Nanyang Poly dethrone Republic Poly to emerge as champions in women's POL-ITE Kayak Sprint

By REDintern Ng Enna. Photos by Koh Yizhe/Red Sports.

MacRitchie Reservoir, Saturday, November 28, 2009 - Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) regained the women's 2009 Polytechnic-Institute of Technical Education (POL-ITE) Kayak Sprint title with 42 points after losing the title to Republic Polytechnic (RP) last year.

Defending champions RP had to settle for second place with 40 points, just two points behind NYP, and Temasek Polytechnic (TP) took third with 28.

The NYP Women's team, captained by Siok Ai Xing, swept five gold medals out of the six women's events.

"We are very happy to win! For many of us, it is our third year competing. We won the title in our first year but failed to defend it last year so we're definitely thrilled to win it back this year," Ai Xing commented.

Ai Xing was also a big winner of the day. Her hard work definitely paid off when she won two team gold and one individual gold.

"There was nothing more I could ask for!" Ai Xing exclaimed excitedly.

Fellow teammate, Joyce Ho, shared the limelight after stunning competitor Zhuo Ruiyi from Singapore Polytechnic (SP) in the K1 500m Women's event. It was an intensive race as Ruiyi started strongly with furious strokes and remained consistent throughout the course. Joyce trailed closely behind before pulling away near the finishing line to win another gold medal for NYP.

"My competitor was quite good. I pulled away at the end because I needed to win so that I could get the points for my school. It was my motivation," Joyce said.

NYP's coach, Patrick Fong, was definitely pleased with the results.

"I didn't expect them to win," he said. "I had higher expectations for the girls because the boys started coming down with flu prior to the race. But both teams surpassed my expectations. They were working very hard and I am proud of them."

Results

K1 1000M Women
1st - Siok Ai Xing (NYP)
2nd - Poh Qiu Wen (TP)
3rd - Adeline Yuen (RP)

K2 1000m Women
1st - Joyce Ho Nuo & Melissa Khah (NYP)
2nd - Joanne Gao & Beverly Brenda Kim (RP)
3rd - Zhuo Ruiyi & Wu Qing Ling (SP)

K4 1000m Women
1st - Lim Yan Ling, Hoe Xiu Ting, Junice Lee, Lydia Lim (TP)
2nd - Catherine Teo, Adeline Yuen, Kelroy Wee, Chang Zhen Yu (RP)
3rd - Evangeline Liew, Rainie Teh, Yang Wanyi Jocelyn, Ng Liling (NYP)

K1 500m Women
1st - Joyce Ho Nuo (NYP)
2nd - Zhuo Ruiyi (SP)
3rd - Peh Chiu Wen (TP)

K2 500m Women
1st - Siok Ai Xing & Sherlyna Poh (NYP)
2nd - Joanne Gao & Beverly Brenda Kim (RP)
3rd - Zhuo Ruiyi & Wu Qing Ling (SP)

K4 500m Women
1st - Siok Ai Xing, Sherlyna Poh, Joyce Ho Nuo, Melissa Khah (NYP)
2nd - Lim Yan Ling, Hoe Xiu Ting, Junice Lee, Lydia Lim (TP)
3rd - Joanne Gao, Neo Si Hong, Beverly Brenda Kim, Kelroy Wee (RP)