By Dawn Yip/Red Sports
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister of Community Development, Youth and Sports commending the awardees for their efforts. (Photo 1 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
St Regis, Thursday, February 26, 2009 – They are a motley group, among them homemakers and hawkers, local and foreign-born, individuals and large companies. But they all share the distinction of winning Singapore's inaugural POSB Everyday Champions award.
Receiving their awards from President S R Nathan, these 57 winners were honoured for taking the lead in encouraging their communities towards a sporting way of life. They were chosen from among some 3,400 nominations, by an Award Selection Panel comprising government, business and community representatives.
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister of Community Development, Youth and Sports, applauded the awardees for "[going] the extra mile to bring sports nearer to the community at large."
The awards are organised by the Singapore Sports Council, and combines two previous annual awards – the Sporting Singapore Inspiration Awards and the Coach Recognition Awards.
DBS Chairman Mr Koh Boon Hwee speaks to the guests. (Photo 2 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
Dr Bervyn Lee from the Singapore Sports Council giving his opening address. (Photo 3 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
Guest of Honour President S R Nathan greeting some of the recipients of the coach award. (Photo 4 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
President Nathan about to shake the hand of Red Sports editor Leslie Tan. (Photo 5 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
President Nathan greets award recipient Joyce Leong. Joyce founded a cycling group with a strong sense of camaraderie. (Photo 6 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
Noryaton Binte Sahdan is a soccer mom who started a football team for youths who could not make it to the Sports School or did not have football as a CCA in their school. She found them a volunteer coach, and one was eventually selected for the Sports School and two went on to represent Singapore. (Photo 7 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
President Nathan posing with the individual award recipients. (Photo 8 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
SMU group Samba Masala provide some pre-dinner entertainment. (Photo 9 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
Mrs Joy Balakrishnan (right) introduces Leslie Tan to Mrs S R Nathan. (Photo 10 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
President S R Nathan graciously autographs a REDtee for Red Sports. (Photo 11 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
Leslie presents Mr Nathan with a REDtee. (Photo 12 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
Red Sports founder Leslie Tan with his nominator Ian Chew (left) and Rajan Raju, managing director of DBS Bank. (Photo 13 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
Award Winners – Individuals
George Lee Song Choo
Lim Siew Imm
Patrick Chia
Noeline Keiser Nee Tan Siew Choo
Stephen Loh
Tan Tong Hai
Joyce Leong Goot Hing
James Koh Chee Kiat
Lewis Yong Fook Seng
Noryaton Binte Sahdan
Leslie Tan Wee Ming
Khu Soon Hin
Ong Say Cheng
Suzliman Bin Husin
Award Winners – Coaches
Chng Li Li, netball
Lai Han Seng, taekwondo
Leonard Lim, swimming
Leo Wen Yeow, wushu
Marion Bernard Williams, basketball
Loh Chan Pew, athletics
Tan Chew Peng, athletics
Quek Soon Tuck, wushu
Alex Tung Yew Meng, swimming
Wang Xiao Ke, table tennis
Wong Hwee Liak, basketball
Bobok Viacheslav, fencing
Peter Churchill, swimming
Steven Quek Chin Hwee, athletics
Alfred Sim Chee Hao, athletics
Jason Chen Zhi Kuan, dragon boat
Chua Sze Muay, wushu
Remy Gan Chwee Chuan, athletics
David Sivalingam s/o Vellasamy, football
David Er Poh Guan, swimming
Sallehuddin Bin Salleh, football
Joel Tay Yong Hwee, athletics
David Wong Han Keong, bowling
Valeri Obidko, athletics
Chu Seow Beng, athletics
Award Winners – Organisations
PSC Corporation Ltd
NTUC Club
National Parks Board
National Healthcare Group HQ Corporate Office
RHB Bank Berhad Singapore
Samsung Asia Pte Ltd
Ministry of Home Affairs Headquarters
IBM International Holdings V.B Singapore Branch
Standard Chartered Bank
Hunstman (Singapore) pte Ltd
Singapore Technologies Electronics
Sony Group of Companies in Singapore
Canberra Secondary School
Institute of Technical Education
Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Secondary School
Republic Polytechnic
Seng Kang Primary School
People's Association
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Thanks, chen munn, van. 😉
congratulations to all (POSB Everday) Champions!!
I got to know Les back in early 2005 when triathlon was still very relatively new in Singapore. Les would organise weekly trainings at Tanjong Beach and Team Soulrunners would try their very best to make it for our open-water swim and run sessions. For our efforts, Les and Dawn would provide us with 100-plus and sometimes sandwiches too! Back then, Les was already an inspiration. This is a very rare time when one can really say ‘Les is More!’ The award is long overdue. Congrats Les!
cool! gratz Uncle les..^^
Yes, yes, yes! That is Les on the list.
Uncle les is that you on the list?