Tan Wei Han tipped for the top at Cheers badminton championships

Contributed by Veronica Seah

Tan Wei Han, 15, was only a toddler when she witnessed her first badminton tournament.

Then, her mother Joyce would bring her to watch her older sisters Wei Wun and Wei Qi compete. Wei Wun is a former national player while Wei Qi was from the national youth-squad.

Today, Tan Wei Han is not only competing in tournaments of her own but is also a star in the making.

Currently, the Singapore Sports School student is participating in the Cheers Age Group (Singles) Badminton Championships 2008 from 19 November to 29 November.

Today, she beat her Sports School teammate Toh Siew Fen 21-16, 21-18 to progress to the semi-finals of the competition held at the Yio Chu Kang Sports Hall.

Indeed, having come from a badminton-crazy family, it was only natural that Wei Han picked up badminton at the tender age of seven.

She said: "I started playing around with a racket when I was in Primary One. Since both my sisters play the sport well, that gave me some interest too."

The petite girl added that her parents gave her further incentive to do well in the sport with the sacrifices they made for her.

For instance, dad Richard would ferry her to and from competitions in the day, despite working the night shift as a taxi-driver. Said Wei Han, "He's supposed to be sleeping in the day but he would sacrifice his sleep for me."

With such staunch support, it is no wonder Wei Han has high hopes for herself. She hopes to represent Singapore in the 2010 Youth Olympic Games, and then gain more exposure in the Asian Junior Badminton Championships and World Junior Badminton Championships.

By making the semis of the Cheers Age Group (Singles), she ensured that she is one step closer to her dream of playing in the Youth Olympics.

Shuttlers who reach the semis of the Cheers Age Group (Singles) or the Pilot Pen Schools Individual Badminton Championships 2009 will be invited to take part in the YOG selection trial in 2009, organized by the Singapore Badminton Association YOG committee.

Said Wei Han, "My immediate aim is to make it to the YOG training squad. Hopefully I can top the squad and represent Singapore in 2010."

Desmond Tan, General Manager for Badminton at the Sports School, certainly believes that Wei Han has what it takes. He said: "Her attitude is right, and she has the desire to match her dreams."

He added that Wei Han seldom displays any emotions on court, saying: "She has a poker face whether she's winning or losing. She's always in control of her emotions.

"It's very good for a sport like badminton."

Not only is Wei Han calm under pressure, she also plays in a languid manner as was the case throughout her 28-minute encounter with Siew Fen yesterday, where she rarely broke a sweat.

However, appearances can be deceiving, for as Desmond said: "She may play without displaying any emotions, but she will fight for every point."

He compared her to badminton legend Susi Susanti, whom he describes as, "a real fighter". That is high praise indeed, considering that Susanti was a four-time All-England Women's Singles champion and an Olympic gold medallist.

Desmond revealed that to aid her development, the Singapore Sports School is thinking of offering her a scholarship as she furthers her studies in the Auckland University of Technology through-train program in the near future.

This will enable her to balance studies and sports, for as part of the through-train program, she will be training with the national shuttlers.

Indeed, Wei Han hopes to not only train with them, but to get into the national team and stay in it.

And if she does so, she will have continued a proud family tradition.