A fresh leadership team at the Singapore Rowing Association has ambitious plans to expand the sport.
SINGAPORE: The national rowing organization of Singapore has unveiled its ambitious strategy to elevate the sport, with a focus on expanding participation and cultivating athletes for a new coastal rowing discipline anticipated to be featured in the 2028 Olympics.
Under the guidance of its new leadership team, the Singapore Rowing Association (SRA) is eager to enhance outreach initiatives within schools and the military to grow the current base of approximately 200 rowers to an impressive 1,000 in the future.
“It’s crucial that we create an inclusive sport that encompasses all segments of the Singapore community across all age groups,” stated SRA President Paul Supramaniam. “This initiative will also incorporate para-rowing.”
The association aims not only to increase the number of participants but also to enhance its training facilities at the Pandan Reservoir, which currently falls 25 meters short of the standard 2,000-meter rowing course.
COASTAL ROWING
In addition, the SRA is set to pioneer coastal rowing in Singapore, a discipline that will debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Australia. National rower and Olympian Joan Poh highlighted the potential of coastal rowing to transform into an exhilarating weekend sport, ideally situated at venues like West Coast and Changi Beach.
“Every country is starting from a similar point with this new discipline,” remarked Mr. Steve Davies, SRA’s head of training and athlete development. He emphasized that coastal rowing does not exclusively favor athletes who are large and strong, but rather those who excel in technique and race strategy.
The SRA intends to expand its rowing team in the upcoming year, including efforts to recruit athletes transitioning from other sports that share similar skill sets. Mr. Davies pointed out the need to secure additional resources to enhance coaching quality and provide support for the rowers.
EYEING HISTORY
Currently, Singapore’s women’s team is targeting a historic achievement at next year’s Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, aiming to qualify for the women’s eight event for the first time while vying for a medal. This event consists of eight rowers and a coxswain in one boat.
“We aspire to make a mark rather than just debut. Our goal is to present the best representation of Singapore to the world,” Ms. Poh expressed. She has already secured her spots in the single and double scull events, with three additional Singaporean rowers also qualifying for the Games in China.
When discussing the importance of excelling in the women’s eight event, she affirmed, “I am open about our ambitions. Whether we achieve them is another matter, but we are not merely there to participate; we train with the conviction that we can succeed.”
