Singaporeans participate in a wide variety of sports for recreation as well as for competition. Popular sports include Supercar Motorsports, football, basketball, cricket, rugby union, swimming, badminton, and cycling. Most people live in public residential areas that often provide amenities including swimming pools, outdoor basketball courts as well as indoor sport centres which provide facilities for badminton, squash, table tennis, american football, gymnastics, indoor basketball and volleyball, among others.
Living on an island surrounded by the ocean, the people also enjoy many water activities including sailing, kayaking and waterskiing. There is also a number of avid recreational scuba divers, a prominent diving spot being the southern island Pulau Hantu, known for its coral reefs.
Association football is arguably the most popular spectator sport. Singapore has its own professional football league, known as the S.League. Launched in 1996, the league now consists of 10 teams competing with each other in stadiums around the country. In 1998, 2004, 2007 and 2012 the Singapore national football team became the champion of the Tiger Cup, the premier football competition in South-East Asia.
While not a major sporting power, Singapore's athletes have performed well in regional as well as international competitions, especially in table tennis, badminton, sepak takraw, bowling, sailing, silat, swimming and water polo. To date, Singapore has won two Olympic silver medals, one at the 1960 Rome Summer Olympics by weightlifter Tan Howe Liang and the other at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics in the women's double table tennis by Singapore players Li Jiawei, Feng Tianwei and Wang Yuegu. The country has come close thrice (all in women's single table-tennis, fourth-place finishes in 2000, 2004 and 2008). In the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, Singapore won 5 gold, 2 silver, and 10 bronze medals.
Favourite Singaporean sports include outdoor sports such as football, basketball, cricket, swimming, sailing and various indoor sports such as table tennis and badminton. Most Singaporeans live in public residential areas with amenities such as public swimming pools, outdoor basketball courts and indoor sport complexes nearby. As might be expected on an island, water sports such as sailing, kayaking and water skiing are popular. Scuba diving is another recreation, particularly around the southern island of Pulau Hantu which is known for its rich coral reefs.
Singapore has its own football (soccer) league, the S-League, formed in 1994, currently comprising 12 clubs including foreign teams. Other foreign clubs are interested in joining. The Singapore Slingers joined the Australian National Basketball League in 2006, which they left in 2008. They are one of the inaugural teams in the ASEAN Basketball League founded in October 2009. Beginning in 2008, Singapore started hosting a round of the Formula One World Championship. The race was staged at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in the Marina Bay area and became the first night race on the F1 calendar and the first street circuit in Asia.
The Government of Singapore sanctions a variety of sports-based programs for Singapore's education system in addition to normal physical education. The National Physical Fitness Award (NAPFA) was introduced in 1982, a scheme which requires the mandatory participation of all students within primary and secondary education. The scheme gives awards for a variety of physical tests for endurance, cardiovascular fitness and strength, including a medium-distance run of 1.6 or 2.4 kilometres for primary and secondary students respectively, and the results are reflected in each student's report book. As such, although gaining an award is not mandatory, students are often pressured to do so.
In addition, the government sponsors the Singapore Sports School which opened on 2 April 2004, combining a secondary school curriculum with professional training in each student's preferred sport, in an attempt to nurture future generations of sportsmen and sportswomen. The concept behind the Sports School is that sporting talent should not be compromised when striving for academic excellence.
On 21 February 2008 the International Olympic Committee announced that Singapore won the bid to host the inaugural 2010 Summer Youth Olympics. Singapore beat Moscow in the final by 53 votes to 44. On 15 September 2010, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports Teo Ser Luck announced that Singapore will start off the Singapore Biennale Games initiative to keep up the Singapore Youth Olympic Games 2010 Legacy, to be held every 2 years, starting from year 2011.
Rugby was introduced to the British colony of Singapore in the late nineteenth century. It has had a steady presence since the beginning of the 20th century, when the Malay Cup between Singapore national rugby union team and Malaya was established, which is one of the oldest rugby competitions in the world.
For the 2019 Rugby World Cup, which is to be hosted in Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong will be hosting five RWC matches of their own. The Singapore Sports Hub, the successor to the National Stadium, with a capacity of 50,000, will be hosting some of the matches.
Li Li2002, Gold, Commonwealth Games in Manchester, Women's SinglesRonald Susilo2004, Gold, Japan Open singlesWong Peng Soon1950, 1951, 1952, 1955, Champion, All-England CupSingapore national basketball teamASEAN Basketball Championship2001-Bronze Medal2013-Bronze MedalSingapore SlingersIn 2006, they were the first and only Asian team that was ever given permission to play in Australia's NBL. They finished the 2006–07 NBL season with a 13-20 record.Bodybuilding
Joan Liew Lee Ting2011, 1st place, NPC Tournament of Champions held in USA2010, 2nd place, NPC Tournament of Champions held in USA2009, 1st place, Multi Asian Championships (over 52 kg)2006, 1st place, Asian Women's Open Invitational Championships in Singapore (Welterweight)2006, Guest posing at Singapore Bodybuilding Championships in Singapore2002, Gold, Asian Women's bodybuilding Championships in China2001, Guest posing at Singapore Bodybuilding Championships in Singapore2001, 7th place, 6th World Games in Japan (over 52 kg)2000, Gold, Asian Bodybuilding ChampionshipsAbdul Halim bin Haron2000, Bronze, Asian Championship, welterweight (75 kg)2002, Gold, Asian Games in Busan, bantamweight (65 kg)Azman bin Abdullah1993, Gold, IOC-sanctioned World Games Bodybuilding Championships, middleweight1993, Gold, World Bodybuilding Championships, middleweight3-time Mr AsiaSimon Chua2002, Gold, Asian Games in Busan, welterweight (75 kg)2002, Gold, Commonwealth Bodybuilding Championships in Calcutta, welterweight (75 kg)2003, Bronze, commonwealth bodybilding champsAdelene Wee Chin Suan1985, won 3 Golds at Asian FIQ Youth Championships, in Singles, Masters, and Team1985, won Ladies Masters champion, World FIQ Championship in LondonJesmine Ho2001, Masters Champion, World Bowling Masters Championship in Abu DhabiJennifer Tan2002, Masters Champion, World Bowling Masters Championship in DenmarkRemy Ong2002, won 3 Golds, Asian Games in Busan, Single, Trios, and MastersIgnatius LeongLian Ann TanPeter Gilchrist1994, WPBSA World Champion2001, WPBSA World Champion2009, Gold Medalist, English Billiards (Singles), SEA GamesWorld Record for highest billiard break at 1346In 2005, the Singaporean team won the Asian Netball Championship with a win over the Malaysian team with a score of 53–39 at the Finals.
Benedict Tan1994, Gold, Asian Games in Hiroshima, Laser class1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, Won Laser Gold in SEA gamesJoan Huang and Naomi Tan1998, Gold, Asian Games, Ladies International 420 ClassSiew Shaw Her and Colin Ng1998, Gold, Asian Games, Men's International 420 ClassTeo Wee Chin and Terence Koh2005, Gold, Youth Sailing World Championship, Busan, 420 classSarah Tan and Lim Tze Ting2008, Gold, Asian Games, Women's International 420 ClassSheik Alauddin1990, Gold, World Silat Championships in the Netherlands, 80–85 kg1994, Gold, World Silat Championships in Thailand, Men's OpenMuhammad Shakir Bin Juanda2012, World Pencak Silat Championships in the Class-I (85–90 kg) category2016, World Pencak Silat Championships in the Class-I (85–90 kg) categorySheik Farhan2015, World Pencak Silat Championships in the Class-J (90-95 kg) category2016, World Pencak Silat Championships in the Class-J (90-95 kg) categorySingapore LionsMalaysia Cup24 times ChampionSingapore national football teamASEAN Football Championship1998-Champions2004-Champions2007-Champions2012-ChampionsFandi Ahmad1983–1985, Played for FC Groningen. Scored in a shock 2–0 against Inter Milan. In 1999, was voted one of the best 25 players ever to play for FC Groningen, earning him a place in the club's Hall of Fame. In 2003, he was named in the club's best eleven of the twentieth century.1988, Golden Boot Award, Malaysia CupV. SundramoorthyPlayed at FC Basel for SwitzerlandAdam SwandiPlayed at French division 3 team FC MetzSafuwan BaharudinPlayed at Australia top division team Melbourne CityCHENG Zhi Min2015, Bronze, Malaysia Port Dickson Open Triples in Port Dickson, Malaysia2015, Bronze, 2nd South-East Asia Petanque Association (SEAPA) Championship Phnom Penh, CambodiaGOH Wee Teck2015, Bronze, Malaysia Port Dickson Open Triples in Port Dickson, Malaysia2015, Bronze, 2nd South-East Asia Petanque Association (SEAPA) Championship Phnom Penh, CambodiaShanti Prakash UPADHAYAY2015, Bronze, Malaysia Port Dickson Open Triples in Port Dickson, Malaysia2015, Bronze, 2nd South-East Asia Petanque Association (SEAPA) Championship Phnom Penh, CambodiaAng Peng Siong1982, Gold, US swimming Championships, 50 m freestyle, with 22.69 s, fastest time in 19821982, Gold, Asian Games in New Delhi, 100 m freestyle1990, Silver, Asian Games, 50 m freestyleNeo Chwee Kok1951, won 4 Golds, Asian Games in New Delhi, 1500 m, 400 m, 800 m freestyle, 4 × 100 m relayJunie Sng Poh Leng1978, won 2 Golds, Asian Games, 400 m freestyle, 800 m freestyle, breaking Asian Games record in both eventsJoscelin Yeo1993, won 9 Golds, 1 Silver, Southeast Asia Games1994, won 1 Bronze, Asian Games, 100 m fly1995, won 7 Golds, 2 Silvers, Southeast Asia Games1997, won 3 Golds, 1 Silver, 2 Bronzes, Southeast Asia Games1999, won 6 Golds, 2 Silvers, 1 Bronze, Southeast Asia Games2000, member of world-record setting and NCAA Championships, 200 m medley relay, with teammates from University of California2001, won 3 Golds, 4 Silvers, Southeast Asia Games,2002, won 1 Bronze, Asian Games in Busan, 100 m fly2003, won 4 Golds, 1 Silver, Southeast Asia Games,Thum Ping TjinSwam across the English Channel in August 2005.Tao Li2005, won 3 Golds and 1 Bronze, 23rd Southeast Asian Games2006, won 1 Gold and 1 Bronze at the 2006 Asian Games, another 1 Gold and 1 Bronze at Milo Asia Swimming Championships2007, won 4 Golds, 24th Southeast Asian Games2008, made it into the finals for the 100m butterfly event at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, set two Asian records and the national record in the process, became the eighth fastest butterfly swimmer in the world and the first Singaporean swimmer to enter an Olympic final.Joseph Schooling2016, won Gold for the 100m butterfly event at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de JaneiroLi Jiawei2001, Won 4 Golds, Commonwealth Championships in New DelhiWoman's Singles,Woman's Double, with Jing Junhongmixed doubles, with Duan YongjunWomen's Team Champion2002, Won 3 Golds, Commonwealth Championships,Woman's Double, with Jing Junhongmixed doubles, with Duan YongjunWomen's Team Champion2003, Won US Open2004, Won US OpenJing Junhong2001, Win 2 Golds, Commonwealth Championships, New DelhiWoman's Double, with Li JiaweiWomen's Team Champion2002, Won 2 Golds, Commonwealth Championships,woman's Double, with Li JiaweiWomen's Team ChampionDuan Yongjun2001, Gold, Commonwealth Championships, mixed doubles, with Li Jiawei2002, Gold, Commonwealth Championships, mixed doubles, with Li JiaweiFeng TianweiWang YueguTrack and field
Chee Swee Lee1974, Gold, Asian Games, 400 mNg Liang Chiang1951, Gold, Asian Games in New Delhi, 110 m hurdlesChua Phung Kim1962, Gold, Commonwealth Games, bantamweight1970, Silver, Commonwealth Games, bantamweightTan Howe Liang1958, Gold, Asian Games in Tokyo1958, Gold, commonwealth Games, lightweight1960, Silver, Summer Olympic Games in Rome, lightweight1962, Gold, commonwealth Games, middleweightVincent Ng1995, Gold, World Wushu Championships in Baltimore, United States
