Jarryl, Sasi pick up top awards

SINGAPORE - He nearly gave the award ceremony a miss due to his ongoing A level examinations.

In the end, however, Victoria Junior College student Jarryl Chan did not regret taking some time off from his books as he was unveiled as the boys' winner of The New Paper School Sports Star Award at Bowen Secondary School on Monday.

With Minister for Education Heng Swee Keat gracing the event as Guest-of-Honour, the ceremony at the Hougang-based school brought this year's award, which saw 10 boys and 10 girls in the running, to an exciting conclusion.

Unlike in previous years, the identities of 2013's winners - including that of the S Soocelaraj Award for teacher-coaches - were a closely-guarded secret until the trophy and certificate presentation where the big announcement was made.

Singapore football legend Fandi Ahmad was also present to share his sporting experiences with the audience as an ambassador for award sponsor H-TWO-O.

While he ended up walking away with the top prize of $3,000, Jarryl believed at first that he would take home one of the eight finalists' cheques worth $500 instead.

"It was really unexpected," said the hockey and floorball player, who did a personal double when he won both A Division titles for his school this year.

"When I was asked about the name I would like to put on my cheque, I was only expecting to finish as runner-up. "I just came down today for the experience and I have no regrets because I saw Mr Heng and I took a photo with Fandi Ahmad."

Bowen football captain Sasi Kala Tamang emerged as the girls' winner and Raffles Institution (RI) teacher-coach for football Leong Chee Mun took home the S Soocelaraj Award, which was presented by the Soilbuild Group.

Top awards

Jarryl and Sasi each received $3,000, a trophy, certificate and souvenir bag from H-TWO-O, while Leong also received a trophy and certificate along with $5,000.

Seven of the award's top-10 finalists - Zoey Suan, Jane Leong, Kathleen Lin, Lynette Lim Enxuan, S Murugananthan, Thng Yong-An and Ashton Tan - attended the ceremony to each receive $500, a trophy, certificate and H-TWO-O souvenir bag. Three other top-20 nominees - Siti Hajar Asri, Loh Jia Yi and Sean Yeo - also turned up to receive certificates for their participation.

Minister Heng was delighted to see how sports had helped the nominees develop character.

He said: "This is a very meaningful award that signals the value of sports in developing the character of our young people.

It encourages sports among our students as well as recognising teachers who put in a lot of effort to train our students.

"I'm very happy to see the grit and determination among our young sportsmen and I'm also very happy to see their parents' strong support for sports.

"They see the value of sports in developing their children more fully and I think this a very good development."

While it is back to the examination hall for his next paper today, Jarryl has decided on how to spend his prize money.

"Half of it will definitely go to my parents," said the 18-year-old, who is considering setting up a new floorball club with his secondary school teammates from Catholic High School before he enlists for national service next May.

"While I might pamper myself a bit and maybe get a second- hand PlayStation 3 as well as give my friends a treat, I will save up the rest for the future.

"I really have to thank my family, my teammates from VJC and Catholic High, my teachers and coaches. I made it here because of them."

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