5 youngsters to represent S'pore at stacking competition in Colorado
By Dominique Loh, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 22 March 2008 2250 hrs

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SINGAPORE: Five youngsters from Singapore are going up against the best stackers from around the world this April.

They were crowned champions in their events in the national finals on Saturday.

It takes just seconds for these primary school children to stack 12 plastic cups.

Among the top stackers is 11-year-old Arnold Teo from Ngee Ann Primary.

He'll be flying the Singapore flag at the international stacking competition in Denver, Colorado in the US in April.

So what does it take to be fast as lightning?

Arnold said: "Actually I have no secret, it's just to practice as much as you can and whenever you can. I think I will do fairly well in Colorado, I'll train most probably everyday."

Arnold has been stacking for about two years.

His routine is simple - 45 minutes each day sharpening his skills.

Sometimes, he even e-mails his coach for extra tips.

Faizal Suleiman, Team Coach at Ngee Ann Primary, said: "As a coach, I'm more concerned about the emotional aspect of the kids. Technical wise, they have it. We only help to fine-tune, but it's more the emotional whereby they have to have that resilience in them."

The coach said it's important to help build the kids' confidence when they're taking part in such events especially when gravity isn't helping them keep the cups in place.

But it seems the students from Ngee Ann Primary can't do anything wrong.

They're among the top performers among the five primary schools in this year's competition.

The coach said the reason for their success is because of the kids' desire to win that gave them the edge. - CNA/vm