Singapore world champion kitefoiler Max Maeder granted National Service deferment

SINGAPORE: Singapore world champion kitefoiler Maximilian Maeder has been granted deferment from full-time National Service (NS) for about four years, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) said on Saturday (Jul 6).

Maeder turns 18 this year and was due for enlistment into NS in September.

MINDEF said it received an application from Maeder to defer his full-time NS so as to train and compete in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. 

His application was supported by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY).

"Mr Maeder has met the criteria for long-term deferment, having performed well at high-level competitions, including the 2022 Asian Games, as well as the 2023 and 2024 Formula Kite World Championships," said the Defence Ministry.

The deferment will run from Sep 12 to Aug 31, 2028, and Maeder will be enlisted for full-time NS once it ends.

In May, Maeder successfully defended his kitefoiling world title. Last August, the kitefoiler clinched gold in the men's kite event at the Sailing World Championships in the Netherlands.

He will be representing Singapore at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

"Based on MINDEF’s NS policy, deferment may be granted to exceptional sportsmen who are assessed to be potential medal winners for Singapore at top-tier international competitions such as the Olympic Games," said the Defence Ministry.

"Each case is assessed in consultation with MCCY."

It added that Maeder is expected to "focus on his preparation" for the 2028 Olympic Games during his deferment and meet milestone performance targets.

He will also be required to get both MCCY and MINDEF's consent to take part in any paid activities, including commercial sponsorships.

"MINDEF wishes Mr Maeder every success for the Olympic Games."

In the last 20 years, only three other national athletes had been granted long-term deferment from full-time NS – sailor Maximilian Soh, as well as swimmers Joseph Schooling and Quah Zheng Wen. 

Before this, swimmers Peter Leong and Sng Ju Wei were also granted such deferments.

Born in Singapore to a Swiss father and a Singaporean mother, Maeder was introduced to kiteboarding at the age of six by his father, Valentin, before he eventually progressed to kitefoiling.

The Asian Games gold medallist has won five events in a row, with the youngster winning the men's title at the Formula Kite European Championships in March.

The sport will make its Olympic debut in Marseille in less than three months, with Maeder one of the medal prospects.

In a Facebook post on Saturday, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong said Maeder has grown "leaps and bounds since he burst onto the scene" at the 2018 Formula Kite Asian Championships.

"We work closely with our national sport associations and athletes to proactively identify, track and support athletes with potential to perform and medal," he said.

"And in Max’s instance, we also worked closely with MINDEF to consider granting him long-term deferment from full-time NS."