Shawn and Wang Xuan left our opponent helpless. After gaining possession of the ball, Wang Xuan immediately went on to score a two pointer, which drew cheers from the crowd. Our boys then blazed ahead of our opponent by scoring up till the final second. Tan Kai Shawn managed a free throw while Jun Wei scored a free throw and 2 two pointers. As the clock ticked to the final minute, Jun Wei caught a rebound and passed the ball to Khan Liang. Khan Liang then went on to score the final basket of the game with no pressure at all. When the final whistle was blown, our boys were elated. They had won the basketball finals with a 69-43 lead!

Deafening cheers from our supporters filled the air when our boys went to collect their hard earned golden trophy during the prize presentation ceremony. Chun Wang Xuan was also awarded the Most Valuable Player award and was all smiles when he went to receive the award.

For the eighth time, Hwa Chong is the A Division Basketball (Boys) champions! Three cheers for our brave warriors who fought bravely on court!

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Match Report: A Girls Basketball Finals 2013

On the 22nd of May 2013, Hwa Chong’s female basketballers left Jurong Sports Hall in high spirits with a gold medal around their necks. Yes, our girls have done the school proud by defeating Raffles Institution in the National Basketball Finals to become the champions.

Final Score: 45-25

Let us first meet our glorious female basketballers:

Crystal Yong Yun Han (#4)

Chin Wan Qing (#5)

Chan Chu Yin (#6)

Joey Tan Jiao Jie (#7)

Sia Si Qin Charlene (#8)

Lim Yi Jieh Edna (#9)

Yang Yilin (#10)

Mandy Leoh Yun Wan (#11)

Freda Chua Zhi Yun (#12)

Leah-Diane Warden Xiu Yu (#13)

Foo Yuan Ru (#14)

Tan Jia Qi (#15)

Here is how the game is played:

Game play

The match is split into 4 quarters of 10 minutes each. Each team comprises 12 players, but only 5 will be on court at any one time. The aim of the game is to try to score as many points as possible. The team with more points wins.

Scoring system

1 point is awarded when a goal scored is from free throw. Free throws are awarded to a team according to some formats involving the number of fouls committed in a half and/or the type of foul committed. Fouling a shooter always results in two or three free throws being awarded the shooter, depending upon where he was when he shot. If he was beyond the three-point line, then he gets three shots.

2 points are awarded when the team scores within the 3 point line.

3 points are awarded when the team scores beyond the boundary marked out by the 3 point line.

Terminologies

Offense: The team with the ball

Defense: The team without the ball. They try to steal the ball, contest shots, steal and deflect passes, and garner rebounds.

And the game begins…

1st Quarter

Not long after the match started, both teams managed to earn themselves two points. Then, a foul called by opponent on Chu Yin while she was shooting meant that she was awarded 2 free throws. Chu Yin took the free shots calmly and skillfully,and managed to add 2 more points to our score. This brings the score to 4-2.

Both teams fought hard for the next ball with possession alternating between the two. The atmosphere was tense as there was no way of predicting who would score next. Lim Yi Jieh Edna fought furiously to keep possession of the ball, turning her way out of the her opponents while dribbling, preventing Raffles from getting the ball. Freda went all out to catch the rebound when Raffles attempted to score. This thwarted Raffles’ attempt at goal and changed the possession of the ball. Then, Freda was fouled while trying to shoot. 2 free throws were awarded to us again. Freda, with her perfect aiming, managed to score during the two free throws. This thus brings the score to 6-2.

A couple of slight breakdowns in communication between out girls presented Raffles a chance to score, and they did. This levels the score at 6-6. Unfazed Chu Yin pushed on and managed another goal for Hwa Chong. This concludes the first quarter with a score of HCI 9-6 RI.

2nd quarter

RI scored the opening goal for the second quarter. This narrowed our lead, with the score being 9-8. Determined, Edna and Mandy aggressively intersected the passes between our opponents, gaining back possession. The ball was then passed rapidly to Jia Qi. Continuing the momentum, Jia Qi went full out to score a basket for Hwa Chong. The score now becomes 11-8. Brimming with energy, Jia Qi did a back turn while dribbling and managed to shake off her opponents. She then went a step further to score another basket, bringing the score to 13-8. Due to a slight oversight, RI managaged to score the next goal.

Our basketballers displayed great camaraderie by providing support to each other. When Charlene was not successful in her attempt to score, Edna caught the rebound and passed it to Freda who then scored.This brought the score to 15-10. Another round of quick and accurate passing between JIa Qi,Freda, Yuan Ru and Edna left the opponents struggling to defend. Our girls seized this opportunity to score and managed to earn points just before the quarter ended. The final score for this quarter is HCI-19-11-RI

3rd Quarter

The quarter started off with our girls scoring 2 free throws, bringing the score to 21-11. The free throws were scored by Mandy. Riding on the momentum, our team went on to extend our lead by scoring another two baskets. At 25-13,Freda caught a rebound and swiftly passed it to Chu Yin who skillfully placed the ball into the basket with an underhand. Our girls then wowed the crowds with an excellent display of teamwork. Jia Qi intercepted our opponents and gained possession of the ball. She then passed it to Crystal who then spotted an opening and rapidly passed the ball to Yuan Ru. The ball was eventually passed to Mandy who threw the ball into the basket with a beautiful trajectory. This brings the score to 30-15. Our girls were unstoppable and continuously fired balls into the basket even up to the final few seconds. The quarter ended with the score 35-15.

4th Quarter

RI scored 3 consecutive points soon after the whistle was blown and that brought the score to 35-18. Breaking our opponent’s streak, our girls managed to score a free throw. Not giving up, RI fought fiercely to add two more points to their score card. Soon after, our girls scored. Cheers filled the air as the supporters gave their utmost support to their athletes who were fighting for glory.

At 38-20, our opponent scored an impressive 3 pointer. Responding to that, Chu Yin went on to score a 3 pointer for us. The high level of basketball skills displayed by both teams kept the spectators at the edge of their seats. Before this quarter ended, three more baskets were scored. RI managed to score one while our girls managed two baskets.This brought the final score of the game to 45-25. Victory is ours!

The championship title was not the only award that our girls earned for the school.During the prize presentation ceremony, Chu Yin was awarded the Most Valuable Player. Scoring 10 points for the team, including a three pointer, Chu Yin truly deserves the award.

Overall, it was an exciting game. Our girls had done their best for the school and the school deeply appreciates their efforts! Congratulations!

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Match Report: Netball

Match Report on Netball Finals (21st May 2013) 

Netball girls win first runners up against powerhouses, ACJC in the recently concluded Netball National Championships.

Congratulations to our girls for putting up such a great fight against their opponents! You have done Hwachong proud!

Final Score: 36-63

Game Play

Matches are to be played in 4 quarters, with each quarter lasting 15 minutes long. The team with the most number of goals scored at the end of the 4 quarters will win the match.

Common Terms

Centre Passes

Occurs after a goal has been scored, centre passes the ball

Penalty Passes

Pass where the ball is returned from the sideline into play. This pass occurs after a penalty has been called

Short Passes

A pass between two players on the same team, where the length of the pass is so short that a defensive player cannot get between the two opposing players to intercept the ball.

Bounce pass

executed by getting low to the ground, holding the ball with one or two hands at hip height, and stepping forward while releasing the ball and released with a great deal of force. The purpose of the bounce pass is to move the ball around an opponent.

Positions

Line-Up

Gs- Teo Xin Yu
Ga- Ulanda Oon
C- Olivia Wu
GK-Ng Ling Ting
Wa – Jill Chew
Gd – Claudia Tan
Wd- Khor Ting Fang

1st Quarter ( 11-17, ACJC winning)

Hwachong Netball started off the match with a superb catch from Goal Scorer, Teo Xin Yu, who managed to catch the rebound and put the ball back into the basket. The next three points were grabbed by ACJC before Hwachong managed to equalise with a score of 4-4. Hwachong managed to outwit opponents with a fast ball pass, bringing the score to 5-4. ACJC took the next 5 points, taking the score to 5-9. Good Teamwork by Ulanda Oon and Khor Ting Fang saw the girls score another point, with the score now at 7-10. A pass from Jill to Olivia saw Olivia successfully pass the ball to Xin Yu, who put the ball into the net, scoring a point for Hwachong, 8-11. ACJC scored the next 3 points, bringing the score to 8-14. Ulanda and Xin Yu grabbed the next point, with the score at 9-14. Claudia Tan and Olivia Wu had well co-ordinated passes with each other before the ball was put into the net by Ulanda. With the score at 10-17, Hwachong Netball managed to grab the last point of the quarter, with Ulanda taking the score of the first quarter to 11-17.

2nd quarter (19-32, ACJC Winning)

In the 2nd quarter, despite a good defence by Ling Ting, ACJC grabbed the first point of the quarter, taking the score to 11-18. With good teamwork and fast ball passes between Ulanda, Jill and Xin Yu, the opponents could not catch up and took the score to 12-18. With the score at 13-18, ACJC scored the next 3 points, taking it to 13-21. At 15-24, a good pass from Jill to Ulanda saw them bring the score to 16-24. ACJC took the next three points before Hwachong Netball scored two consecutive points, making the crowd go wild, bringing the points to 18-27. A skillful pass saw Hwachong Netball take the score to 19-30, before ACJC ended the 2nd quarter with a score of 19-32.

Third quarter (28-49, ACJC Winning)

Our girls scored the opening goal for this quarter, much to the delight of the supporters. That brings the score to 20-32. Not letting their guards down, our opponents scored next. The subsequent few balls were closely fought between the two teams, with each taking turns to score. At 21-33 Ng Ling Ting wowed the crowd by skillfully catching a rebound, bringing the ball to our possession. However, a few strategic interceptions by our opponents caused the ball to lend into their hands, giving them an opportunity to score.That brought the score to 21-34. At 22-35, the rapid passes between Ulanda Oon, Olivia Wu and Jill Chew left our opponents helpless, enabling us to score easily to bring the score to 23-35. Determined, ACJC stepped up their defence and started to extend their lead. The score became 24-43. Feeling the encouragement from the crowd, our girls thundered on. Ng Ling Ting gave it her all to block an attempt at goal by the opponent. Ulanda Oon bravely intercepted our opponent, regaining the possesion of the ball. Claudia Tan kept her cool and managed to find openings to pass the ball to her team mates. The collective effort from our girls led us to score 2 straight points to bring the score to 26-43. As the third quarter ticks away, ACJC up their game and went on a scoring spree. Our girls did their best too in the face of a strong opponent and managed to bring in two more goals. With that, the third quarter ends with the score being 28-49.

4th quarter (36-63, ACJC Wins)

Coming back from a short break, our girls were energised and all ready to go. Just like the previous quarter, they managed to score the opening goal. However, our opponents were also brimming with energy and that led them to score 5 straight points. The score now stands at 29-53. At 30-54, brilliant defending by Ulanda Oon prevented our opponents from scoring. Ulanda Oon also managed to regain the possession of the ball. Riding on Ulanda’s efforts, our girls displayed excellent teamwork to bring the score to 34-54. The crowd was especially impressed by the passes between Ng Ling Ting and Khor Ting Fang as they were strategically positioned such that the opponent had difficulties intercepting them. As quarter 4 continued, ACJC dominated the court to score 9 more goals while our girls managed 2. That brings the final score of the A Division Netball Finals to 36-63 with victory going to ACJC.

Although our girls left the court with a silver medal, the sweat and blood that they have put in to fight their way into the finals is something that the school will forever be proud of. Thank you girls for doing us proud!

Check out the video for more action!

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Match Report: Taekwondo

On 26^th April, HCTKD participated in the Taekwondo Inter-JC Competition.

We were frantically trying to improve our standard in the days leading up to the competition, hoping that that extra training would give us an added advantage over our opponents.  For most of the J2s, it was the last time we were to compete.

Despite the intense competition from other schools, we are proud to announce that we have emerged champions for girls and runners-up for boys!

Our matches occurred throughout the day due to the staggered nature of the competition.  This made it tricky to keep track of when our members were competing, and to cheer for each other.  Nonetheless, all our HCTKD members fought hard and pushed ourselves to the limit.

On the mats, our individual poomsaes lasted for no more than 1.5 minutes.  However, the countless hours needed to improve our flexibilities, perfect our stability and refine each movement was a arduously long and continual process.

Ultimately, it paid off.

As with what one of our coaches had mentioned, getting a medal in the competition was simply a souvenir; the main take-aways of our mental and physical discipline include the acknowledgement of our hard work, and the friendships and memories forged.  We are glad to have had this experience to do the school proud.

Thank you to our teachers-in-charge, Ms Kiran and Ms Kim, for helping us with administrative matters.  To our coaches and seniors, a big thank you for meticulously reviewing our patterns and conjuring us to train hard to achieve our top-form.  Last but not least, to our supporters who took pains to show their support and energise the team with their encouragement, you guys are awesome.

We will continue to work hard to present equally good, if not better results during next year’s Inter-JCs.

HCTKD, we can taek kick

Girl’s individual Chil-jang

Boy’s Individual Koryo

1st for Samjang boys

1st for Samjang girls too!

Proudly brought to you by HCTKD

Photo credits: Kerry Tang and Chua Jing Yi

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Match Report: Volleyball Guys Finals

8 May 2013

Our volleyball boys win first runners up in the volleyballs national championship against powerhouses, NYJC!

Congratulations and oh boy, what a good fight it was by our boys! Here’s a recap of the exciting actions that went down at Toa Payoh Sports Hall.

Overall Score:0-3

20-25, 20-25, 24-26

Before we start, here’s a brief run through of the rules of the game and terminologies!

Game Play

Matches are played to the best of 5 games, that is, the first team to win 3 out of 5 sets wins.

The first 4 sets are played to 25 points each, while the last set is played to 15 points.

Common Terms

Ace : A serve which lands in the receiving team’s court without being touched by the receiving team, or one that is touched by only one member of the receiving team, and is not passed legally back over the net.

Dig : A defensive contact following an opponent’s attack resulting in a playable ball.

Double : A fault in which a player contacts the ball with two body parts consecutively.

Dump : A surprise attack usually executed by a front row setter to catch the defense off guard; many times executed with the left hand, sometimes with the right, aimed at the donut or area 4 on the court.

Free ball : A ball that is passed over the net because an attack wasn’t possible.

Spike : When an offensive player attacks the ball with a one-arm motion done over the head, attempting to score.

Volleyball Team Starting Line Up

#1 – Pei Jie

#2 – Han Ying

#4 – Xian Lun

#7 – Yong Tai

#12 – Darius

#13 – Wayne

Before we start, a morale-boosting group huddle by the guys!

Set 1 (22-25,NYJC wins)

Our volleyball guys took an early lead, scoring 2 points before their opponents could respond. Unfortunately, the third point went to our opponent. Unintimidated, Pei Jie spikes the ball and it lands in the opponents court, to our favor, bringing the score to 3-1! Both teams took turns to score until Darius performed a powerful spike which the opponents could not return, taking the score to 5-3!

After losing a point to the opponents, our volleyball guys were unfazed and came back, scoring 2 points consecutively, with the help of Zhi Yong tipping it over the net and Xian Lun blocking the opponent’s ball. However, the unfazable opponents soon bounced back by scoring 2 points, bringing the score to 8-6!

Still in the lead, a mistake by the opponent’s serve hitting the net gave us a bigger lead of 9-6. The opponents fought back, equalizing the score to 9-9. A powerful spike from Wayne saw our volleyball guys breaking away from the tie, with the score at 10-9, in our favor!

Ready, set…

Smash!

However, the opponents scored 4 points consecutively, bringing the score to 10-13. After each side scoring a point, Yong Tai’s powerful spike saw the opponents defenseless, closing up the score gap, 12-14. Unable to defend the opponent’s powerful ball, the scores became 13-16. Unfazed by the score gap, our volleyball guys did not feel demoralized and bounced back with determination, with Yong Tai and Zhi Yong managing powerful spikes across the court. This earned us an equalizer  with the score at 16-16. Determination from Darius and an ace from our boys saw the team earning a lead, 18-17! Tension was high as hearts skipped with every ball hit. The opponents managed to grab a point from us, but not long after, our volleyball guys, Darius and Wayne both spiked consecutively to contribute to a score gap of 20-18.

To widen our gap, a powerful serve from a NYJC volleyballer saw the ball hit wide and out, increasing the score gap to 21-18! A consecutive 3 point score from our opponents saw the score equalizing at 21-21. When the score was at 22-22, the players activated their defending mode and intercepted numerous powerful balls. However, despite the good fight that our volleyball guys put up, the first set went to our opponents. with us losing scandalously closely with a score of 22-25.

Set 2 (20-25 NYJC wins)

After switching sides, our boys managed to clinch the first point. This small lead was then demolished when Nanyang forged ahead to score 3 consecutive points. However, the opponent smacked the next ball into the net, ending their scoring streak. This brings the score to 2-3. Then, a well planned tipping of the ball over the net by Yong Tai left the opponents stunned, equalising the scores. The next few balls were a close fight, with both teams scoring points in an alternating manner. A long rally took place when the score was 5-6. Our boys fearlessly saved several menacing spikes and went all out to perform different attacks. The long rally caused the spectators’ hearts to pound!! Fortunately, our teamwork paid off and we managed to level the score at 6-6. Continuing the momentum Pei Jie skillfully delivered a spike at break neck speed, earning our team another point.

The next few balls were closely fought with both teams taking turns to score, with the score then inching up and reaching 9-9. Our supporters cheered their hearts outs for our boys who were fighting for the glory of our school. Responding to the the cheers, our warriors went on a scoring streak. A strategically positioned spike by Darius brought the score to 12-9 while a miraculous save added one more point to our lead. Our boys soldiered on through the intense battle to bring the score to 14-10. Another lethal spike by Darius brought the score to 15-10. Then, the the tide changed. A couple of errors made by our boys enabled Nanyang to level the score at 18-18. The opponents then gathered all their energy to earn another 3 point to bring the score to 18-21. Refusing to back down, Pei Jie wowed the crowd with a spike at a steep angle that the opponents could not save. Pei Jie’s hardwork brought the score to 19-21. Unfortunately, Nanyang won the next few balls to extend their lead to 19-23.

Much to the delight of our supporters, Darius earned our team a point by spiking a ball fiercely into the opponent’s court. This brings the score to 20-23. However, a couple of errors on our part led team Nanyang to victory in the second set at 20-25.

Set 3 (24- 26 NYJC wins)

With a crucial match to win against the opponents, our volleyball boys returned back to the court, brimming with determination and courage to win it. Our opponents started the game with an early lead of one point, a free ball from our opponents saw Darius equalise the score with a powerful spike. With a series of errors made by our players, NYJC widened the lead to 1-3. Unfazed, Darius again showed off his pro volleyball skills by carrying out another spike, too powerful for the opponents to react, taking the score to 2-3. Our opponents score 2 points consecutively, only to be stopped by Darius, who did not disappoint by winning a point with a powerful spike, bringing the score to 3-5. With a few hi fives and team handshakes, the morale of the team was boosted, as proven by the scoring streak that they put up, with Xian Lun and Darius executing killer shots and NYJC committing errors, the scoreboard read 9-6, with the score gap to our favor.

The opponent managed to grab a point from us, with the volleyball boys continuing their scoring streak soon after. With a few mistakes committed by NYJC, and Wayne and Xian Lun working together to defend a powerful ball from the opponent, our volleyball boys saw them edging their opponents with an exciting score gap of 14-7!

The opponents managed to score a point, bringing the score to 14-8, but hope just grew stronger as our volleyball boys put up a spectacular performance to the delight of the spectators, bringing the score to 17-9. Teamwork was evident, especially between Wayne and Xian Lun, who managed to block a powerful shot from the opponent together. Wayne went further later to deliver a deadly spike to bring the score to 18-10.

With their perseverance and the unwavering support from our supporters, our boys managed to clinch two more points. However, Nanyang got their act together to bring in a string of points to their side. The score went from 20-12 to 20-17. Determined to end the winning streak, Pei Jie spiked with all his might. Team Nanyang was unable to react to Pei Jie’s nasty blow and sent the ball flying out of the court. That brought the score to 21-17. The following balls were played with much intensity and players were seen scrambling in their courts to save every crucial ball! The guys were neck-on-neck, with the score having inched up to 23-23! Then, a clever decision by Wayne to tip the ball over the net surprised Nanyang giving us our first Game-Point of the day (24-23)! All Hwa Chong supporters were ecstatic and prayed hard for things to go in our favour. However, Nanyang came back strong to level the score at 24-24. Our team continued to push on and fight hard, but the intense pressure led to a few inevitable mistakes despite the best of their efforts, and the match ended pityingly closely with a score of 24-26.

At the end of it all, we may have lost the battle but the effort our boys put in was formidable. The championship title may not have been won, but we certainly have won in spirit, determination and mental courage. Thank you, for giving your very best! We are very proud of you!

Presenting to you our fantabulous volleyball team!

Cheers,

40th and 39th CCA PROs

On a side note, the 39th CCA PROs are stepping down, and this is the first post that’s written by the 40th CCA PROs. We as the 39th CCA PROs have been really honoured to be able to cover all the excitement thus far, thank you for providing us which such amazing achievements to share. Do lend the juniors all the support you can give, and continue fighting hard and achieving your stupendous results!

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Match Report: Shooting

 2013 National Inter-School Shooting Championships (8^th April -16^th April)

 In the past week the Hwa Chong Shooting Team participated in the Inter-School finals held at Yishun SAFRA! Despite fierce competition from traditional rival teams, we fought to the very end and obtained commendable results.

For those who have no idea of what shooting is all about here are some facts on the competition:

Every shot has a maximum score of 10 and so the maximum score is 600 for boys’ events, and 400 for girls’ events! It may seem easy to hit the bulls-eye but imagine aiming at target 10 metres away and the 10 ring a mere 0.5mm in size for the rifle event!

A Boys Air Rifle

On 11^th April, our team which comprises Soo Guo Sheng (12S6C), Chik Cheng Jie (13S7G), Ong Yinn Jaye (13S75) and reserve Quah Yu Kiat (13S7E), went all out against our rivals and emerged victorious as national champions. Coming to the event as one of the favorites to clinch the title, our shooters did not disappoint as they fought to regain our championship title we had lost by merely 4 points last year. This year we clinched the title by a margin of 14 points, and Cheng Jie claimed individual 1^st with a score of 585/600, while our national team shooters Guo Sheng and Yinn Jaye both shot a commendable score of 575/600, coming in 3^rd and 4^th respectively. Guo Sheng claimed third by virtue of inner-tens (31 to 29). Despite this victory, the team would continue striving for greater heights and ensure that complacency does not set in.

A Girls Air Rifle

The A Girls Air Rifle event took place on 16^th April at SAFRA as our last event in the inter-school shooting championships. With a title and a 2^nd runners-up in the bag, there is great anticipation that our shooters will do well and bring home another title. This time our team comprises of Teo Zhi Ping (12A15), Lim Yee Xien (13S65) and Cheryl Lee (13S7G). Our team faced off with powerhouse RI which comprises of national youth team shooters. Despite the uphill battle we were facing, our team fought hard and never gave in as we only lost by a mere 4 points. Yee Xien shot an score of 392/400 under immense pressure of nationals and clinched individual 1^st while both Cheryl and Zhi Ping shot a commendable score of 382/400 claiming 9^th and 10^th placing respectively. With a combined score of 1156, we lost out to RI by 4 points (1160) and blazed our way to as runners up, improving on our third position in 2012.

A Boys Air Pistol

The A Boys Air Pistol Event was held at SAFRA on the 10^th of April. The team comprises Captain Teo Wen Song (12S60), Poh Wei Xuan (12S73), Loo Li Yang (13S7B) and reserve Timothy Toh (13S6Q). The team had given their all for this competition, and emerged with a worthy team third placing. Li Yang had obtained a score of 543/600, Wei Xuan with a score of 534/600, and Wen Song with a score of 531/600. Facing off traditional powerhouse Raffles and a host of worthy opponents, the team fought hard and missed 2^nd place by a mere 1 point. Nevertheless, the position has been an improvement from 4^th place the year before, and would be aiming for greater heights next year!

A Girls Air Pistol

The A Girls Air Pistol Event took place on the 8^th of April at SAFRA, and the team comprises Lim Li-Sha (12A15), Lui Cheuk Lam (12S6G), Aw Pey Ling (12S7E) and reserve Wong Rui Yee Amanda (12S63). Despite coming in team 9^th, the team had put up a valiant effort against all their competitors. Coming from differing backgrounds with little to no shooting experience, the entire A Girls’ pistol team had effectively only 9 months to get their skills up to scratch, against many other opponents who easily could have 6 years of experience with the sport. Thus, the never-say-die spirit within them against all odds is extremely praise-worthy. Even with humongous odds, the team never told themselves to give in and gave it their all!

Presenting to you, the Hwa Chong Shooting Team 2013!

All the Best for other CCAs in their endeavors!

Cheers,

Wen Song and Wei Xuan,

On behalf of HC Shooting

Photography Credits: Soo Guo Sheng 

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Match Report: Squash Girls Finals

2^nd May 2013

Squash girls are officially NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!

After an intense match with tough rivals RI, our squash girls did our school proud by bringing home the national championship title with a final score of HCI 3 – 2 RI! Congratulations girls! Read on for the full match report~

First, introducing the team:

Samantha Phey
Ling An
Natalie Tan
Claire Lim
Kong Rui Ting

Rachel Teo

But before you get confused, here are some jargon you should familiarize yourself with:

Boast—ball bounces off either side wall or the back wall before the front wall
Reverse boast – ball bounces off front wall and hits either side wall
Volley—to hit back a ball before it touches the floor
Drive—a shot that hits the front wall and travels deep to the back of the court
Drop—to hit the ball lightly such that it drops in the front half of the court
Let—to replay a point because you were in the way of opponent
Stroke—a point given to the person whose way was obstructed
Cross-court—to hit across the court to the other side

Without further ado, let’s head on to the adrenaline-pumping match!

Tie 1: Samantha Phey (HCI) vs. Janie (RI)

            Set 1 (1-0)

            Samantha kick started the game impressively, and quickly got into her tempo. Tricky boasts and drives got the opponent running around the court trying to return the ball, before Samantha capitalized on opportunities to give light drop shots which were humanly impossible to receive! The first set ended with Samantha stealing the victory 11—5.

            Set 2 (2-0)

            Janie from RI was eager to prove her worth and gave Samantha a grueling time in the second set. The two girls were breathing down each others’ necks as they took turns to lead. Samantha displayed her skills throughout the second set, with cross-court drives that more often than not, forced Janie to be unable to receive the ball properly. After several long and tensed rallies which tested the girls to their limits, Samantha won 11 – 9.

            Set 3 (3-0)

            After two energy-sapping games, Samantha seemed to have lost her concentration for a brief moment and awarded the first few points to her opponent, losing out 1-3 at the start. However, nail-biting rallies saw Samantha came out on top, chasing the opponent until a deuce, before sealing the first tie altogether 12-10.

First tie goes to HCI!

Tie 2: Ling An (HCI) vs. Kimberly (RI)

            Set 1 (1-0)

            Ling An, our renowned and greatly adored sports girl proved to be not only competent in running, but greatly adept at the beautiful sport of squash as well. Even though Kimberly was able to snatch a few early points, Ling An’s reverse boast which ricocheted off the walls several times equalized 3-3. After forcing a few errors from the opponent, Ling An won the first set 11-6.

            Set 2 (1-1)

            The first set being a great morale booster, Ling An wowed the crowd with a few slices that shocked the opponent, leading 8-4 midgame. However, Kimberly fought back bravely and with a neat combination of skill and luck, chased back and defeated Ling An 9-11.

            Set 3 (2-1)

            In the early stages of the third set, both Ling An and Kimberly exchanged drop shots which resulted in much scrambling and dives to save the balls. After drawing at 4-4, Ling An once again flaunted her brilliance with lightning-speed drives, tricky boasts and crazy cross-court shots, winning the third set 11-4.

            Set 4 (2-2)

            Ling An tried to shut her opponent off early in set 4 and won important points, gaining an advantage of 6-3 in a short while. However, Kimberly played equally well with much vigor as well and with a stroke of inspiration, surprised us by winning the fourth set 12-10 after a deuce was secured.

            Set 5 (3-2)

            After four draining sets, fatigue started creeping in, but what is fatigue to Ling An who is capable of running 2.4km within 9 minutes plus? With energy ever radiating, she continued sprinting around the court, outlasting the opponent with her incredible stamina. We soon led 10-4, but the opponent refused to give up. At this crucial juncture, Ling An did a powerful drive which left her opponent dumbfounded, winning the final set 11-7!

The second tie goes to HCI again!

Tie 3: Natalie Tan (HCI) vs. Cheryl (RI)

            Set 1 (0-1)

            Even though our team won the first two ties, the third tie proved to be the hardest yet, and Natalie was evidently outplayed by Cheryl. While Natalie did her fair bit of drop shots in an attempt to destabilize the opponents’ lead, we lost the first set 7-11 from a service error by Natalie.

            Set 2 (0-2)

            Unfortunately tired out by the exhausting first set, Natalie gave her all but could not save the scene after a few long-drawn rallies which made both sides running from side to side. She succumbed quickly to Cheryl’s tactical game play, and lost the second set 2-11.

            Set 3 (0-3)

                Evidently demoralized from losing the first two sets, any member of the audience present that day would have easily cast her off. However, that did not stop Natalie from displaying her brilliant resilience and she put up a strong fight, snatching the first 5 points with quick succession. Despite these brave attempts, she eventually lost out 11-13 after Cheryl managed to secure a deuce with much difficulty.

The third tie goes to RI! HCI 2-1 RI

Tie 4: Claire Lim (HCI) vs. Melissa (RI)

            Set 1 (0-1)

            Tie 4 was no less difficult than tie 3, and Melissa was indeed a tough opponent to beat. After drop shots, cross-court shots and several boasts, it could be deduced that Melissa was the better girl in the court that day, and won the first set 2-11.

            Set 2 (0-2)

            In the second set of the fourth tie, Claire gave it her all and fought valiantly. She made life as difficult as possible for her opponent, bravely returning tricky drops and powerful drives. Melissa was at the end too skillful and we lost the second set 2-11.

            Set 3 (0-3)

            The final set was the most daunting of the three, as it was hard for Claire not to be affected from losing the first two sets. Nevertheless, she tried to keep her head in the game as much as possible and even though she lost out 1-11, she deserves a salute for her efforts!

Fourth tie goes to RI! HCI 2 – 2 RI. The final tie would decide the champions!

Tie 5: Kong Rui Ting (HCI) vs. Denise Lim (RI)

              After four exciting games, the result of the entire match boiled down to the final tie as captain Rui Ting stepped into the court courageously to face RI’s top seed, Denise Lim. The tension in the air was palpable and cheers and chants burst out periodically during the warm-ups of the final tie, with both sides desperately signaling to their respective players that the school was behind her.

            Set 1 (1-0)

            Many say that for an incredibly fast-paced game like squash, what determines the victor might not necessarily be the skill, but the stature of the player, and this was exactly what resounded in the final tie. To say that Rui Ting had better skills than Denise might be open for criticism and debate, but it is undeniable that for the first set at least, Rui Ting commanded the game with her calm stature. Sleek cross-court shots and tricky drop shots which barely bounced above the dreadful red line sent the ball to the corners of the glass wall and with a hard drive from Rui Ting, she secured the first set 11-2.

            Set 2 (2-0)

            Taken aback by the score line of the first set, Denise was unable to get into her form on time. Rui Ting promptly capitalized on this and stole the first point with a sick spin drop shot which stunned not only Denise, but the entire crowd which was expecting a hard drive instead. While Denise fought for every point to the best of her ability, Rui Ting stole the limelight with superb volleys, and won the second set 11-7.

            Set 3 (2-1)

            Denise was evidently getting used to Rui Ting’s playing style and tried to gain mastery over the game. Drop shots with heave tinges of spin of the ball all too often tricked Rui Ting and we were losing 1-5 after strong lobs of Denise as well. Rui Ting attempted bravely to save the set, but her efforts were to dismay as Denise sealed it 3-11.

            Set 4 (3-1)

            Gaining momentum, Denise’s obvious intention was to control the fourth set from the start. However, killer drives from Rui Ting saved her a few points, but Denise was soon leading 3-6. A brilliant spectacle the entire set was, and the volleys, wow the superb volleys, were one of a kind indeed. The points then climbed one by one, from 7-7 to 8-8 to 9-9 and finally to 10-10. Deuce!!!

            After every point, the crowd erupted into cheers as the supporters cheered their hearts out. “Jiayou Rui Ting!” “Fight on Denise!” were so resounding that many times, the poor referee had to remind spectators to keep silent. Denise served the ball with deadly speed but Rui Ting received it with yet another breathtaking volley and won the point with a combination of drops and boasts. 11-10! Just one more!

        The final point was easily the most nerve-wrecking of all, with Rui Ting serving and Denise receiving with equal confidence. After a considerably short rally, Rui Ting hit back with an unexpectedly soft drop shot, something that even herself was a bit worried of its effectiveness, but boy did it work like a charm as Denise was shocked at the speed of the ball.

           Denise was unable to receive and the ball and instantaneously, both players dropped their rackets and tears welled up in their eyes, one of exhilaration, the other, of despondence. But Lady Luck seemed to have smiled at us that evening, and we won the fourth set 12-10. Rui Ting wins the final tie 3-1 and the game was won HCI 3 – 2 RI! Great job squash girls! You did the school proud!

           What an evening that was! Next up, it was the prize presentation.

           The guys team obtained a commendable 4th, after losing out in a close and hard fought match against RI.

             Congratulations to the Squash girls once again, for that spectacular and heart-stopping performance. You have truly done HC proud!

Presenting to you, the Hwa Chong Squash team!

Cheers,

39th CCA PROs

Photography Credits: Khwa Zhong Xuan

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Match Report: Table Tennis Finals

2013 Match Report: Table Tennis Finals

Table Tennis A Division Boys

The highly anticipated table tennis finals have arrived! The excitement in the air was palpable and resounding cheers rhythmically erupted at Pasir Ris Sports Hall as our boys bravely marched to face tenacious rivals, RI. At the end of it all, our boys did our school proud by achieving first runners-up!

The Rules!

There are a total of 5 matches in the finals, with each match consisting of 5 rounds. The first team to win 3 out of the 5 rounds wins the match, and the final two rounds need not be played.  The first one who gets 11 points wins a round. Similarly, the first team to win 3 of the 5 matches wins the game entirely!

Basic Strokes/Spin!

Offensive strokes include speed drive, where force is applied directly to the ball resulting in a fast ball, counter-drive, loop, where topspin is applied, and of course, our all-time favorite smash! On the other hand, defensive strokes include push, chop, where backspin is applied, block, and the lob.

Now that we know how the games go, let the games begin!

Match 1 (Singles): Leong Xue Hao (HCI) VS Kerry Tan (RI)

Round 1

The game rocketed to an exhilarating start as both sides tried to snatch the first few points and get their rhythm going. The scores climbed one by one, before the other party quickly equalized. 2-2… 3-3… 5-5! However, in midgame, Xue Hao unfortunately faced a dry spell and conceded a few points from deadly topspin smashes from Kerry. Despite valiant efforts from Xue Hao to close the gap, he was unfortunately outmatched and lost the round 6-11.

Round 2

Despite obtaining a loss in the first round, Xue Hao fought hard to try to snatch the second round. With brilliant backhand drives and pushes, neither side seemed to be able to have a cutting edge over the other. The tenacity rose, but mistakes soon proved to be costly for our team, as we were once again losing out with a score line of 6-10. Nevertheless, Xue Hao certainly gave his utmost and chased to 8 points, before losing the game point from a smash by the opponent.

Round 3

Considering that we were defeated in the first two rounds, morale for our team is low – it was hard to deny that it is an uphill battle from here on out. Yet, during these toughest times when all seemed lost, it was then that the Hwa Chong spirit truly radiated. Xue Hao lived up to this spirit, and while he has his fair share of smashes and creative spins, he lost 4-11 in the end, all this while giving his utmost.

HCI 0-1 RI

Match 2 (Doubles): Tan Yu Wei + Khor Jia Wei (HCI) VS Ansel Lee + Julian Woo (RI)

Round 1

Our boys immediately came down to serious business, with various drives and counter-drives. However, the applied spin was not enough to catch the opponents’ off guard, and our team was soon trailing HCI 2 – 4 RI. Seeing this, both Yu Wei and Jia Wei tried to inject creativity with shattering smashes – a few ricocheted to the opponents’ table with splendid success, but a few failed to scrape the table on its way down. Round 1 ended with a final score of HCI 4-11 RI.

Round 2

Knowing that fast balls are the opponents’ cup of tea, our boys tried a different strategy by introducing different types of spins amid the pace of the game. However, we were unfortunately outsmarted and the opponents came on top again, quickly bringing the score to HCI 5 – 10 RI. Our boys never admitted defeat, and fought hard, diminishing the gap to a mere 2 points but eventually losing out HCI 8-11 RI.

Round 3

Despite kicking off to a bad start in the final round of the match, our boys sneakily forced a few errors from RI, and were leading HCI 4 – 3 RI after a few brilliant plays! However, Lady Luck soon smiled at the opposition and for several times our smashes were denied only by the net, causing us to lose a few precious points. The round ended, HCI 4 – 11 RI.

HCI 0 – 2 RI

Match 3 (Singles): Clarence Lee (HCI) VS Bryan Teo (RI)

Round 1

With the hopes of winning the championship title slowly drifting away, anyone would have brushed the HC team aside. But our team fought, and they never gave up. So did Clarence. Although he might have lost out to Bryan, he gave his fair share of backhand smashes, lops and pushes, giving the opponent a hard time. Round 1 ended with HCI 6 – 11 RI.

Round 2

This round was the most exciting of the rounds yet, as Clarence showed everyone the real steel that our team was made of. A few good plays, a few good smashes and a few good spins saw Clarence leading by HCI 9 – 4 RI! Bryan from RI was of course no pushover and similarly proved his worth, bringing the score line level at 10-10, where a deuce ensued. The stamina of Bryan outlasted us, and we lost the set by a mere whisker in the end.

Round 3

Similarly, this round was pretty leveled, with Clarence constantly breathing down the neck of RI, and capitalizing effectively on every single mistake they made. The smashes were nothing but pure brilliance, and the spins were just too tricky and unbelievable to a commoner’s eyes. However, at the end of the round, we were unfortunately defeated HCI 7 – 11 RI.

With the conclusion of round 3, the match was over. HCI 0 – 3 RI.

Even though our boys failed to steal the show at Pasir Ris Sports Hall, their valiant efforts definitely still deserve a standing ovation and a large round of applause. Good job table tennis boys, you all were great!

Table Tennis A Division Girls

Match 1 (Singles): Wu Yao Yao (HCI) vs. Lam Teng Si (RI, National Youth Team Player)

Round 1

Perhaps it was due to nerves, but the first few points were scored by RI. Nevertheless, Yao Yao soon regained her composure, and the score soon inched closer back to a level 3-4. After a prolonged, intense rally that happened at breakneck speed, Yao Yao’s opponent eventually made a forced error, with the ball bouncing off the side of the bat and soaring way over the table! Another clever push of the ball by Yao Yao just barely over the net had the opponent floundering and unable to return the ball. The score was now even at 6-6! However, the RI opponent proved to be resilient, and despite Yao Yao’s tough effort, the match ended with a score of 11-6 in RI’s favour.

Round 2

The second set began with Yao Yao grimly determined to showcase her true ability. With steely eyes, she executed a powerful smash, slamming the ball past her opponent before she could even react! Another exciting rally in which Yao Yao had perfect control resulted in her trumping 5-3 against her competitor! Yao Yao was just getting warmed up! Frustrated, her RI opponent started overestimating herself and pushed on to perform risky moves, allowing Hwa Chong to racket up points. Finally, Yao Yao ended off the game with a sweet touch–a skilled smash of the ball right to the corner of the table that her opponent in no way could return.

The 2nd set goes to us, 11-6!

Round 3

But the experience of Teng Si lead to her quickly amassing points, despite Yao Yao’s best effort in the grueling match. The match quickly ended, with a score of 4-11 to RI.

Round 4

Undeterred by the previous round, Yao Yao took to the arena with grim determination to do her best. The game quickly escalated in intensity, with lightning fast attacks by both parties. Oh my, the crowd was simply stunned by how amazing their reflexes were! In a close fight marked by super long rallies, we eventually succumbed 10-12 to Raffles.

It was such a close match, with an amazing performance by Yao Yao!

HCI 0 – 1 RI

Match 2 (Doubles): Chen Dan Dan, Luo Na (HCI) vs. Sherlyn Tan and Beverly Chua (RI)

It was now time for the first doubles match. The doubles match requires a lot of coordination between pairs, who have to be able to anticipate each other’s moves to the extent of being able to think and act as a single player! Even so, our Hwa Chong doubles proved to be capable of such chemistry in the following exciting rounds to come.

Round 1

Both pairs from HCI and RI began seemingly evenly matched, with the score for both sides inching upwards in tandem. After a particularly long rally, one of the members of the Raffles team dealt a deadly smash of the ball right to the corner of the table which was thought to be unreturnable by the Hwa Chong players (even the Raffles players had started to cheer)… But a skilful last minute dive by our players allowed the ball to be returned, catching the Raffles team completely by surprise, winning HC a rightful and hard earned point. Woohoo, take that! Following that, the intensity of the match ratcheted up a notch, with not one, not two, not three but four deuces! The score inched way past 10-10, to 11-11, 12-12, 13-13, 14-14… It was a very close fight indeed. However, the pressure took a toll on our players, and RI eventually triumphed with a score of 14-16.

Round 2

Nonetheless, our girls came back for the next round stronger than ever. The increasingly careless Raffles team was no match for our calm, cool and amazing duo, who easily won this round with an applaudable score of 11-6!

Round 3

Unfortunately, the Raffles team refused to be outdone so easily, and came back roaring, proving themselves worthy of earning themselves a place in the national finals. Their duo played aggressively, catching our team completely by surprise. The match eventually went to RI with a score of 11-2.

Round 4

Despite the letdown of the previous start, our resilient duo came back determined for a fresh start.They performed brilliantly, and managed to seize every opportunity to convert every weakness of their opponent into a golden opportunity to score a point! When a low ball bounced into their court, our players took their time, angled their bat… and delivered a perfect and completely unreturnable smash! Woohoo!
With our players at their best performance yet, Hwa Chong easily wins the match with a score of 11-7.

Round 5

This was it. The last and final round. Whoever won this round would win the game! Thankfully, our seasoned players had already distilled the strengths and weaknesses of their opponents after dealing with them for the past 4 sets, and therefore were more than ready take this final round by storm. And win it they did, with our duo pocketing point after point by forcing their opponents to commit error upon error. Hwa Chong wins this round 11-6, and we win this match HCI 3-2 RI! Well done girls!

Match 3 (Singles): Wang Ying Chao (HCI) vs. Lim Yi Xuan (RI, National Youth Team Player)

Round 1

Ying Chao took a while to warm up to the game, but when she did, she relentlessly chalked up the points, going from 0-2 to 7-4 in a heartbeat. But Yi Xuan’s experience as a National Youth Team Player meant she wasn’t going to be defeated so easily, and she quickly turned on the offensive with powerful drives and seamless blocks. Even so, after a tough struggle with brilliant showing by Ying Chao, the close and hard fought round goes to us with a score of 11-9!

Round 2

Our Ying Chao wasn’t just any ordinary player.Bringing out her trademark move that was so amazing we shall just call it a crazy slam dunk, she stunned the Raffles opposition into giving us a 3-0 lead. However, Yi Xuan quickly regained her composure, and started raking in the points, eventually matching up to Ying Chao with a score of 6-6. It was only after an agonisingly prolonged rally, that Ying Chao finally took the lead again with a score of 7-6! From then on, Ying Chao rode on the winds of fortune, and easily won the match with a brilliant score of 11-7! 

Round 3

Having won the previous two rounds, all Ying Chao had to do was to win this round for the match to be in HC’s pocket! This drove Yi Xuan into playing aggressively, upping the ante and intensity of the game. After a long rally with fierce smashes and beautiful receives from both sides, HC edged out a lead of 6-5! Both sides hit the net in their receives, but Ying Chao’s lightning fast reflexes allowed her to return the ball, and we won the point! Finally, after dealing a tricky ball, Ying Chao tempted the Raffles player to hit a top spin to return, which went out of play. Hwa Chong wins the set with a score of 11-5… and hence the match!

Great job Ying Chao! We’re tremendously proud of you!

The score was now HCI 2-1 RI!

Match 4 (Doubles)– Zheng Yirong, Tay Si Yi (HCI) vs. Xu Han Zhen, Wan Yu Quan (RI)

Round 1

The match was off to an exciting start, and the scores were pressingly close for the first half of the game as both teams tried to crawl on top! After a few tricky plays, it was level at 3-3. However, our girls unfortunately stumbled upon a dry streak and lost precious points, making the score HCI 5 – 10 RI. Despite commendable efforts by Yirong and Si Yi to salvage the situation, we were defeated in the first round HCI 7 – 11 RI.

Round 2

Having lost the first round, our girls were indignant and bent on claiming the second. Adopting a slightly more attacking stance, a rejuvenated HC team attempted harder and faster smashes, catching the opponents off guard several times. Additionally, the spinny service wowed the crowd time and time again. The second round was even more exciting than the first and a deuce (10-10) was reached! However, owing to misfortune, the returns by the opponent bounced off the net several times and we lost the second round.

Round 3

Round 3 started with a sublime return by Siyi. The ball sliced across to the opposite side of the table with such lightning space that silenced the audience! Our girls quickly capitalized on the advantage we have with awesome spin and led the set 9-4. After a long rally with plentiful of backhand smashes and drives, stamina came into play and evidently we were the better ones in this aspect. Yirong’s stamina outlasted the opponents’ and her smash sealed the victory for our team, 11-4. Game on!

Round 4

Even though our girls were all pumped up for the fourth round, we suffered slight setbacks due to failed services which awarded points to RI. The opposition played ruthlessly this time, and while Yirong and Siyi managed to respond on several occasions, we were at a bad position of HCI 2 – 8 RI. Our girls fought hard and gave it their all, but we lost 4 – 11 at the end of the game.

HCI 2 – 2 RI: The last match is the decider!

Match 5 (Singles)– Celeste Tan (HCI) vs. Mandy Wong (RI, National Youth Team Player)

Round 1

The opposition from RI started the game fiercely against a slightly less-experienced HC player. Many times the opponent returned the ball with speed drives, constantly applying pressure on Celeste and finding a window of opportunity to earn a point via a powerful smash. Celeste required some time to adapt to the playing style of the opponent, and for the first round struggled to deal with the quick change in pace of the opponent, losing the first round HCI 1 – 11 RI.

Round 2

This time round, Celeste fought bravely and attempted to return the fast balls with just as much pace, sometimes catching the opponent off guard and others forcing a failed smash from the opponent! Even though we were losing 2-7, we quickly chased till 8-10, and for a while there, there was certainly a chance for us stealing a victory. Sadly, we were unlucky to lose the last point away to a tricky ball from the opponent.

Round 3

The services from the RI player proved to be too fast for our girl, who tried her best to return the ball in such a way that would not put herself in a vulnerable situation. At the same time, while Celeste displayed courage and determination against such a strong opponent, the smashes from the opponent were at times too quick for her to react. A brilliant fight it was, but we lost the third round 4-11.

Overall Score: HCI 2-3 RI

Our players did their best and definitely gave RI a run for their money. In the end, though both teams did not manage to get champions, their sheer determination and strong fighting spirit more than made up for any loss. Well done HC Table Tennis! We’re really infinitely proud of all of you :’)

The table tennis team will strive to keep on improving.Until the next finals!

Presenting to you, the Hwa Chong Table Tennis Team:

Posted in CCA, Sports | 1 Comment »

Match Report: Canoeing

“Great moments are born from great opportunities. And that’s what you have here tonight, boys. That’s what you’ve earned here tonight.”- Miracle (2004)

On the 11^th April 2013, the Hwa Chong A Division boys team was looking to defend their title from traditional rivals ACS(I), SAJC, and NJC. This year, the NJC boys team appeared to be the biggest threat, with a team chock full of experienced kayak paddlers, who had won numerous medals before. Besides NJC, there were also paddlers from ACS(I) and SAJC, who had the ability to deny us of the points we needed to defend the title.

The girls team, on the other hand, was playing the role of the challenger this year. After months and months of hard work, the girls entered the day of the finals determined to fight for the title which the NJC team had held on to for 11 years. This was definitely an uphill task as the NJC girls team had a squad full of experienced paddlers, with only two newcomers, while the Hwa Chong girls team had five newcomers out of ten paddlers. However, this year, the girls team was determined to achieve this miracle.

A Division Girls K4 1000m

The A Division Girls K4 finals took place a day before the other events. So on 10^th April, Wednesday, the K4 girls crew, comprising Chen Jia Ling (12S6C), Chloe Chu (12S68), Tabitha Chong (13S76) and Lee Hwei Xin (12S6H) fought hard to take home the silver medal for the 1000m, defeating SAJC but conceding the gold medal to ACJC.

A Division Girls K4 500m

In the afternoon, the crew strove to do well in their weaker event, the 500m, and received a bronze medal for their efforts.

The conclusion of the K4 finals on Wednesday had ACJC and SAJC leading the points tally with 12 points each, followed by HCI with 9 points and NJC with 6. This gave us a three-point lead over NJC as we headed into the main finals on Thursday!

A Division Girls K1 1000m

Our finalists, Kimberlyn Tjipto (12S6D) and Natasha Manawadu (13S76) were up against paddlers such as the likes of Wang Nan Feng, the defending double K1 champion from NJC, as well as the other accomplished paddlers from NJC, ACJC and SAJC.

Nan Feng, a national paddler, took the lead right from the start, with Kimberlyn staying close on her tail. When there was 300m left in the race, Kimberlyn decided to make her move, closing in on Nan Feng.

At the 750m mark, Kimberlyn took the lead from Nan Feng and held on to it until the end, winning us our first gold medal of the day.

Our second paddler, Natasha, the only J1 in a field of J2 experienced paddlers, finished with a commendable 6^th position.

A Division Boys C1 1000m

Shortly after that, the Boys C1 1000m event commenced. Our finalists, Jared Choo and Khor Kai Sherng, both from 12S68, did not disappoint as they came in 1^st and 3^rd respectively, with Kai Sherng losing narrowly to Chow Jing Kang  from ACJC.

A Division Boys K1 1000m

2 events later was the Boys K1 1000m event. Shaun Tan (12S6D) led for the majority of the race, only to be caught at the end by a ferocious last charge from SAJC’s Manfred Lim, claiming the silver. 

Despite being a newcomer with almost no experience in racing, our other finalist, Chew Xiu Zheng (12S6P), also did extremely well by pulling off a spectacular ending burst to beat Ian Leck of NJC by a small margin, snatching the bronze from under his nose.

A Division Boys K4 1000m 

The next race, the Boys K4 1000m, was a nail biting race all the way until the end. Despite being behind our rivals, ACJC for most of the race, our paddlers, Glenn Chia Jin Wee (13S6D), Darryl Chong (12S60), Lee Leong Hui (12S77) and Peter Chen Yang Nikhil Daniel (12S73), stayed true to our 自强不息spirit and managed to muster a last charge to win gold for the event. This also ended the K gold medal drought since 2010.

A Division Girls K2 1000m

The K2 races have always been widely regarded as the most competitive kayaking event. This was certainly true for this race. With established pairs from NJC, ACJC and SAJC, our K2 pairs faced the Sisyphean task of having to do well in this event to keep the Girl’s Team’s title challenge going.

Once more, we staged another comeback victory as both our boats caught the NJC pair after 500m, eventually leading to a one-two finish! The gold medal went to the pair comprising Sarah Yeo (12S76) and Lee Su Lynn (12S63) while the silver went to the newcomer pairing of Avalyn Chia (12A15) and Rachelle Han (12S7D). This marked the end of the 1000m races for the girls.

At this moment, the current standing for the A Division Girls:

HCI was leading with 25 points, NJC had 17.

A Division Boys C2 1000m

The following event was the C2 1000m event. Our J2 pair of Ou Yiming (12S64) and Lee Guan Shun (12S6K) and the J1 pair of Chan Qing Zhou and Chan Jun Yang (13S6Q) both paddled slowly up to the start line with trepidation spelt all over their faces; this was a race that could go to anyone’s favour.

Thankfully, we still managed to finish well.

The pair comprising our extremely hardworking newcomer Guan Shun and experienced paddler Yiming managed to pull their way to 1^st position!

Qing Zhou and Jun Yang then topped it off, finishing 2^nd.

A Division Boys K2 1000m

The competition was also tight in the Boys K2 1000m event, with strong pairs from ACS(I) as well as NJC.

The race started, with ACS(I) pair of Alex Craggs and Kim Jae Hyung taking the lead from the start, followed by the NJC pair of Michael Yip and former National Team paddler Pang Ren Hui. In 3^rd was our K2 of Keloysius Mak (12S71) and Darren Low (13S6D) and in 5^th, our newcomer pair of Chew Xiu Zheng and Yong Yu Wen (12S64). This dire situation persisted until the 750m mark.

Yu Wen looking like the Statue of Liberty

Defying all odds, our newcomer pair stunned all of their opponents on water with a jaw-dropping ending charge, which boosted them all the way to the front to win the race, claiming the fourth gold of the day for the Hwa Chong A Division boys team.

Keloysius and Darren also did well by finishing 4^th.

A Division Girls K1 500m

After a short break, the 500m events commenced, with the first event being the K1 500m event for the girls.

Kimberlyn and Natasha had the exact same opponents from the K1 1000m  race earlier, and this time, they are about to race in a 500m event, an event that our paddlers are not so strong in.

However, the girls fought hard, with Kimberlyn losing out narrowly to a more experienced Wang Nanfeng from NJC to win 2^nd, with Natasha finishing 6^th again.

At this point, HCI was leading with 29 points to NJC’s 20 for the A Division Girls.

A Division Boys C1 500m

The next event was the boys C1 500m event, where we were represented by Ou Yiming and Khor Kai Sherng.

Yiming showed no mercy, as he led the race from start to the end, winning his 2^nd gold medal of the day

Kai Sherng on the other hand, just finished ahead of David Chew of CJC by the distance between his ears, literally, to win the bronze medal.

A Division Boys K1 500m

The boys were represented by newcomer Yong Yu Wen (12S64) and Henry Lau (12S60) for this race.

As soon as the race started, Henry took the lead, followed closely by the K1 1000m gold medalist Manfred Lim. However, Henry lost his lead with 200m to go and was unable to win it back. Henry finished 2^nd for the race.

Yong Yu Wen, on the other hand, had to face off with opponents who had been paddling many year more than him. However, in a display of sheer will and determination, he managed to pull his way to a 4^th position, giving eventual bronze medalist, Ian Leck from NJC, a good fight.

A Division Boys C2 500m

Once again, our C2 pairs delivered in this exciting race, with Chan Jun Yang and Chan Qing Zhou coming in 1^st.

Jared Choo and newcomer Tjai Kang Jie (12S69) also did us proud by coming in 3^rd!

A Division Boys K4 500m

The Boys K4 500m was a free for all race, with all boats fighting neck to neck from the start to the end.

Our K4 crew did not disappoint, finishing only behind the ACJC K4 to win the silver medal.

A Division Girls K2 500m

As none of our boats managed to enter the finals for the T1 500m, after that event, we entered the final race for the girls with the girls team holding a tiny 1 point lead over our opponents, with 35 points to NJC’s 34.

Hence, the K2 500m was a race that our boats had to win in order to topple reigning champions NJC. If an NJC boat were to win 1^st in this race, our title pursuit would be officially over. Furthermore, one of the NJC boats had dominated for the first 500m in the 1000m race earlier. Things were not looking good.

However, our K2 pairs remained unfazed in the face of this daunting task. After all, they had been battling the odds for the past year, and they were certainly ready to fight the odds once more for this race.

“Ready, Set, Go!”

And the race was on.

Rachelle and Avalyn, our newcomer pair immediately blazed down their lane, gaining a one boat lead with their starts. Behind them, Su Lynn and Sarah Yeo were battling it out with the NJC pairs. 

With 200m left, Su Lynn and Sarah initiated an ending charge, leaving their NJC opponents behind. They also overtook the other Hwa Chong boat and proceeded to win the gold medal for the event. Avalyn and Rachelle came in closely after them, finishing the job with a silver medal.

“Do you believe in Miracles?”

A Division Boys K2 500m

The last race of the day for the A Division was the K2 500m event. Once again, we were prepared to see a tight race between all 6 competing boats from the start to the end.

The pair comprising Shaun Tan and Henry Lau eventually came in 1^st for the event, defeating contenders from ACS(I) and NJC.

The pair of Keloysius Mak and Darren Low came in 4^th.

Final Results
The boys have once more successfully defended our title for the 3^rd time. This makes it the 4^th year running that we have won the title.

The girls side emerged successful from their title challenge, finally bringing the title back after 12 years.

This is also the first time since 2001 that the Hwa Chong Canoeing team has won both A Division titles.

This was only made possible because of the unwavering support of our very dedicated teachers-in-charge, Mr Quek Wee Tong and Mr Justin Heng, who have spent hours throughout the year building the team on and off the water, to teach us to not only become better paddlers, but to become better people as well.

We also owe it to the efforts of our coaches, Coach Tan Wee Jin and Coach Yosep Effendy. Other than offering sound technical advice, they have also been taking good care of us through the year. The girls team would also like to thank seniors Ho Hin Yang, Mervyn Toh and Qua Bi Qi for their help and guidance.

The seniors before us also played a role in the achievement of double champions; their hard work laid down the foundation for this team, it is because of them that we are able to attain this success.

The Hwa Chong Canoeing team will continue to strive not just hard, but harder.

Presenting to you, HCanoe 2012-2013:

Cheers,

Rachelle Han and Henry Lau, Captains of HC Canoeing Team 2013

Photography Credits: Fan Jun Wei

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