Coaches Recognised Through Inaugural Singapore Coach Medallion

2019 Singapore Coach Medallion Award

Passion, dedication and commitment were outstanding qualities we see in Lim Chea Rong (Head Coach, Shooting), Bai Lihua (Head Coach, Badminton) and Pedro Edmundo Soto Acuna (Head Coach, Track and Field). The coaches’ outstanding contributions to inspire young sportsmen were recognised through the inaugural Singapore Coach Medallion Award, launched by Ms Grace Fu, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, at the CoachSG Conference 2019 on 14 October. Coach Chea Rong received the High Performance Coach Award, and both Coach Bai and Coach Pedro received the Youth Coach Award.

Besides them, two other Sports School coaches were also nominated for the award – Teng Wei Ken (Technical Director, Football) and Coach See Puay Kheng (Head Coach, Swimming).

With more 40 years of coaching experience, Coach Bai has produced numerous high performers. It is Coach Bai’s philosophy that every student-athlete has unique potential and it is in her interest to help all student-athletes maximise their potential, realise their sporting dream and achieve the unthinkable. She has overseen the development of top shuttlers like Sports School alumnus Loh Kean Yew. While not all student-athletes will eventually become champion shuttlers, Coach Bai focuses on nurturing Learned Champions With Character in every student-athlete, and instilling the right values and technical skills in our student-athletes to help them excel in every aspect of their life.

Coach Pedro shares similar coaching philosophy. He treats every student-athlete as a unique individual. He employs strategies to bring out the best in their sport potential while instilling sound moral values and character. Post-secondary student-athlete Reuben Rainer Lee Siong En and alumnus Chong Wei Guan shone under his coaching. Reuben won the gold medal in the 2019 Philippines Southeast Asia Youth Athletics Championships 200m event and established a new U18 National Record. Wei Guan, who scored a commendable 43 points in the 2018 IBDP Examinations, holds the national U20 Men's 110m Hurdles record, and was the Chairman of the 3rd Council of School Captains.

For Coach Chea Rong, one of her greatest prides is alumna Martina Lindsay P Veloso, who trained under Sports School’s Learn-To-Shoot Programme when she was a primary school pupil. As shooting is not offered in primary schools as a CCA, Martina was like a rough diamond waiting to be polished to sparkle. Under Chea Rong’s coaching, Martina did not just break the National Record with a perfect score of 400 points, but also became the youngest shooter to win the ISSF World Cup gold medal. Adele Tan Qian Xiu and Ho Xiu Yi were two other top shooters under Chea Rong’s care. The team of Martina, Adele and Xiu Yi, broke the Junior Team World Record in June 2018. Coach Chea Rong believes in Long-Term Athlete Development through self-directed learning and training. She is careful not to over-train the shooters and sets aside time to develop the team spirit and student leadership.

Sports School is proud of our staff, who work hand-in-hand with our partners, to nurture Learned Champions With Character.