Asia Pacific School of Sports and Business

SHE hopes to one day set up a sports group for women here.

The aim will be to encourage more women to take up sports recreationally and competitively, as well as raise funds, work with sponsors, and market sports products.

It was a degree course in sport management that opened Jing Junhong's eyes to such an alternative career after competitive table tennis.

Said the final-year student in Sport Management at the Asia Pacific School of Sports and Business: "As a player, the logical next step was to go into coaching.

"But the course has made me think about a second option ? that is, one in sports management, which would include public relations and finance."

The bachelor's degree with direct honours covers areas such as marketing, event management, advertising and strategic management in sports.

Junhong put Singapore on the world map during her eight-year career as a competitive player.

Between 1992 and 2004, she took 11 golds, three silvers and four bronze medals at the South-east Asian Games.

She also has eight golds, three silvers and three bronze medals from the Commonwealth Championships. And she emerged fourth in the 2000 Olympics.

Junhong, 39, said: "As a former athlete, I can help to play an important role in encouraging more women to take part in sports.

"Increasingly, women are no longer warming the bench while their boyfriends or husbands are enjoying and competing in the games.

"Look at women like Annabel Pennefather of the Hockey Federation and Jessie Phua of bowling.

"They are doing Singapore women proud through their work in sports."

Passion

Junhong believes sports management is an area that will become increasingly relevant with the development of a sports hub here.

And with Singapore's bid to host the first Youth Olympics in 2010, Junhong thinks there is scope for more professionals contributing their skills to the industry.

She said: "You don't have to be a national athlete to contribute to sports.

"So long as you have a passion for sports and would like to be part of our new sports industry, sports management is for you."

Junhong isn't the only student at the school with lofty ambitions.

Lionel Lewis, the Singapore Lions' and Asean's No 1 goalkeeper, wants to manage a football club.

Said the 24-year-old, who is also studying Sport Management there: "The course has helped me think like a sports manager.

"It has taught me management skills, such as how to deal with different people, sport marketing, and even the legal aspects of the sports industry.

"I can also learn from students from different sports, such as cycling and table tennis."

Give back to the sport

Lionel was one of six soccer players in the national team to take up the degree course in 2004.

He said: "A football career is short and unpredictable. Without a degree, the future may be shaky and insecure.

"As a soccer player, I would like to give back to football and a degree in sport management would definitely help me build up a career after I hang up my boots.

"I have seen many football players who struggle to make the income they used to earn as a professional player after they retire.

He added: "With my football background and a bachelor's degree in Sport Management, I believe I will be able to contribute back to the sport that has given me so much.

"If you have the passion in sports, the sport management course is for you."

The school specialises in courses in business, hospitality and sports.

It offers both full-time and part-time certificate and diploma courses as well as degree and post-graduate programmes.

The diploma leads to degrees with universities in Australia, New Zealand and the UK.

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