SINGAPORE BADMINTON TEAM (Improvement of standard)

Mr Ng Yeow Chong asked the Minister for Social Affairs what measures will be taken to improve the standard of the national Badminton Team.

The Minister of Social Affairs (Inche Othman Bin Wok): Mr Speaker, Sir, the role of the Sports Division of the Ministry of Social Affairs is to render whatever assistance that is needed by national sports bodies in promoting their particular sport. This includes assistance in obtaining coaches of repute, both locally and abroad, provision of supplementary funds and finding suitable venues for training.

In February 1968, Mr Wong Peng Soon was employed by the Sports Division of my Ministry to train the most promising badminton players with a view to entering for the Thomas Cup Championship in 1969 and 1972.

Although there was a request for an open trial to decide the final composition of the Thomas Cup Team, it was decided that since Mr Wong had been appointed full time specifically to train the most promising players for the Zone Finals in the Thomas Cup in 1969, and that he had been coaching the Thomas Cup Squad or the national Badminton Team for well over a year, the final composition of the team would best be left in his hands.

I have no doubt that the experience gained from Singapore's participation in the last Thomas Cup matches in New Zealand will be put to good use.