Kaska Watkins adds another gold medal to her haul as RI reclaim A Div netball crown
Raffles Institution's Kaska Watkins taking aim during the National School Games A Division netball final. She scored 20 out of 24 shots in the 45-40 win over Anglo-Chinese Junior College. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
Kaska Watkins adds another gold medal to her haul as RI reclaim A Div netball crown
SINGAPORE – Competing in the National School Games swimming finals in April, Raffles Institution's (RI) Kaska Watkins collected a total of four medals – including a relay gold.
Transferring that athleticism from the pool to the court, she added another gold to her haul on May 28.
The goal attack played a key role as RI defeated defending champions Anglo-Chinese Junior College (ACJC) 45-40 at Our Tampines Hub to reclaim the A Division netball title that they last won in 2023.
Kaska converted 20 out of the 24 shots she attempted, putting up an impressive 83.3 per cent shot conversion rate.
The 17-year-old had claimed silver medals in the 50m freestyle and 4x50m medley relay on April 24, before adding a gold in the 4x50m free relay and a 100m free bronze a day later. But the water sport has given her more than just medals.
'Swimming has given me a strong core,' said Kaska, who is of English nationality.
'So whenever my teammates pass me the ball, I can grab it at different directions. Also, when I do weight training in swimming, I work on my legs and it helps me jump higher.'
However, standing at 1.73m, she knew it would be difficult going up on the court against ACJC's goalkeeper Alyssa Tan, who is taller at 1.78m, prompting a different offensive approach.
'We knew we couldn't do any high balls because she (Alyssa) would intercept it, so I had to try holding her (back) so that I would block her off and get the ball,' said Kaska.
RI coach Chng Li Li, 53, added: 'The AC (defence) is much taller than my shooters. We cannot play high, so we had to play the low balls (along the floor).'
RI were without their first-choice centre Wang Yun Xi, who had to attend the International Biology Olympiad at Nanyang Technological University.
Reserve centres Caitlin Ong and Emily Loi took turns to deputise in her place, and they both performed admirably.
'I played three quarters (in total) in the preliminary round, so this was definitely quite an overwhelming moment for me when I stepped on court,' said Emily, 17, who started the final as a substitute.
Centre Emily Loi (in black, holding the ball) played well in place of their absent first-choice centre Wang Yun Xi.
ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
'Even though our main centre wasn't here, it doesn't mean that our team won't be able to play well. We are still a team overall so we'll all be working together,' she said.
RI started the game on the front foot, leading 13-8 after the first quarter.
A combination of turnovers high up the court and neat interplay saw them take a commanding 25-18 advantage into half-time. ACJC fought back in the third quarter as they sought to narrow a 32-28 deficit.
But it was ultimately too little too late as RI closed the game out to avenge last season's defeat in the final, where they lost 44-43 to ACJC.
RI captain Lim Ruici , 18, said: 'The team was really hungry this year. I think our team's focus was enjoying the game because that is when we are at our best.'
RI celebrating with the trophy after winning the A Div netball final.
ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
ACJC captain Keira Baptista was on the sidelines after a full anterior cruciate ligament tear and a partial medial collateral ligament tear ruled her out for the season.
'At first, I felt very helpless that I wouldn't be there for my team physically on court, but regardless I made sure that they knew that I would have their back,' said the 18-year-old.
On-court captain Alyssa said RI played a good game and deserved their win.
'We fought hard and no matter the outcome, I think we put in our best effort today,' added the 18-year-old.
In the third-place play-off, Victoria Junior College beat Eunoia Junior College 48-35.
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
20 hours ago
- Straits Times
Winning Club World Cup would not make up for City's disappointing season, says Guardiola
Winning Club World Cup would not make up for City's disappointing season, says Guardiola Winning the Club World Cup title again would not make up for the disappointing 2024-25 season that Manchester City have had, manager Pep Guardiola said ahead of Sunday's Group G clash with Emirati side Al-Ain in Atlanta. Guardiola's City fell short of winning the Premier League for the fifth time in a row, finishing third in the English top-flight. They also failed to reach the Champions League's round of 16, being eliminated by Real Madrid in the knockout phase playoffs. "I said many times, the season was not good," Guardiola told reporters on Saturday. "Winning this competition is not going to change that, but my mindset at the moment is not about winning the competition. We can extend our time here, being here longer." Guardiola, who has won the Club World Cup four times as manager, guided City to their first world title in 2023, before the tournament was revamped as a 32-team competition to be held once every four years. City, who beat Morocco's Wydad Casablanca 2-0 in their campaign opener, have a chance to qualify for the round of 16 with a win over Al-Ain, who suffered a 5-0 loss to Juventus in their first game. "Now we're here, I want to do the best. I want to enjoy the moment here because you're here one time every four years... And I want to arrive in the latter stages," Guardiola added. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
a day ago
- Straits Times
France XV fight back to secure 26-24 win over England XV
LONDON - A try after the hooter by Romain Taofifenua gave France XV a 26-24 victory over their English counterparts in a non-cap match at Twickenham on Saturday, as winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso made a disappointing return from injury. Taofifenua burrowed over the try-line after England had led 24-12 with five minutes remaining but could not keep the visitors at bay in a game featuring four tries and a red card for each side. The match served as a warm-up for England's tour of Argentina and the United States, while France are preparing for three tests in New Zealand next month. France scored two early tries as hooker Gaetan Barlot crossed in the corner after breaking away from a driving maul, and lock Hugo Auradou burst into the England 22 after the visitors turned the ball over at the breakdown. England grew into the game, however, and after incessant pressure in the French 22, number eight Tom Willis scored in the corner before lock Alex Coles took a pop-pass from centre Seb Atkinson to cross the line. Feyi-Waboso, playing his first game since December after recovering from an injury, made two simple handling errors before receiving a 30-minute red card just past the half-hour mark. He was penalised for a high tackle as his arm struck the head of French flyhalf Antoine Hastoy. Initially a yellow card, it was upgraded to red on bunker review. Despite their numerical disadvantage, England led 19-12 at halftime when another strong carry from Atkinson broke the French defensive line and his pass to Joe Carpenter set up another try. Following a red card for French forward Cameron Woki, upgraded from yellow on bunker review, England added a fourth try when replacement loose-forward Alex Dombrandt went over in the corner. France had the advantage in the forwards, however, and powered over for two more tries with Taofifenua's effort converted by Hastoy to secure victory for the French. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Straits Times
Visually impaired dragon boater makes waves with his Dragon Warriors team
Bernard Chew (first from left, with cap) paddles from the front with Team Dragon Warriors during Century Race 2025 at Jurong Lake in February. He is the only paddler on the team who is totally blind. PHOTO: Singapore Dragon Boat Association SINGAPORE – When he woke up with dark vision one morning in 2017, Bernard Chew knew something was terribly wrong. Later that day, doctors at the hospital told him that he had retinal detachment in both eyes – but they could not save his sight. Chew, 54, said: 'I had an operation. They actually managed to save my retina. It was attached back but I still lost my eyesight because there was a lot of damage to the optic nerves. 'That was the main thing that caused me to be totally blind.' The former national dragon boater, who was then a freelance English drama teacher, saw his life change completely, but his passion for the sport never wavered. In 2018, he started paddling for leisure with the Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped. However, that came to an abrupt end when the Covid-19 pandemic struck. But Chew, who was part of the national team from 1995 to 2000 and captained the side for two years, was determined to continue and also provide a form of exercise for the visually impaired. Together with his friend Chua Swee Keow, they set up Team Dragon Warriors in early 2020 under DB Hearts – a ground-up initiative comprising volunteers from the local dragon boat community who seek to be inclusive. When asked what birthed the idea, Chew, who now works as a massage therapist, said: 'I guess it's the passion. 'I just thought 'hey, why not?' because before I lost my eyesight I was already doing dragon boat. I have the ability and I know what it's all about.' Initially started for visually impaired persons, Team Dragon Warriors have since recruited those who are hearing impaired or have conditions such as cerebral palsy. Able-bodied volunteers from various social service organisations chip in to help the members while learning a new sport at the same time. When they are competing, each person with disability (PWD) is paired with an able-bodied paddler. Chew, who captains the team, also shows beginners the ropes. He said: 'Even though we cannot see, we can hear the sound of the drums and the beatings of the water using the paddle. So I only have to do by example, step by step.' The team meet every Sunday at PAssion Wave @ Marina Bay for their training session, where they focus on areas like coordination. 'They may (accidentally) hit the paddle in front of them and that will be difficult to recover from. If everybody paddles in sync, then the boat will glide very naturally,' Chew added. He creates the training programmes with coach Daniel Liu, who has hearing impairment. Liu, who works in project management, lost his hearing in 2017 due to noise-induced hearing loss. He initially joined Team Dragon Warriors in 2021 as a volunteer, but took on a coaching role as he had 17 years of experience competing in the sport for Safra and the Civil Service College. Through a combination of lip-reading and cued speech, he is able to teach the team members and correct their paddling form. Liu, 40, said: '(Bernard and I) adjust the coaching instructions and training sessions (when needed) and share information on how to excel better as para paddlers.' Visually impaired dragon boater Yip Chuen Chong, who joined the team in 2023, said: 'When I was sighted, I did not know anything about dragon boat. 'During these two years, I learnt the correct way to hold the paddle, techniques of rowing and improved on synchronisation through the help of the team captain Bernard, coach Daniel and volunteers.' The 54-year-old, who works as a massage therapist, said that through the sport, he feels 'fitter, stronger and more equipped to handle work, and in the process get to know more friends both visually impaired and sighted'. Since 2020, Team Dragon Warriors have participated in various local and overseas races (100m, 200m, and 300m) in the adaptive, masters and general categories, winning 10 gold, 10 silver and four bronze medals. Notably, in 2023 they became the first adaptive team – or team with PWDs – from Singapore to participate in the Sarawak International Dragon Boat Regatta, competing in the Masters category against able-bodied paddlers from around the world. On June 14, they were among 14 inclusive teams at the Paddle as One North East dragonboat race at PAssion Wave @ Bedok Reservoir. Their next competition is the Pesta Sukan on July 26. Chew said being involved in Team Dragon Warriors is an 'eye-opener for all of us, even for me', adding: 'It gives us a sense of confidence. 'Even though we are PWDs, we must go beyond our disability. If I can see beyond my disability, so can you.' Liu added: 'Dragon boating helps the PWDs foster autonomy and builds trust and self-esteem which is essential to a better social life.' Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
