'A VERY PROUD MOMENT'

Schooling, Yip among 21 legends inducted in Singapore Aquatics’ inaugural Hall Of Fame

- David Lee

It was a night of nostalgia and celebration for the local aquatics fraternity on May 10, when Singapore Aquatics held its 85th anniversary gala fundraising dinner at the Raffles City Convention Centre.

With guest of honour President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong in attendance, 21 former and current aquatic athletes and contributors were inducted into its inaugural Hall of

Fame. Over $1 million in donations was also raised for the sport.

The Hall of Fame has 12 swimmers including Olympic champion Joseph Schooling, 1951 Asian Games men's 4x100m relay winners Barry Mitchell, Lionel Chee, Neo Chwee Kok and Wiebe Wolters, swim queens Tao Li and Joscelin Yeo, and multiple Paralympic gold-medallist Yip Pin Xiu.

Also making the list are the men's water polo team who won gold at the 1954 Asian Games, and water polo stalwarts Kenneth Kee, who was named Coach of the Year in 1982, and the late Tan Eng Liang,

who was Singapore Sports Council chairman from 1975 to 1991 and vice president of the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) from 1992 to 2020.