SINGAPORE: Team Singapore's keglers and paddlers marked a triumphant return from the Asian Games on Sunday (Oct 5) afternoon.
An excited crowd of about 300 in number greeted them, some who have been waiting since 2pm. They included National Sports Associations (NSA) officials, players and members of the public.
The athletes included bowler Jazreel Tan, who hauled in the most medals at the Games this year - the Women's Team Gold, Women's Singles Silver, Women's Trios Silver and Women's All Events.
The 25-year-old said she is quite pleased with her performance, having improved upon her previous showing at the 2010 Games. She had failed to medal at the previous Games, coming in 9th for the Women's Team, 17th for the Women's Singles, 10th for the Women's Trios, and 12th for the Women's All Events. Jazreel Tan is a full-time bowler under the Sports Excellence Scholarship (spexScholarship).
Also with an eye to the future were the returning table tennis team. They won three bronze medals at this year's Games, but failed to defend their women's team silver at the previous games in Guangzhou.
Women's team coach Jing Junhong said she is pleased with their overall performance, despite the injuries dogging the team throughout the Games. She added that the team will have to look into minimising this in the coming games, while allowing time for the players to recuperate.
With a total of five golds, six silvers and thirteen bronze medals, Singapore has beat its previous performance at the 2010 Games in Guangzhou. There, they yielded four golds, seven silvers and six bronzes.
But Chef de Mission Jessie Phua cautioned against resting on one's laurels. She praised the performance of the younger athletes, many of which were debutantes at the games, but said that Team Singapore can indeed do more to achieve their full potential, going into the SEA Games and beyond.
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