(Oct 15) SPORTS School student Clement Lim, 14, feared his hopes of becoming a top swimmer were dashed - he had a shoulder injury that was not getting better.

He had seen a general practitioner and had undergone physiotherapy, but it still hurt to lift his arm.

One friend had to stop swimming because of injury. He recalled: 'I was worried.'

His father took him to sports doctor and world-class athlete Ben Tan, who saw the problem - common among swimmers - at once: part of his muscle was caught between his shoulder blade and arm bone.

Dr Tan reduced the swelling with medicine and ultrasound waves. He also taught him strengthening exercises.

A few months later, Clement won four golds at the Asia Age Group meet in Jakarta.

As sports takes on a higher profile, professional athletes and serious amateurs will need the support of sports specialists who can get them back on their feet and back to serious training much faster.

This is critical to the performance of professionals.

And with more Singaporeans taking to exercising and sports, such as running in marathons, sports-related injuries are set to rise.

Demand is so high that the Sports Clinic at Changi General Hospital has turned away people as it is already operating at capacity.

Specialists are also needed to sniff out doping at international meets. Said Dr Tan: 'Singapore needs qualified sports doctors to go along with its players at international events.'