We at Red Sports were completely taken aback by the response to the Picture of the Year contest, especially in the final two days, and the dying hours of the contest. Over 1,300 votes were cast for the top two pictures alone, a number that speaks of support well beyond individual families and friends.
Red Sports spoke to the winning subjects and their supporters:
The second-placed picture features Jocelyn Ng, a netballer from Yio Chu Kang Secondary School. Jocelyn, who turns 16 in a few weeks, usually plays Goal Shooter (GS) and Goal Attack (GA), and has been in netball for three years. "I love the team work," she says, "the perseverance, determination, and the never-give-up or never-say-die spirit from my teammates, despite the difficulties and hardship we have gone through."
She told Red Sports that she only found out about the contest when her friend happened upon it and told her. "I felt happy to be one of the nominees," she said, and credited her boyfriend, parents, four siblings, coach, teammates and friends for voting and sending the link around to encourage others to vote. "I love them so much!" she added.
Jocelyn confessed to keeping track of the vote "rather often". "I felt excited when I saw so many votes from friends, and I felt stressed when Samuel’s votes and mine were so close." Although Jocelyn felt "a little bit sad" when the results were announced, she did let slip her parents' comment that "[Samuel's] picture is nicer than yours." And in the spirit of true sportsmanship, Jocelyn had this to say to Samuel, "Congratulations on winning the “Picture of The Year 2007”! Primary 4 this year so you still got a long way to go! Continue to work hard and good luck for your future endeavors!"
Over in the Gongshang camp, the excitement was also intense. Mrs Ow Kwee Gim, Head of Physical Education at Gongshang Primary School told Red Sports that the school had rallied support from staff and parents. "I guess those who can relate to the picture voted and of course those who have sports blood running through their veins," she said. But the ensuing response from Jocelyn's supporters led Mrs Ow to joke that the contest was "not good for my poor heart."
Red Sports spoke to 10-year-old Samuel Cheong, the hurdler featured in the winning picture. Samuel only started hurdling in March this year, after fracturing his hand as a high jumper. "Not so easy to restore confidence after the high jump incident," says Samuel. But he credits his coach and teachers for being "very encouraging and patient with me," and he loves the thrill of "’flying’ over the hurdles and charging at each of the obstacles like a commando."
Samuel said he was happy that his picture won the vote. But unlike Jocelyn, he was not following the race and in fact went to bed at about 10 p.m. last night. When he told his friends, they teased him and asked, "Why last night you sleep so early!" His response? "My father always tells us to sleep early."
Samuel's father Mr Cheong Siew Hong, a project executive in real estate, told Red Sports that everyone in the family – he, his wife and his daughter – got their friends to vote. He added that the contest was a good way to "create awareness of sports for young people, and give recognition for the children."
Although the contest can only have one winning picture, we like what Mrs Ow had to say: “Whatever the outcome, the biggest winner is sports! Hurray!”
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joycelyn,u mind giving mi ur e-mail address???
joycelyn,u mind giving mi ur e-mail add??
who got jocelyn de e-mail add??
GSP Supporter (: Hah! A Merry Christmas to you too! 😀
The picture of the ‘screaming’ squad –
L-R : Han Zhong Kwang, Nur Hambali, Muhd Naqib
Merry Christmas to everyone at Redsports and Gongshang and Jocelyn!
Hey Jocelyn, loved what you have shared. And you have been very real and gracious about the whole thing! You deserve a blessed Christmas!