Up-and-coming sports leaders in S'pore

It is a long and arduous path to become a leading administrator in the global sports fraternity like Singapore's Ng Ser Miang.

The 64-year-old, who had campaigned unsuccessfully for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) presidency earlier in the week, said on Tuesday that he intends to groom the next generation of Singaporean sports administrators, in the hope that someone can follow in his footsteps.

And while a young bunch of sports leaders have emerged in the local community in recent years, they will need many more years of dedication to their respective sports to make the leap into the international sporting front.

Annabel Pennefather, 63, who served as vice-president of the International Hockey Federation (IHF) from 2004 to 2010, said she had to dig into her own pockets, and trade work leave and family holidays to attend meetings in Europe to be seen and heard by the sport's bigwigs.

Nearly 15 years passed before the lawyer established herself within Asia and ran for the IHF job.

She said: "It takes a long journey and a lot of commitment to reach the top. You have to do it in stages, and it starts with strong backing from your national sports association.

"Attend any overseas meetings or conference, because if people don't see you, they won't remember you.

"It can start small, like serving on a sub-committee, before you build your standing and bring your sport's events and stars to Singapore."

Ng, for example, had served extensively since the 1990s as a local and international sports administrator before becoming an IOC member.

He was vice-president of the International Sailing Federation for four years, together with being president of the then-Singapore Yachting Association.

He also served as chairman of the Singapore Sports Council and was elected as vice-president of the Singapore National Olympic Council.

His eight years as IOC vice-president and his campaign for presidency this year have already served to inspire local sports leaders like Benedict Tan, 45, Nicholas Fang, 38, and Mark Chay, 31.

Said Fang, president of the Singapore Modern Pentathlon Association: "He is a trailblazer and definitely a mentor for a lot of us.

"He has opened many doors and he inspires us to walk in his footsteps one day."

Fang, who was also president of Fencing Singapore until he lost in an election earlier this month, is a sub-committee member in the International Fencing Federation looking into media engagement.

Asked whether he intends to follow Ng into the IOC, Fang was non-committal, saying: "I wouldn't rule it out in the future but there's a long road ahead and I will take it one step at a time."

Chay, a former national swimmer who had served as the Singapore Hockey Federation chief executive and Singapore Swimming Association's media officer, understands the difficulties that a newcomer to sports administration might face.

He said: "It's hard to juggle a career, our family and contribute meaningfully to the sport you love. That's a problem with our younger generation, which is why there are still many senior officials in our NSAs."

Chay, who heads a private educational institution, is the assistant honorary secretary of Olympians Singapore.

It may seem like a tough road ahead but Fang, who is eyeing a leadership role in the Asian Modern Pentathlon Confederation, is undeterred.

Only two weeks ago, the Nominated MP hosted a contingent of regional fencing delegates to discuss using Singapore - with its experience in hosting the Youth Olympic Games - as a base to expand the sport across the region.

Fang is also pushing to include his sport as an exhibition event when the 2015 SEA Games come to local shores.

There are also sports administrators who are keen to contribute - but only if they stay out of the limelight of the leadership roles.

Singapore Sailing Federation (SSF) president Ben Tan, for instance, noted that holding key positions in international bodies is not the only way to give back.

A medical doctor by profession, he is currently a member of the medical commission of the International Sailing Federation, and also contributes research articles to the international community.

He said: "I don't have to be the face of leadership and that's my style. I also take the team-based approach because it's not a one-man show."

No matter what kind of international involvement these up-and-coming administrators find themselves taking up, Singapore Bowling Federation president Jessie Phua, 58, believes that the biggest requisite they must have is passion for their sport.

Phua, who was president of the Federation Internationale des Quilleurs (FIQ), bowling's world controlling body, from 2007 to 2011, added: "You have to be gutsy, be courageous and think quickly on your feet.

"You have to stay the course as you are out there on your own, navigating the minefield of problems.

"I thought I could do something for bowling, and my involvement was for the love of the sport.

"People congratulate me on what I have done for the sport but it is the sport that has really taught me."

ugenec@sph.com.sg

nsanjay@sph.com.sg

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