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By Calvin Yang
SPORTS or studies? For some Singapore youngsters, chasing their sports dreams is increasingly becoming a desirable alternative to academic pursuits.
However, most local parents still believe studies should come first, though some are allowing their kids to pursue their aspirations.
Seven out of 10 parents my paper spoke to were against their children putting studies on hold to pursue sports excellence.
This is so despite the Republic's recent successes in the sports arena - winning an Olympic medal at the Beijing Games, as well as the successful bid to host the 2010 Youth Olympics.
Pre-school teacher Jennifer Lim, 49, said: "In Singapore, education is still important. Without a certificate, you get nowhere."
Ms Kee Mui Joo, 42, agreed: "Maybe I am still very conventional in thinking, but I feel that if my children are not talented in that area, I would not encourage them to pursue it."
Yet, there are parents who think otherwise. Take the parents of wushu athlete Tan Xiang Ting.
The 14-year-old, who has won six titles this year, gets up every morning at 4.30am for a run at a wushu training centre in Hebei, China.
Indeed, the Victoria School (location on map below) student has put his studies on hold since April - to chase his dream of winning a medal for Singapore in the sport.
He told my paper: "It is difficult to balance both studies and training. If I really want to do well, I can choose only one."
He chose sports - with his parents' blessings.
His mother, Madam Angela Lee, said: "We could see his interest in wushu. Since he loves the sport so much, we might as well support him."
Xiang Ting, who has been practising wushu since 11, trains at Hebei's Ying Jie Martial Arts School.
He said: "Training is tough here. We train about nine hours a day, six days a week.
"It is so strict that we are not even allowed to have hobbies. Sometimes, we have to sneak out at night just to play soccer."
But he still prefers life over there, describing Singapore's pace of life as "very stressful".
While young athletes like Xiang Ting who put their studies on hold are still rare, there seems to be indications that more parents are willing to support their kids' sports dreams.
Said Madam Tan Siok Khim, 54: "In the long term, it might not be good for their future.
"But if they are certain that they want to pursue their passion and give it their all, then, as parents, we can only respect their decision."
For more my paper stories click here.
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