I am back, after 2 long years!

2009-10-15T18:46:00.000-07:00

Hi to all! In case you haven't noticed, the last post on my blog was in 2007! OMG!!! I am simply not disciplined enough to follow up or update my blog. I hope this is gonna change, now that I have a little more time and perhaps more things to blog about my life, my work and my gadgets. Later!!!

Double Happiness!!!

2007-03-19T09:25:00.000-07:00

I wanna share my happiness from 2 recent events with you (my friends, students and business partners)!!!

Event One

On the 9th of Jan 2007, we (Tennisolution) were invited by the Singapore Sports Council to attend an industry briefing on SEP (The Sports Education Programme (SEP) is a collaborative partnership between Singapore Sports Council (SSC) and the Ministry of Education (MOE). The SEP aims to advocate the importance of sports education, encourage sports participation in schools and increase sporting opportunities for the young).

We then had to submit our proposals to the SSC for endorsement. Simon (my business partner) and I worked till the wee hours on some days in order to come up with the proposals and submit them before the 31st of Jan 2007. We often hang out at the kopitiam below my place as it opens 24 hours and the teh-tarik and roti prata is GOOD!!!

After submission, all we could do was to wait, wait, wait ............................ and wait. Then, on the 7th of March 2007, I received an email from the SSC. I clicked on that email while keeping my fingers (and toes) crossed. And the first line of the email read.............. It is our pleasure to inform you that your programme(s) below has/have been selected and endorsed under the SEP 2007. I don't remember the last time I was so happy to receive an email!!! I immediately told my business partner and colleagues.

Out of the 652 programs received, only 523 were accepted and that incudes 2 of ours!!! As far as I know, only 2 tennis companies got the deal!!! A contract was signed this morning with the SSC. Our programs are now officially endorsed by SSC and MOE and will be showcased to all the primary schools, secondary schools and junior colleges in Singapore!!!

Event Two

Today is our first match in the National Inter-School "C" Division Girls' Tennis Championship. We (St. Margaret's Secondary School) were up against CHIJ Toa Payoh (their "B" Div came in national 2nd this year). Our girls turned up at the Singapore Labour Foundation at around 1.15pm. They then proceed to warm up in the courts. I arrived at about 1.30pm and gathered the girls for the prep-talk, we then prayed (though Sarah was the only christian). Sarah led the prayer and mumbled lots of stuffs which I couldn't understand but I said my AMEN at the end!

I have decided the following line-up for the match; Melissa (our captain) will play 1st single, Rie will play 2nd single, Yukie and Yoko will play 1st doubles, Sarah and Jaslyn will play 2nd doubles and Jamie will play 3rd singles. I shall not tell you the reasons of my decisions because our rival schools could be reading this blog too!!!

The first 2 singles went quite well. Melissa was not playing her usual game (I reckon only 40% of her usual standard) but she was quite calm and steady. She managed to win 9-4. Rie won 9-3 despite the exposed raw skin on her right palm (she's right handed) due to a burst blister. Her game was much tougher and tiring as her opponent was a typical "DING DONG BALL" player, i.e. she lobs every ball that Rie hits to her. I wonder if Rie's neck is ok after all that looking up at the balls. I know mine felt a little sore from watching.

I realised I was celebrating too early (we just needed 3 out of 5 matches to win) when my 1st and 2nd doubles started warming up with their opponents. Sarah and Jaslyn's opponents looks too big and tall to be in secondary 2. All they had to do is both stand at the net and block all the balls! But Sarah and Jaslyn were not intimitated by their build. They fought very hard throughout the entire match, which lasted more than 90 minutes but lost it eventually at 4-9. Yoko and Yukie didn't do too well either. Somehow, the partnership between the 2 didn't work out today. They tried to catch up with a new strategy at the end but it was too late. They lost 4-9 as well.

Needless to say, the deciding match as Jamie's 3rd single. We were all pinning our hopes on her. I assured her that winning isn't as important as playing her own game and enjoy it (I didn't mean it of course, just said it to calm her down, SHE BETTER WIN!!!). Throughout the whole match, she seems very relaxed and was able to hit many good shots. I was most impressed with her backhand drop shots (she just learned a few weeks ago). FYI, her opponent is the best single player among the 3. The score came to 3-3 at one point and I thought it was going to be a close match. But Jamie played impressively after and won the next 6 games, STRAIGHT!!! We all.........er.......the girls screamed when Jamie won her match point.

We beat CHIJ Toa Payoh 3 matches to 2. One hurdle cleared, 4 more to go! We will be playing TKGS next on Wednesday in our own school's courts. Please stay tuned for the report!!!

Later!!!

Finally.............. my own blog!!!

2007-03-18T20:00:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! Thanks for visiting my blog! Almost everyone I know now has a blog of some sort, so I figured I will have one too! Since this is my first posting, I shall give you all a brief intro of myself (as a coach).

I started playing tennis at the age of 13 in New Town Secondary School where I later picked up coaching from my coach and mentor, Mr. Tan Poh Seng. I became a certified coach with the USPTR at the age of 18. After my national service stint, I went to Van Der Meer Tennis University at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, USA, where I trained as a tennis teaching professional.

I came back to Singapore in 1992 and started working in numerous clubs and schools, including The Swiss Club, Raffles Country Club, Superbowl Golf & Country Club, Temasek Polytechnic, Chinese High School, Methodist Girls Primary School, just to name a few.

Over the years, I got certified by many international tennis bodies, such as USPTR, USPTA and ITF. I am also one of the few coaches in Singapore with a ITF Level II certification. I also upgrade myself by frequently attending workshops organized by Singapore Tennis Association and International Tennis Federation.

I am now the Tennis Director and Head Coach at TENNISOLUTION, a company I found and formed since 1994. I am in-charge of designing lesson plans, organizing and implementing programs, hiring and training of coaches and running workshops and camps, etc.

That's all about me and my professional career as a tennis coach. Please visit my company's website at www.tennisolution.com when you are free!!!

Later!!!

sttennis

I am back, after 2 long years!

Double Happiness!!!

Finally.............. my own blog!!!