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SINGAPORE: Two 13-year old gymnasts from Raffles Girls' Secondary School are a step closer to flying the country's flag at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games.
That is because their coach feels they are of the age-group that will make a mark for Team Singapore.
Passion and commitment - that's what drive Phaan Yi Lin and Vivien Ho from Raffles Girls to dedicate their time to gymnastics. They train for five hours, six times a week.
And these two 13-year-olds - the youngest members of the team - are all set to represent Singapore at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games.
Phaan Yi Lin, Secondary One Student, Gymnastics Team of Raffles Girls' Secondary School, said: "For this, we will work hard and train so we will not disappoint our coaches and our families." The girls are part of the school's Junior Training Squad in gymnastics.
They train with seasoned coaches from China and the UK, and have been practising various moves, including the front aerial, back flip layout, giant swing, chest rolls and reverse split jumps.
The girls not only excel in the sport, they are able to handle school work too.
Nazyra Suhairi, Secondary Four Student, Gymnastics Team of Raffles Girls' Secondary School, said: "There's always a time for everything. In school, you just focus on school, and once you come to gym, you just switch off everything else that has nothing to do with gym - you just focus mainly on training."
Joey Tam, Secondary Two Student, Gymnastics Team of Raffles Girls' Secondary School, said: "Gym has been a part of our lives since really long ago. So we just squeeze in homework anytime we get."
RGS also plans to build its own gymnasium to dedicate more time and effort into coaching the girls.
Alina Wee, Teacher-in-Charge of Gymnastics at Raffles Girls' Secondary School, said: "We would like them to train at least six times a week. And with great parental support as well as school support in terms of studies, we have to ensure the scholastic aspect of their life in school is also taken care of while they prepare for the YOG."
Currently, the school's training sessions are held at the Education Ministry's CCA Branch at Bukit Timah. - CNA/de
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