By Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports

2014 Community Games Bukit Panjang CSC Chan family

Chan Jun Hong (left) and his father, Chan Siang Ying, co-manage the recreational sports teams in the North West district for the Community Games. The father-son pair have also participated in badminton, basketball and bowling. (Photo © Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports)

Senja-Cashew Community Centre, Sunday, May 18, 2014 — 48-year-old Chan Siang Ying and his 19-year-old son, Chan Jun Hong, have participated in three different sports, making them one of the most active father-son pair in this year’s Community Games.

The pair started playing badminton, and decided to try out the other sports that they were interested in, explaining their participation in the Community Games’ basketball and bowling tournaments as well.

Chan Siang Ying is the team manager of the recreational sports teams in the North West district, but credits his son, Jun Hong, for handling the management of the various sport teams.

“It is actually not easy to manage such a large group. Most of the players are holding full-time jobs, and it is not easy to motivate them to come down after their 9-5 p.m. job because they are already so tired from working,” said Jun Hong, who is a final-year financial informatics student at Ngee Ann Polytechnic.

At a tender age of 19, Jun Hong is learning the ropes of management from his father, and has encountered his fair share of problems as well. “I remember last year during bowling, only three of us, out of four, turned up for the bowling tournament. The other person was not familiar with the location and we did not communicate properly as to where the venue was,” recalled Jun Hong. “During the badminton tournament as well, one of the players had a severe high fever. We had to concede a walk-over in that particular match.”

The Community Games provided a platform for the Chan family, their friends and relatives to bond and grow closer together. 48-year-old Chan Siang Ying was all praises for the games. “It is an excellent programme because it enhances social cohesion between people in the community. And besides, I have been interested in sports, but because of my age, I cannot participate in the more vigorous sports.”

“I’m quite proud of Jun Hong. It’s a good learning experience for him. It’s also good because he does all the paperwork for me. Even though I’m the team manager, I don’t have to do anything,” laughed the proud father.