Best friends Melvin Goh and Qing Shan pair up for AYG Beach Volleyball

By Les Tan/Red Sports. Pictures by Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports

A friendship that began four years ago set in place a sequence of events that will see Melvin Goh and Qing Shan represent Singapore in Beach Volleyball at the upcoming Asian Youth Games on July 1st.

The two 17-year-olds have been the best of friends since their Secondary 1 days in Catholic High School, with Melvin responsible for bringing Qing Shan into the sport.

When I was in Primary 6, I wanted to join badminton,” said Qing Shan. “So I went to Catholic High but that year they disbanded the CCA. So Melvin was my best friend then, so he was from vball and so he dragged me to the sport. This was in Sec 1.”

In the case of Melvin, an older sibling started him going in volleyball from an early age.

“I was first introduced by my brother when I was in Primary 2,” said Melvin. “My brother is three years older. I started volleyball in Ai Tong as a recreational sport. My brother dragged me to the sport!”

The bond of friendship was further cemented when they both played in the Catholic High C Division volleyball team that won the national championship in 2006. They were then in Secondary 2. It was an achievement both were equally proud of.

“Everyone was new, from different background and we eventually emerged as the champions,” recounted Melvin of that year.

“Last year when I was in Sec 4 with Qing Shan, although we emerged third, I was very proud of the team. We put up a great fight against St Hilda’s in the National B Division. We lost 2-3 against a team that consists of Sec 5. We lost out eventually even though we were leading 2-0.”

Winning the U-19 Volleyball Championship in 2008 with Kolam Ayer CSC was another sporting highlight for Qing Shan.

The main highlight for the pair, of course, was to get selected for the Asian Youth Games. It nearly didn’t happen though, because Melvin was focused on playing for Hwa Chong Institution in the A Division this year, with whom he won the championship title.

Both players were not in the national youth squad, but after winning the MOE Inter-School Beach Volleyball competition in 2008, they put themselves in the frame for selection.

The two players were invited to playoff against two other pairs from the national youth squad. One pair was from Clementi Town while the other pair, the favourites, featured players from Zhenghua Secondary and St Hilda’s Secondary.

As it turned out, Melvin and Qing Shan edged out the favourites 21-19, 21-19 to clinch the nomination for the AYG.

“We weren’t really expecting to win. We were trailing all the while. They were quite strong,” said Qing Shan. “When we won, and we were given this chance to rep Singapore at AYG, we felt really happy, excited.”

Having played indoor volleyball mostly, they’ve had to adjust to the demands of the outdoor version.

“Beach volleyball requires one to be all-rounder, as in you have to dig, spike, set and receive,” said Melvin. “Although it’s a smaller court compared to indoor, we have a bigger space for us to cover. Although it’s easier for us to spike, it’s difficult for us to cover. If one is blocking, the other has to cover the entire court.”

Being good friends has also certainly helped them on the court.

“Beach volleyball, since it’s two players, it’s more about communication and since we were best friends, we felt quite easy during the game compared to other pairs because we were really close and know each other’s style. I like beach vball because we can display all of our skills not like indoor vball where we only have one role like spiker, or blocker.”

However, beach volleyball has asked more of them in terms of fitness.

“It requires greater stamina and endurance level,” said Melvin. “It requires determination because whenever the weather is very, very hot, we have to endure the hot sand, if not we will be jumping like monkeys on the court.”

The encouragement of his mother made a difference for Qing Shan.

My mum. She encouraged me to do everything to my best [ability], including volleyball. She didn’t give me any pressure, like [how] some parents won’t allow you to go to CCA because you cannot keep up with studies? My studies wasn’t that good as well but my mom allowed me to continue this interest so this was a very great encouragement for me, from my family.”

Melvin found the same supportive environment at home.

“My parents were supportive, always encouraging me to give my best. Whenever I was tired, they would keep on encouraging me and even gave me massages,” he said.

“When I was in Sec 4 and [now] J1, I couldn’t really cope with my studies and so my teachers took time to give me extra lessons during the holidays. They want me to catch up with the studies.”

The pair have been training four times a week, while juggling their school work. Qing Shan has exams before the AYG while Melvin will take his block tests the day after the AYG ends.

And who would they like to go up against just for the experience?

“China, Korea, Japan,” said Qing Shan.

“We heard there is a giant from China – 1.9m!” exclaimed Melvin.

Come July 1st, both will take to the outdoor courts at Siloso Beach, Sentosa.

All the best, boys. The nation wishes you well.