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[h=2]Unsung S’porean sporting hero made ex-S’pore FT proud![/h]
November 12th, 2012 |
Author: Contributions
Singapore's Colin Cheng celebrates winning a race in
the Laser sailing class at the London 2012 Olympic Games, in Weymouth on Aug 3,
2012. Cheng has finished 15th overall in a fleet of 49 boats in the Laser
Standard class. (Photo AFP).
The recent comments about Singapore relying on imported FT to win all their
sporting awards (‘A more deep seated problem in FT craze‘) ignores the
astonishing development and successes young Singapore born athletes have had in
world class competitive sailing, to Olympic level.
As a Singapore/Malaysia resident for the last 15 years, I have had the
privilege of shooting the world television, helicopter aerial coverage of the
Olympic Sailing Regattas in both Beijing in 2008 and London 2012.
During race 8 of the London Olympic Laser Championships, Singapore sailor
Colin Cheng sailed the race of his life in front of a live audience of 60,000
people and a potential television audience into the billions.
For the entire race, my camera helicopter was filming 1000 feet above him as
the Singapore flag led the 49 competitor fleet from the first rounding mark for
a total of 50 minutes before the Australian sailor scraped past at the
penultimate rounding mark and crossed the line seconds ahead of Cheng after 57
minutes of brilliant competition.
Thousands of live spectators sat on the Note Headland in coastal city of
Weymouth waving whatever national flags they had (there were no Singapore flags
there) watching as spectactular a sporting event as its possible to see. And for
50 of the 57 minutes, the Singapore sailor led world.
No one, not even the competitors or the judges, had a better view of every
single second of that race than my Eye In The Sky television helicopter - and
it was fabulous!
If the people of Singapore are really hungry for current, home grown sporting
heroes, then forget about the football pitch and the badminton court and head
for the East Coast Sailing Centre where some of the most exciting and talented
young Singaporean athletes are training to take on the world.
And to Colin Cheng I say – sorry about all the helicopter noise – but
extremely well done mate. You sailed a fabulous race and you made this
ex-Singapore FT proud!
.
Laurie K Gilbert
Helicopter Air Wing
2012 London Olympic
Games
.
Cheng gunning for 2016 Olympics
Aug 15, 2012
http://www.todayonline.com/Sports/EDC120815-0000031/Cheng-gunning-for-2016-Olympics
SINGAPORE – After posting the best result by an Asian sailor in the
Olympics Laser Standard class in London, Colin Cheng has set his sights
higher.
The 22-year-old, who marked his Olympics debut by finishing 15th out of
49 boats at Weymouth – a result that featured three top-10 spots in 10 races,
including a second-placed finish in Race 8 – is determined to make it to the
2016 Rio Olympics.
And, this time, he is gunning for a spot in the top 10 – which is also
the qualifying mark for the medal race.
“The biggest thing I learnt at the Olympics is that, if you put your mind
to something, it is possible to mix it with the best.
“It’s still early days to the 2016 Games but my target is to be in the
top 10,” said Cheng, who returned to Singapore yesterday with fellow sailor
Elizabeth Yin – who was 24th of 41 sailors in the women’s Laser Radial – as well
as athletes from canoeing, badminton, athletics and gymnastics.
Cheng, who won the Laser 4.7 World Championships and Asian Games gold in
2006, had taken an 18-month hiatus from his nanotechnology studies at the
University of New South Wales to train and compete on the European
circuit.
He also decided to continue with coach Brett Beyer after the Australian
parted ways with the Singapore Sailing Federation early last year. Cheng paid
for Beyer to be his coach and was eventually selected for the London
Games.
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Singapore's Colin Cheng celebrates winning a race in
the Laser sailing class at the London 2012 Olympic Games, in Weymouth on Aug 3,
2012. Cheng has finished 15th overall in a fleet of 49 boats in the Laser
Standard class. (Photo AFP).
The recent comments about Singapore relying on imported FT to win all their
sporting awards (‘A more deep seated problem in FT craze‘) ignores the
astonishing development and successes young Singapore born athletes have had in
world class competitive sailing, to Olympic level.
As a Singapore/Malaysia resident for the last 15 years, I have had the
privilege of shooting the world television, helicopter aerial coverage of the
Olympic Sailing Regattas in both Beijing in 2008 and London 2012.
During race 8 of the London Olympic Laser Championships, Singapore sailor
Colin Cheng sailed the race of his life in front of a live audience of 60,000
people and a potential television audience into the billions.
For the entire race, my camera helicopter was filming 1000 feet above him as
the Singapore flag led the 49 competitor fleet from the first rounding mark for
a total of 50 minutes before the Australian sailor scraped past at the
penultimate rounding mark and crossed the line seconds ahead of Cheng after 57
minutes of brilliant competition.
Thousands of live spectators sat on the Note Headland in coastal city of
Weymouth waving whatever national flags they had (there were no Singapore flags
there) watching as spectactular a sporting event as its possible to see. And for
50 of the 57 minutes, the Singapore sailor led world.
No one, not even the competitors or the judges, had a better view of every
single second of that race than my Eye In The Sky television helicopter - and
it was fabulous!
If the people of Singapore are really hungry for current, home grown sporting
heroes, then forget about the football pitch and the badminton court and head
for the East Coast Sailing Centre where some of the most exciting and talented
young Singaporean athletes are training to take on the world.
And to Colin Cheng I say – sorry about all the helicopter noise – but
extremely well done mate. You sailed a fabulous race and you made this
ex-Singapore FT proud!
.
Laurie K Gilbert
Helicopter Air Wing
2012 London Olympic
Games
.
Cheng gunning for 2016 Olympics
Aug 15, 2012
http://www.todayonline.com/Sports/EDC120815-0000031/Cheng-gunning-for-2016-Olympics
SINGAPORE – After posting the best result by an Asian sailor in the
Olympics Laser Standard class in London, Colin Cheng has set his sights
higher.
The 22-year-old, who marked his Olympics debut by finishing 15th out of
49 boats at Weymouth – a result that featured three top-10 spots in 10 races,
including a second-placed finish in Race 8 – is determined to make it to the
2016 Rio Olympics.
And, this time, he is gunning for a spot in the top 10 – which is also
the qualifying mark for the medal race.
“The biggest thing I learnt at the Olympics is that, if you put your mind
to something, it is possible to mix it with the best.
“It’s still early days to the 2016 Games but my target is to be in the
top 10,” said Cheng, who returned to Singapore yesterday with fellow sailor
Elizabeth Yin – who was 24th of 41 sailors in the women’s Laser Radial – as well
as athletes from canoeing, badminton, athletics and gymnastics.
Cheng, who won the Laser 4.7 World Championships and Asian Games gold in
2006, had taken an 18-month hiatus from his nanotechnology studies at the
University of New South Wales to train and compete on the European
circuit.
He also decided to continue with coach Brett Beyer after the Australian
parted ways with the Singapore Sailing Federation early last year. Cheng paid
for Beyer to be his coach and was eventually selected for the London
Games.
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