“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments which take our breaths away…….”


If this is so, then 21 Aug 05 will certainly be one of those moments in my life. It was the day when my canoe polo team, Blackstorm, realized its dream of capturing the mens open title in the National Canoe Polo Championships 2005, after years of struggling just to keep our heads above the water to match up with other teams, as well as to match up to our own goals and expectation of our team mates. As my fellow teammate aptly describes our Blackstorm story, “The story of David vs Goliath…….”


This chapter in my life began in the year 2001 when a motley, rag tag bunch of NUS freshies were recruited into what seems to be a relatively new and untested sport of canoe-polo in NUS. By the end of 2001, a group of 8 were finally selected to form the junior team of NUS canoe-polo and I was part of them. We christened the name “Blackstorm” when asked whether we had a name for our team, partly to look and sound “Gi lat”, and partly because we couldn’t think of any other name. The picture below sums up how blackstormers went about their daily business during training sessions….

Fortunately, we had a terrific bunch of seniors (called Redtide) who were not only committed to the sport but also naturally talented in this sport. They were our inspirations and we always looked forward to play matches with them. Naturally, they easily dominated the canoe polo scene in Singapore and were the title holders during our junior years. Our only consolation was we managed, by sheer will, to win the existing senior gals team (who happens to be terrific players also), by a narrow margin on several occasions. Encouraged by the playing styles of our seniors, Blackstorm managed to clinch a credible 4th in the Canoe-polo championships during the 2001-2002 season.


During the subsequent 2 years, the original group of 8 was split up to form other combination of NUS teams. During the same 2 years, the level of play in the local scene improved tremendously, especially with the emergence of the Rookies (a team from Singapore Poly) as well as the National Team. Blackstorm hit its lowest point during the 2003-2004 season when we completely lost to the SP teams. It was very disheartening to train so hard only to lose out during the crucial games. From then on, putting our other concerns and commitments aside, we then sat down and resolved to win the title as blackstorm the next season and to end our last year in canoe polo with a bang.

The following year was beset with problems with commitment, lost of focus, training attendance and so on. It came to a point where we lost hope not only with our initial goal but with each other as a teammate as well. It came to a point where we were even scolding & arguing with each other during games. It was one of the most frustrating moments during our 4 years.

The wake-up call came during our first match of the group stage during the 2005 national canoe polo championships where we nearly lost the match, managing only a mere draw where we could have won. From then on, we decided not to screw & pin point on each others mistakes but to encourage and cover up for each other instead. Canoe-polo, we decided, is not about winning and getting 1st, it was for the love of the sport. It was about the friendship and the memories spent with each other as friends on and off the pool. It was about encouraging each other when we are down and helping out each other when hope is lost. We decided that blackstorm will enjoy the remaining few matches of her canoe polo career.

The crucial game came during the semi-finals when Blackstorm was pitted against the Rookies-one of the strongest team in the competition comprising of many national team players inside. Both teams have met in many previous encounters and we were both arch enemies most of the time. Though the Rookies were undeniably stronger in their shooting ability and technical boat skills, Blackstorm, as the underdogs, managed to squeeze a 4-3 victory through teamwork and sheer desire to win. The picture below sums up our feelings after the match. It was really tears of joy……

Next came the finals and ironically, our opponents were Redtide – the very same bunch of seniors who taught us all we knew about canoe polo during our junior years. They were our mentors and our inspirations and now in a twist of fate, they are our opponents and obstacle towards fulfilling our dreams. It was a game of experience & tactics (Redtide) vs fitness & teamwork (Blackstorm). The match went into extra time due to a 1-1 draw. The extra time was a nerve wrecking moment to everyone playing on the pool. Blackstorm’s moment of truth came when Kwan Ho scored the decisive goal during the extra time to win the match. Our 4-year long dream was now fulfilled. The rest was history…….




Lessons I have learnt………

1) In life, our goal is not about winning, being 1st or earning the most money, but it is the journey towards our goals that moulds a person’s character. Take time off and enjoy the journey….

2) As long as you deal with people, teamwork is important in whatever you do. Never underestimate the power of it.

3) In life, nothing is certain until the final whistle is blown – Do not rest on your laurels….

4) Only when you thread though the deepest of valleys will you appreciate the sweet victory of accomplishment when you are at the peak of the highest mountains.