About wanting to say something, then something happened...

"Dear, look to your right. There's someone sitting there that you'd recognise. Don't make it obvious!" I whispered to my wife, looking nonchalantly at another direction.

She's very good, my missus. She took a casual glance and then looked back at me, her eyes signalling that she knew who I was talking about.




Ronald Susilo was sitting at the next table, to our right.


Halfway through our breakfast at the coffeeshop, we agreed that we'd go up to him and tell him that we're proud of him playing for our country.

But then, before we could think of what exactly to say, he got up and left. From the corner of our eyes, we visually stalked him till he reached for his car that was parked just outside the coffeeshop.

Oh well.



Ronald has been working his socks off and has done well in international competitions. He has certainly helped to put Singapore on the global badminton scene. Another good news is that we have others too, such as Kendrick Lee, who is a very promising player himself.

Singapore has got world champions in bowling, silat and sailing in recent years. We are the regional champions in soccer. Our swimming team boasts an Asian Games gold medallist. We have a fantastic shooting team.

The problem is that some people still think sport has got no future. It can't earn them a decent livelihood.

Nonsense.

Think again. Singapore has a blossoming sports industry. We've got Republic Polytechnic offering sports diplomas. We've got a very proactive Singapore Sports Council. We've got a new Sports Hub ready by the next decade. We've got the very exciting Formula 1 night street race next year. There's even talk of a hotel that might be built with a sports theme.

Opportunities abound.

Things are looking up for sports in Singapore.

If you've always been critical of our local sports athletes and programmes, then I ask you: what have you done to contribute?




Schools are asked to play a part and the sports community acknowledges that students play a huge role in making Singapore a sports-loving nation.




I see fanatical supporters lining along the streets of Monaco during the F1 race. I see packed stadiums during the Wimbledon championships in London. I see vociferous crowds thronging the roads at the New York Marathon.

The people there obviously have got something right. The sense of national spirit, fun and sport is very strong.

I think we can do that - our way, our style - here in Singapore.