Rowing together helps the Yees grow as a family

A family that rows together, stays together. At least when it comes to the Yees.

- Deepanraj Ganesan

Yee Kok Pheng, 53, his wife Kee Su Ling, 52, sons Matthew, 26, Marcus, 19, Micah, 17 and daughter, Rebekah, 14, were among nearly 120 competitors at the inaugural Singapore Indoor Rowing Championships on March 30 at The Row Space on Aliwal Street.

Su Ling and Rebekah raced in the women's 500m while the rest participated in the men's event. Kok Pheng took bragging rights, beating his kids by finishing seventh among 23 rowers.

While the Yees, all dressed in matching maroon tops, did not win any medals in the individual category, Kok Pheng claimed a silver in the relay.

The real triumph, however, was the quality time together. Kok Pheng said: "Rowing is an activity that we are able to share and participate in as a family and it helps us all to keep fit and healthy.

"Exercise has to be part of your schedule, so that it can help you to destress from the pressures of daily life... for us, there is an added bonus of allowing us to connect as a family."

For Micah, it was a memorable day.