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Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Singaporean golfers Chen Xingtong, Guo Junxi qualify for US Girls' Junior C'ship
Chen Xingtong (left) secured her place at the tournament with an even-par 72 on June 16, while Guo Junxi had booked her place in May. PHOTOS: CHEN FAN, JUNXIGUA/INSTAGRAM SINGAPORE – A promising debut in the United States has boosted national golfer Chen Xingtong's confidence ahead of the US Girls' Junior Championship, which will take place from July 14 to 19. The 16-year-old secured her place at the tournament with an even-par 72 at a one-day qualifier at Crescent Farms Golf Club in Missouri on June 16. She topped a 20-player field to claim the only spot available, mixing three birdies with three bogeys to finish one shot ahead of Americans Lisa Zhang and Eva Brown. Joining her at the Atlanta Athletic Club's Riverside Course in Johns Creek, Georgia, will be junior national squad player Guo Junxi. The 15-year-old had booked her place in May through another qualifier in Florida, where she is based, clinching the second of two available berths with a birdie in a play-off against American Charlotte Cantonis and Brazil's Maria Antonia Gaviao. The trio were tied at one-over 71 in regulation play. Xingtong was thrilled to have qualified, noting that the one-day format with just one spot on offer made it challenging. Unlike typical three- or four-day tournaments where there is time to recover from mistakes, she felt that this left little margin for error and acknowledged that luck likely played a part in her success. The Singapore Sports School student added: 'It's my first time in the US, so I'm glad to have started out strong and hopefully will continue to do well here. 'I'm really looking forward to competing as this is a good opportunity to measure myself against the world's best in my age group, as well as seeing my friends who have also qualified for the tournament.' It is not the first time that she will be playing with some of the world's best; she has also played in the last two editions of the HSBC Women's World Championship after winning the national qualifying tournaments in 2024 and 2025. The 274th-ranked amateur has had a month to remember. Just a fortnight ago, she won the Singapore Junior Golf Championship with a five-under 211 giving her a six-shot win over Thailand's Kanyarak Pongpithanon. Xingtong and Junxi will be following in the footsteps of fellow Singaporean Jaymie Ng, who played in the 2022 edition of the US Girls' Junior Championship. Pleased with the teenage duo's performances in the US, national coach Murray Smit said: 'It is very significant that both Junxi and Xingtong have qualified for the US Girls' Junior. 'From what I understand it is the first time that Singapore have had two players qualify, which is really exciting. 'The qualifiers are traditionally really tough to get through. So for both of them to get through that route, shows that they are both ready for the incredible opportunity to compete with many of the best female juniors in the world.' The US Girls' Junior Championship is one of 15 US national golf competitions organised by the United States Golf Association. It is open to amateur girls under the age of 19 on the last day of the competition and have a USGA handicap index of 9.4 or less. It consists of two days of stroke play, with the leading 64 competitors then playing a match-play competition to decide the champion. Notable past winners include two-time LPGA champion Rose Zhang, Australian double Major winner Minjee Lee, as well as former world No. 1s Ariya Jutanugarn, also a two-time Major champion, and South Korea's Olympic gold medallist Park In-bee, who has won seven Majors. Smit believes the competition will be beneficial for the duo's development, saying: 'This is going to be a wonderful experience for both players. USGA events are always extremely well-organised but the competition is as strong as it gets and the courses are always a stern test. 'It will give them a great idea as to how they compare with the best Under-19s in the world and will pinpoint the areas in their respective games that need improvement for the years ahead.' Kimberly Kwek joined The Straits Times in 2019 as a sports journalist and has since covered a wide array of sports, including golf and sailing. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Edinburgh Live
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster 'held responsible' for 'collapse' of star's proposal
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Sir Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster have humorously been accused of ruining a Heart Radio presenter's engagement plans. The couple celebrated their 18th wedding anniversary this week, by hopping on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express to revisit the spots where they got engaged, tied the knot, and honeymooned. Back in 2005, after six years of dating, Rod proposed to Loose Women's Penny at the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. They exchanged vows two years later Portofino, Italy, which was followed by a luxury yacht-based honeymoon off the coast. On Heart Radio's Breakfast Show on Friday, Jamie Theakston light-heartedly blamed Rod for derailing his own proposal plan to his now wife Sophie. Shortly after the singer's engagement was announced, Jamie remembered him and his then girlfriend being on their way to Paris by train, whom he planned to propose to. (Image: INSTAGRAM/PENNYLANCASTER) Speaking to his co-stars Amanda Holden and Ashley Roberts, he said he envisioned proposing at the Eiffel Tower, just like Rod did. "I thought the Eiffel Tower might be romantic, at the Eiffel Tower, on one knee, pop the question, job done," he shared. "It was a beautiful weekend, the sun was shining, we'd been to Paris a couple of times before, so it was a special place." Jamie went on to say that he was already "nervous" about the engagement ring through customs without Sophie noticing, which he thankfully managed to pull off. What happened next however forced him to reconsider his proposal strategy. He explained: "Anyway, she's reading a copy of Hello! Magazine, she goes, 'OMG. Do you know Rod Stewart has just got engaged to Penny Lancaster?' I said, 'Oh, really?' "She said, 'How naff is this, they did it in Paris on the Eiffel Tower'." (Image: INSTAGRAM/JAMIETHEAKSTON) After Amanda and Ashley expressed shock, he went on to say he contemplated abandoning the plan entirely. Later on in their trip, he chose to instead propose in a more intimate setting, their hotel room. "It wasn't as special as it might've been. So essentially, I hold Rod and Penny personally responsible for the complete collapse of my wedding proposal," he quipped. Despite the proposal not going exactly as planned, the most important thing was that Sophie happily said "yes". They later exchanged vows in Ditchling, Sussex and went on to become parents to two sons; Sidney, 17, and Kit, 16. As for Rod, Penny is his third wife and they have also two sons together; Alastair, 19, and Aiden, 14. The Maggie May singer is a father to eight children in total, including; Sarah, 61, Kimberly, 45, Sean, 44, Ruby, 38, Renee, 33, Liam, 30. Before Penny, he was married to Alana Stewart from 1979 to 1984, followed by Rachel Hunter from 1990 to 2006.
Straits Times
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Radio DJ Glenn Ong says he was ‘unhappily married' in Instagram post on weight loss
Radio DJ Glenn Ong said that he was in an unhappy marriage in an Instagram post celebrating his weight loss. PHOTO: GLENNN/INSTAGRAM Radio DJ Glenn Ong says he was 'unhappily married' in Instagram post on weight loss SINGAPORE - Veteran radio DJ Glenn Ong admitted he was 'unhappily married' in an Instagram post made on June 18 to celebrate his weight loss journey. In it, he wrote that that he will turn 55 on June 22, and that it has been two years since he started training two to three times a week to lose weight. 'From an unhealthy 84kg when I was unhappily married to a crazy happy 73kg now. Always choose happy if you can,' the host of The Big Show With Glenn And Angel on SPH Radio's Kiss92 wrote, alluding to his eight-year marriage to fellow local radio DJ Jean Danker, 46 a host and presenter on Mediacorp's Class 95. The former couple, who did not have any children together, announced their split in December 2024. It was Ong's third marriage, following his first two with the late Kate Reyes and Jamie Yeo, both former radio DJs. Ong's post, in which he encouraged his 77,600 Instagram followers to exercise and lose weight, included two photos - a selfie and a shot of him exercising at a gym. 'Can't seem to hit my target of 70kg but I'll settle for 72 to 73 because I feel really awesome now. The last time I was in this shape was when I was 21. If I can do it, guys and gals, so can you. Ready to take on the world,' he wrote. About a week earlier, Danker mused about her post-divorce dating life in a series of Instagram Stories on June 10, where she answered anonymous Ask Me Anything questions posed by some of her 77,700 followers. She revealed that she has been asked out by guys she labels as 'the brave young 20somethings'. Asked if she was ready to get attached, she replied: 'Let's just say it's gonna take someone really special for me to give up sleeping diagonal on my massive king sized bed - and it hasn't happened yet.' She also advised that women should not beat themselves up for having 'any kind of feelings' towards divorce, 'whether it's embarrassment or otherwise'. 'It's scariest just before you do it and even if you leap crying, and fly through the air screaming in fear, you're gonna land on solid ground, I promise you. Be brave.' Danker later told news outlet CNA that she feels 'a real sense of uplevelling at the moment'. 'I'm honestly grateful every day and am just looking to work hard professionally... taking good care of myself in all aspects and enjoying my friendships. She added: 'It's a bonus (and a miracle) if I find someone who is aligned with me in many ways, so that's not a huge priority. I really don't want to go on dating apps, so whatever will be will be. Open to casual coffee dates!' Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
14 hours ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Tiny homes for Indonesia's young urbanites draw criticism over livability
The homes have a starting price of 100 million rupiah (S$7,860) and can reach up to 140 million rupiah, depending on location and size. PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/KEMENTERIANPKP JAKARTA - The government's proposal to develop compact, subsidised housing for urban youth is facing growing criticism from both experts and potential occupants, who say the poor design and cramped living conditions of these 'mini houses' could jeopardise their inhabitants' physical and psychological well-being. The Public Housing and Settlements Ministry last week showcased two prototype units at Lippo Mall Nusantara in South Jakarta. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Iran arrests dissident rapper formerly on death row, his supporters say
Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi has criticised both Israel's attacks on Iran and Iran's failure to protect citizens in the face of Israel's bombardment, which began on June 13. PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/TOOMAJOFFICIAL Iran arrests dissident rapper formerly on death row, his supporters say PARIS - Iranian authorities have arrested Toomaj Salehi, a prominent rapper who is sharply critical of the Islamic republic's leadership, the artist's supporters said on his social media accounts on June 29. The reported arrest of Salehi, who is known to fans as Toomaj and had previously been sentenced to death in the wake of nationwide protests, comes amid the nearly week-old war triggered by Israeli attacks on Iran and as rights groups have warned of a crackdown on dissent by Tehran. Salehi, 34, has bitterly criticised Israel's strikes on his country as well as the failure of Iranian authorities to protect citizens in the face of the bombardment which began on June 13. According to a statement published by supporters of Salehi on his official Instagram and X accounts, he had been arrested in the Gulf island of Kish, on Iran's southern coast. 'We have no information about the detaining agency, his place of detention, or his health. The government is directly responsible for anything that happens to his health and life,' it said. 'Toomaj must be released immediately.' Rights groups have sounded the alarm on a crackdown in Iran against the background of the Israeli attacks which analysts believe could be aimed at ousting the country's clerical leadership. Amnesty International said on June 18 that 'Iranian authorities have responded to Israel's latest military attacks by imposing internet restrictions, arresting journalists and dissidents within the country.' Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights said on June 19 that at least 223 people have been arrested nationwide on charges related to collaboration with Israel. The group said its tally is based on official media reports, but the real figures are likely higher. Internet monitor Netblocks said that Iran was under its most severe 'blackout incident' since a 2019 wave of protests. Salehi was previously arrested in October 2022 after publicly backing demonstrations that erupted a month earlier, triggered by the death in custody of Iranian Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini. He was initially sentenced to death in a verdict that caused international uproar but it was later reduced to prison time and he was released in December 2024. Activists have accused Iran of torturing him during his 2022 arrest, after state media published a video purporting to show the rapper blindfolded, with bruising on his face, apologising for his support of the protests. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
