Story by REDintern Chin Chi Hua. Photos by Marvin Lowe.
Vanessa Poo from RI gives a shout of joy after winning a crucial point. (Photo 1 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
Jurong East Indoor Sports Hall, Tuesday, May 26, 2009 – Raffles Institution won their 13th championship title as the team defeated Jurong Junior College (JJC) 3-1 in the National Inter-Schools’ A Division Girls’ Badminton Championship.
In the first round of singles, Melissa Leong Hui Ting from RI, was up against Zhang Xiao Dan from JJC. Xiao Dan did not give Melissa an easy time and eventually triumphed 21-14, 21-16.
Despite a good start led by Xiao Dan, JJC lost the lead in the first doubles when their pair of Zhang Han and Du Yupei lost to Sheena Tan and Loke Yun Sheng of RI. Sheena and Yun Sheng had unparalleled teamwork and won 21-3, 21-12.
With the overall score at 1-1, the atmosphere on court became more tense. Next up was the second round of singles, which saw Vanessa Poo Jill from RI facing Lu Lingzhi from JJC. It was a tight showdown with two equally matched players.
Vanessa of RI took the first set 21-15 but Lingzhi came back to win the second set 13-21 to force a rubber. Vanessa eventually took it 21-13 with a display of confidence and skills to ensure RI led 2-1 overall.
The second doubles was now vital to both teams. Cherie Cheong and Macey Tan of RI took the first set 21-18 against Gao Xuru and Zeng Jielin of JJC. The JJC pair came back to win the second set 21-16.
The last set was close and they matched each other point-for-point. Tied at 18-18, they carried on to 21-21 with aggressive cross-court smashes and clever drop shots on display. The RI duo eventually took the third set 24-22 to wrap up the championship title and send cheers ringing through the spectators’ stand.
Sheena Tan, 18, captain of the RI girls team, expressed her immense exhilaration at the win and revealed her confidence in the last doubles pair, believing that they could do it.
One of the RI duo, Macey Tan, 18, shared her thoughts on the last set. “I told myself it was now or never and to give it all at the third set. I just had to be more aggressive to bring it down." It was indeed a superb achievement, as the RI girls won the title for the 13th consecutive year.
Melissa Leong from RI at full stretch trying to get to the dropped shot. (Photo 2 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
Melissa Leong from RI arching backwards to hit the shuttle. (Photo 3 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
Zhang Xiao Dan from JJC delivering one of her smash shots. (Photo 4 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
Sheena from RI with a powerful smash. (Photo 5 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
Sheena from RI sends the shuttle cross court. (Photo 6 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
Sheena from RI with a smash shot. (Photo 7 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
Sheena from RI with a backhand return shot. (Photo 8 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
Lingzhi from JJC gets ready to smash. (Photo 9 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
Vanessa from RI with a powerful smash. (Photo 10 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
Lingzhi from JJC moving backward to hit. (Photo 11 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
Vanessa from RI dives to retrieve a drop shot. (Photo 12 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
Lingzhi from JJC delivers a powerful smash. (Photo 13 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
Vanessa from RI smashing back. (Photo 14 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
Lingzhi from JJC attacking the ball that dropped shot with a powerful backhand. (Photo 15 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
Lingzhi shouts and celebrates after winning a point. (Photo 16 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
Lingzhi from JJC looking to return. (Photo 17 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
Vanessa from RI gives a celebratory shout after winning her grueling game. (Photo 1 8© Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
Cherie from RI trying to stretch and reach for the shuttle. (Photo 19 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
Macey from RI smashes a return. (Photo 20 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
Cherie from RI moves in to hit. (Photo 21 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
Macey stretching to hit with her backhand. (Photo 22 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
Macey Tan gives team mate Cherie a hug after their marathon battle in the final set. (Photo 23 © Marvin Lowe/Red Sports)
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hey uncle les, dun worry. It has nth to do with resport. IT ALL STARTED WIF THE NEWPAPER’s article! I wonder how would the 2 locals in the JJ boys team feel? They fought so hard yet they are deem as SINGAPORE VS CHINA when they ‘belong’ to china. Arent they Singaporean? Arent JJC a JUNIOR COLLEGE IN SINGAPORE? Singapore’s government is also emphasising on foreign talent if u are unhappy abt it, go complain to the govt. How many locals are there in Team SINGAPORE, i really wonder. But the fact is FOREIGN TALENT BRINGS ABOUT MORE COMPETITION AND THE STANDARD OF SPORTS!
I agree. It is due to the insensitivity and immaturity or that intern that all this bickering started. This narrow mindedness will get Singapore no where. Besides are we not that different to these foreigners. Our forefathers were immigrants that came to Singapore to make a living. These foreigners deserve a similar opportunity. The unwillingness to accept these people shows how spoon-fed we Singaporeans have been. Expecting jobs to be there for us instead of working hard for them. Then blaming the lack of jobs on the foreign talents. Similarly in this case, i do not see the reasons behind the argument that is going on. Having more foreign talents in JJ’s badminton team could serve to raise the standards and provide good competition for Singapore’s best. After all, it is a globalized world. We will be measured against foreigners sooner or later, with sooner being a better choice.
Oh, i do hope that “pei du mama” is not an Rj student. =/. I have this respect for the students in Singapore who are the most intellectually capable n should the above mentioned person be for Rj, it would be an utter disgrace to the school due to the horrendously poor argument made. I shall not mention why as i believe someone else has rebutted against his/her argument.
this whole thing started because of the article which stated boldly, S’pore vs China.
http://tnp.sg/printfriendly/0,4139,203349,00.html
I think JJ had put up a good fight and they deserve more than just criticisms.
noobs to those who comment anonymously. talk is cheap
Both school players trained hard and played well. credits to the players but its just too bad not everybody can be champions. so yeah, nobody was born able to play badminton immediately,players play well because they train. so assuming that all players from korea or china play well is stereotyping. its like saying all china people know kung fu. so we should not see the match as a foreign talent vs local talent match, but a match between players of different backgrounds on an equal playing field.
cheers.
Firstly, I think the entire article is biased and unfair. Did you notice that they only interviewed players from the other jcs and not jjc? What has this got to say? It’s only a one-sided point of view from the other schools. Secondly, what’s wrong with having foreign talents in school? Haven’t the government been supportive of this system since years ago? So think again, is this article merely criticizing JJ? I’m certain that this article has only offended jjc but many others. Why not let’s look this entire thing more positively and quit being so NARROW-MINDED?
I think you better clarify what article you are referring to.
I presume you are talking about the New Paper article, ANON?
Now u people are digging the JJ’s history, can u all stop this ‘debate’ pls? Why dun u people say about the retainee of the ACJCs? There are 2 this year if i am not wrong. In ACSI, the big sized double player also played for 3 years. If i have offended anyone, I’m sorry.
Regarding to the comments posted by pei du mama,just want to point out that by supporting our school badminton team, there is nth to do with one’s loyalty to Singapore.A straight forward reason will be, JJC is one of the SINGAPORE Junior College,in case u don’t know. By supporting a junior college from Singapore, I dun see anything wrong with that. Secondly, Let me remind you, one of the reason why our education system is so successful is because we practise meritocracy. Select our talent based on merit, but not race, religion or nationality.They have the ability, skill to represent school, should we deny them a chance to represent the school simply because they are from China?
Sometimes we have to see things in our opponent’s shoes. If you are an student who study in, for example Australia. And you represent your Australian school to participate in a Maths competition. You tried so hard and eventually lose to an Australian. And next day, An article from newspaper saying that: Australia Won over Singapore! And it says no wonder your school lost, because it used singaporean Students. What will you feel then?
I do acknowledge that JJC’s principal is sometimes irrational in his speech. He is also sometimes insensitive towards other people’s feeling. However, as a student, we cant control what our principal behave, or what he says. We do not want to involve in any conflicts in the world of adults. If they want to quarreller, there is nothing much we can do as students. But We just wish that, those conflicts between adults should not use as an excuse to criticise the school badminton team. As the players are just there to try their best and bring honour to their school.
Lastly, I was there personally and appreciated the way that students cheer for each other. It really shows sportsmanship, and I really do wish next year, there will be similar spirit in both colleges.
I was another spectator at the finals and remember JJC supporters congratulated RJC team for winning the titles, RJC team responded with “I love you JJC” and JJC also replied “I love you too RJC”. Where did that kind of sportsmanship go? I really enjoyed watching both matches and must say that they are one of the rare exciting badminton matches we can find nowadays. I totally support and thank our foreign talents who had raised the standard of badminton in our school badminton scene. It is definitely more exciting to watch badminton now comparing to many years back when only that few schools dominate. Isn’t that the same reason why people are crazy about EPL all over the world, even though the teams also recruited foreign players? Come on, credit must still go to JJC whom I’m sure did not reach the finals without training hard and only depended on recruiting foreign players, which other teams also did but were still being knocked out.
hello hello jjlovers and china people lovers. If you’re a Singaporean, i am really starting to question where your loyalty lies. Does it lie in the red and white flag with a crescent and our five stars, or is it in the red flag with the five yellow stars. i know the flags look kind of similar so please i hope you’re not that easily confused.
Just to clarify matters, although it is true people have stated that both jj boys/girls captains are locals and that there are indeed local boys in the main 7 players that is just part of the story (metaphorically). The real problem is that foreign players make up the bulk of the players, especially the girls team. if i’m not wrong there are about 7 or 8 players in the girls squad who are from china? correct me if i am wrong. And yes, so what if the captain of the girls team is a local, have we seen any locals from jj (girls team) playing at the finals? the answer is NO.All the players that played were from China. so really, who’s flag are we flying?
Another concern would be the age of the china players. Oh my, infuriating. Some of the china players from jj can play for up to 3-4 years!really brings a whole new meaning to the words “forever young” doesn’t it? integrity my friends is what rj, ac, and the other schools that do not support local players are about. Also just for further information, i know that some players from the girls team in jj (foreigners) are 18 or 19 years old and are in year one of jc. integrity once again, getting 19 year old teenagers to play with someone two years their juniors is that not somewhat unfair?
so china/jj lovers please do re-evaluate. Besides jurong junior college has been trying for three years to dethrone rijc but to no avail. The first year they brought in 3 china girls and could not manage to dethrone rj. The second year they had a total of 5 china girls and yet they still could not manage to dethrone rj. so finally this year in their greatest effort ever to get the championship they got a total of 7. and yes everyone the ending is as predictable as ever. they still lost. so yes Singaporeans triumph over china people!!!! jj you might want to try harder next year with a full squad of 12 players or call the whole china colony over. good luck with that =)
firstly i read from a jjlover posting that you said the players were doing well in school. im not saying that they are not. but from what i know last yr you guys have 2 china players who played 3 yrs for the school. if their studies were that good did your coach make them stay back intentionally then? interesting…
next, im not making a fuss about the players from jj and ac as well as ri alike. they were merely kids who may have said things on impulse. its understandable and forgivable right. but what i witnessed on the day of the quarterfinals was shocking and surprising. i saw and heard jj principal challenging ri’s coach to a fight outside. thats is unacceptable, the principal, icon of the school acting like that? im at a loss of words. btw, jjlover, so did jj really win this game of sportsmanship?
to abcde: raffles supporters were jeering at jj players when they missed a shot before 1 JJ player actually jeer back. Although it seems childish but it shows that they cared for the team. Do u think entering JJ badminton is easy? That guy is being too biased, if he think he can win the boon lay players or the foreigners why dun he have a friendly match with them? Can u ppl please stop this debate?
to g. the last guy who posted on that stomp entry is biased because he did not make it to their badminton team as he didnt even have to basics in the sport. the badminton coach for jj is very experience and that is why he was able to lead the teams so far into the competition. it’s only through hard work that jj’s badminton players were able to reach such a standard. the players are able to do well because they train hard. doesnt mean they come of other countries means that they are better and hence make it for the team.i know that guy who entered the last post. he is very against badminton/the teacher-in-charge/coach/some of the players. yup. thanks.
quoting JJlover – “If the local players in the team had mind about their foreign teammates, I don’t hear them complaining. ”
well, maybe you’d like to have a look at this link? http://talkback.stomp.com.sg/forums/archive/index.php/t-61228.html
but agreed, this debate should stop. just thought you should know how some people from your own school feel
hey sorry jjlover, just need to tell you that the coach called them stupid cause they were jeering. not the other way around. so the order of events was
1. jj students jeering
2. coach called them stupid
3. principal quarrel with coach
yup, i agree though that event 2 and event 3 should not have happened regardless of event 1. but now you know the reason.
I’m sorry if the comments infuriated anyone but PEACE YO!
In the first place, if the bloody Newpaper report has not been that inappropriate, such a commotion would not have taken place.
And the fact that those who were interviewed in the report were from AC and RI. ANd all of them are said to be resentful of us having foreign players. (This makes JJ suspicious of them.no offence)
So let’s forgive and forget about the whole thing, in the end we are just satisfying the bloody Newpaper whether you like it or not.
PEACE!
AND if YOU would just stop complaining that JJ has too many foreigners(JJ will always appreciate talents, foreign or local because Singapore in the future, whether you like it or not, will always be a cosmopolitan city)
the debate ends here.
Let me draw a line.
—————————————————————
OK? DONE!
PEACE.
Quoting from UNKNOWN:
”
well.replying to JJlover on the RI coach scolding the JJ players stupid, that’s not the whole story. in case you didn’t know, the JJC players standing beside the court during the 2nd doubles of the quarter finals were jeering at the RI players when the match was going on. After which the RI coach got angry and scolded stupid, which i agree was not appropriate. But if you want to talk about sportsmanship, why dont you review the conduct of the JJC players before doing so. That’s not all, maybe you’ll like to take a look at the JJC PRINCIPAL first. The RI coach scolded the players stupid, but the JJC PRINCIPAL was no better, scolding the school (RI) “idiotâ€? hello? that is the JJC PRINCIPAL while the other is just a coach.Who do you think should be more aware of his conduct? Furthermore, the JJC principal joined in the jeering after that too. and i remember exactly what he said cause i was just beside him when the RI players made a mistake in the game. He went “WAH! SO LOUSY! RI PLAYERS MAKE THIS KIND OF SHOTS? LOUSY LAH!†come on. you wanna talk about sportsmanship? ”
I think you’re the one who’s not getting matters straight.
THE RI COACH SCOLDED THE JJ CHEERLEADERS STUPID JUST BECAUSE THEY WERE LOSING THE MATCH IN THE QUARTER FINALS AGAINST JJ’S GIRLS TEAM. I WAS THERE MYSELF.
Because of the coach’s inappropriate behavior,
OUR PRINCIPAL DEFENDED US And in the process, he was INFURIATED and I don’t know what he said. But if what you said is TRUE,
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU WHY DID THE RI COACH SCOLD THE JJ CHEERLEADERS STUPID IN THE FIRST PLACE??
If he had not done so, the JJ principal would not have quarrelled with the RI coach in defence.
I agree that he should not have said RI players shot was lousy but IN THE FIRST PLACE, HE WOULD NOT HAVE SAID THAT IF YOUR RI COACH INFURIATED HIM.
IT’S A TIT FOR A TAT.
AND.
If THE JJ players really jeered, I apologize for their behavior because it might just have been in the heat of the moment or it may be a retaliation of the RI Coach’s behavior.
No offence.
Correct me if im wrong.
JJ girls captain is a local(: and the captains do know about the ongoings of the team thanks. we are not that pathetic.
BRING IT ON MAN WE DON’T FEAR YOU. RJ DOUBLE GOLD 2010
i didn’t manage to speak to the JJ players, that’s why i didn’t mention who was the captain. But now I know who’s the JJ captain, will credit Choon Guan for it. thanks!
Captain of jj badminton is choonguan who played in the 1st doubles!