“I was in Chinese orchestra!” Singapore’s AYG Volleyball athlete Yi Ting recalls

By Les Tan/Red Sports. Pictures by Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports

If it wasn’t for her volleyball teammate Dorita Peng, Tan Yi Ting might still be in the Chinese orchestra Co-Curricular Activity (CCA) and would not be part of the first Asian Youth Games.

Dorita and Yi Ting will represent Singapore in the girls’ category of the AYG Volleyball come July 1st.

Yi Ting got into volleyball “partly because of Dorita.”

“I was super not sporty type. I was not very tall when I entered Sec 1,” said Yi Ting. “I was in Chinese orchestra! During my primary school days, my primary school (Evergreen Pri) was top five (in Chinese orchestra) in Singapore.”

When Yi Ting entered Secondary 1 at Presbyterian High School, she discovered volleyball was the sport that the school focused on. Presbyterian High is known for having a strong volleyball girls team.

For Dorita, sports has filled her life since her primary school days.

“When I was in primary school, I was in track and field. When I was in Primary 5 going to Primary 6 in Anderson Primary, my HOD wanted to make everybody in the sports class play all the CCAs. I was in the sports class. I played all sorts of ball games when I was young,” Dorita said.

“I was asked ‘Want to try volleyball or not?’ I said ok. I told my father. He also plays vball. He is quite supportive of me. I joined volleyball at the start of Primary 6. I got to know the Anderson coach who is also an ex-student of Presbyterian High. He dragged me to Presbyterian High when I graduated from Primary school,” said Dorita.

Dorita’s father received a pleasant surprise when he met his daughter’s coach.

“When my father saw my PHS coach, he recognised him as his NUS coach!”

In 2008, MOE organised an inter-school beach volleyball competition and the best from each school competed. The best three pairs from that competition trained again and played off against each other. Dorita and Yi Ting made it through as the best pair on the day.

“When I went home, I said ‘Mommy, I’m selected for the games.'” said Yi Ting. “My mom said, ‘Huh?’ She kept asking me questions, “What is AYG? What is YOG? What is the difference?”

Dorita feels very fortunate to have the opportunity to represent the country.

“I told my father. His first reaction, “Wah! Got in ah!” recalled Dorita. “Then they start telling my relatives, “My daughter got into the AYG!”

2008 remains etched in their minds as the best year so far in the sport.

“My proudest achievement is when i was in B girls in 2008,” said Dorita. “My team was sort of unbeatable. We went to Malaysia in an U-17 tournament. I played sub-set that year and we won. Then we played in an U-16 tournament, and we won. We were also zone and national champions that year. That year was great. I got four golds consecutively that year. My parents were like “Ah? Another medal?” Dorita happily recounted.

Yi Ting shared that memorable year with Dorita in the school team.

“My parents said ‘Do I need to make a rack to put all your medals?’ laughed Yi Ting.

The influence of parents and coaches in their lives was apparent.

Said Dorita: “My parents, they support me in all ways. If trainings end late, they will come and fetch me home although I stay very near. Only 10min walk from home. They will encourage me to go for trainings. When I get injuries, they will bring me to see sinseh, doctor.”

Yi Ting counts Mr Ang Swee Aun, her teacher-in-charge Mr Chew Yiu Chee and her coach Mr Loh San Thong and her parents as the greatest influence on her.

“I wasn’t a very good player when I was in C girls,” recalled Yi Ting. “My coach didn’t give up on me. Mr Ang, Mr Chew, they supported me. Training was hard but I feel quite grateful.”

The sport of volleyball is enjoyeable for Yi Ting particularly because of the rallies.

“I like having rallies. Da bu si (Mandarin for never ending)!” said Yi Ting. “They try to whack us, we receive, we try to whack back. The feeling is fun.”

Juggling sports and studies for both of them has been a challenge.

“We have trainings on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday,” said Dorita. “We’re left with Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Friday we spend time with our families at night.”

“For Monday and Wednesday, just study and study. Because Tuesday, Thursday, we reach home at 11pm after training and the next day we have to wake up at 6 o’clock.”

Dorita added: “My parents do nag. They say ‘You want to play vball, it’s alright, but don’t neglect your studies. Because in the future, you can’t earn a good living in volleyball. In the future, would you rather work outdoor or in the air-con room? I think the earnings is not that much compared to working in an office.”

For Yi Ting, sacrifice is part of the deal.

“You really have to sacrifice. If you want to excel in the sport, you have to sacrifice your studies and time with your family. You can’t be doing three things at the same time. Because in Singapore it’s important to study. In Singapore, sports or studies? Obviously studies,” said Yi Ting.

With this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, the girls are looking forward to playing some of the best in the region.

“I would want to play China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, because they are strong and experienced. We hope to gain experience from them,” said Dorita.