2019 Singapore National Games - Part 2

"TBAC Territory"

Team Rogue Archers: Samo, Isaac, and Jeremy

Since Barebow was contested as a team event, the Teluk Belangah Archery Club or "TBAC" in short, has been dominant. They eliminate all their competitors and came up top 3 in the event. For them, it's a clean sweep through and through.
To throw them off the track, Jeremy had waited till the last minute to register our team. I pitched the name "Rogue Archers" which the guys had well received.
The TBAC guys never saw this coming and after day one, we came up tops in our group. While the dominant TBAC archers who formed a great team was numero uno in their own terms. 

Getting ready for the K-O rounds on day 2...

On the elimination rounds, we met the more laidback guys from TBAC consisting of Uncle Tan Tock Seng, Toon Wee, and another old-timer. I met Uncle Tan and Toon at the Sungai Lembing 3D shoot. So, this was a small reunion.
The first game was "easy" as we eliminated the "fun" guys from TBAC.
This was followed by a break before we met the "next generation" archers from TBAC called "Bersatu".

Taking my shot at the finals...

Teamwork at its best... 

"Bersatu" was made up of TBAC's finest young talent. Two guys and a lady made up the team. One of them, Dennis, I met him at the Thailand Princess Cup in Bangkok back in June. Turned out to be quite a decent guy.
During the K-O rounds, our lead archer Isaac had a bad release, resulting in a miss. Jeremy and I made up with some good shots.
Even with a miss, we came up with 11 points higher than our opponents. More apparent was one of the ends with all arrows in the yellow. We were relaxed, didn't lower our guard and had a great match with TBAC's younger and inexperienced team.

Completing the circle...

Our match at the finals was with TBAC's team OK.
We took them on the day before and they consist of three of TBAC's finest archers. They were Ang See Chuan, who won the 2016 Thailand Princess Cup Barebow Open, Dennis Ng and Gary Ang, one of the club's top archers.

Ending TBAC's dominance at the Singapore National Games

Thanking our fellow archers...

Jeremy put his plans into action. He picked Isaac as his running mate and added the final touch with me as the "mystery archer" in the team.
It was psychology warfare with Jeremy keeping the opponents guessing, much to the dislike of some folks. I can see the resentment on the faces of the guys that we have eliminated. But hey, it's just a game. 
We met the last team standing. All our arrows connect and when the last arrow hits the target face on the final end, I can see Jeremy raising his arms, signaling an end to years of TBAC dominance. We congratulated the second-place winners and thanked them for a good game.

receiving our medals from TBAC's coach

Mission accomplished! 

We later received our medals and small prize money. Jeremy took the celebrations with beers and hot-pot at a local restaurant. He was very happy to add another trophy and to him, it was a trifecta. Previously, he won the recurve and compound team matches. Barebow completes the Holy Trinity.
For me, it was living up to the expectations of getting the job done. I am the foreigner whom nobody gives a shit about at the game. So, that said, the Singapore National Games lent valuable experience in teamwork and cohesion in high-pressure situations. I also struck off another of my "Bucket list" which is to shoot in Singapore... 

2019 Singapore National Games - Part 1

Into the Lion's den...

Rogue Archers: Jeb, Samo, Jeremy, and Isaac

 Sometime late last year, my archery buddy from Singapore Jeremy Han had mentioned his intent to compete at a team game at the Singapore National Games.
This actually happened as I traveled to Singapore to compete with his team. 
I have never shared the shooting line with Jeremy and was introduced to Isaac Goh, a fellow teammate earlier this year when I made a trip down to Singapore.
The plan was to crash at Jeremy's home and head down to the Toa Payoh stadium for the shoot.

Logistics...

My plan was simple. Take a bus down to Singapore. This is also the first time I am bringing in archery equipment to the island republic. So, I went in prepared.
There are daily bus services to Singapore from Bandar Sunway which was perfect for me. 
For this game, I packed light and brought my trusty CD Archery WF25X bow with me.
To get past Customs, I first have to declare the equipment at the Sultan Abu Bakar CIC complex near Tanjung Kupang. This was, of course, a pain in the ass.
Next, comes the most trying part: The Singapore Customs...

In the bus, ready to roll...

My ride to the far South...

Arriving in Singapore...

I hauled my gear to the X-ray machine and handed the paperwork to the security staff.
She called a senior Customs officer and two cops. Lots of questions to answer and I was brought to a room where more screening was done. After determining that the intent to bring archery equipment into the island republic was justified, I was allowed to enter.
Thankfully, the bus was still waiting. It made its way to the HarbourFront and my buddies Jeremy and Jeb were already there.

"Annihilate with extreme prejudice..."

Fighting sleep deprivation, we had a full day ahead of us. It started with a light practice at a private range near Teluk Belangah.
Jeremy had set up a new bow which is identical to the one Isaac was using.
Prior to this, I had never shot with the guys.
I sighted in with my bow and was confident of pulling it together at the qualifying rounds on the first day of the team event.

Jeremy sighting-in his bow

Zeroing-in with my WF25X

We met the first team from the Singapore "Boy's Brigade". They came in third last year and was said to be very experienced in the game.
We have two arrows each to land on two 40cmx10ring target faces. One anchor archer with shoot an arrow each on the two faces. 
Since we have never shot as a team, Isaac decided to be the anchor while Jeremy and I took one face each.
We took the first end, the Boys Brigade equalized and the rest of the game belonged to us with an 8-2 win (with one bonus round).

The crowd in the Tao Payoh Stadium

Pep talk with Jeremy after finishing a round...

Counting scores and marking the target faces...

After a good lunch break, we took on four other teams and came up top in our group, unbeaten.
My arrows connected throughout the rounds and I was just glad to be able to do get the job done.

Inculcating good sportsmanship: Jeremy thanking our opponents for a good game...

We cleaned up the rest good including two teams from the Teluk Blangah Archery club. These are premier and seasoned Barebow archers in the island republic who have vast experience competing overseas.
My last brush with them was at Sungai Lembing at a 3D shoot...

Next: Changing mindset...

Sincerity...

The phone call... 

Just days before heading to Japan, my cellphone rang. The caller identity belonged to someone I knew from an old workplace.
"Hey, how are you?" he asked. 
"Fine," I said.
"I just called to tell you that my car club is organizing a ride in the East Coast for your late friend.
"We are leaving tonight," he continued.
"Wah, very thoughtful of you to inform me. At the last-minute," I replied.
"Ah, I just thought of you, our mutual friend is the reason why I called," he said. 
"Thanks for keeping me in your thoughts," I added.
"Yeah, you are lucky I actually remembered you...," he concluded.

My late buddy Shaharul on the far left...

The drive...

The person honored in this car jamboree was a close friend of mine, Shaharul Zain who passed away in April this year.
I knew him since Secondary school and kept in touch until he started working. 
I attended his wedding and since he had a divorce, the guy kept his distance. 
I respect people's need for space to heal.
Moving forward, I was having beers with my buddy Jeb and Coach Tan. A WhatsApp message came to inform the passing of Shaharul. 
We finished up our beers, went to a mosque in Bangsar where his last rites were performed and made it just in time before the crowd dispersed for his burial at the Kiara Muslim cemetery.
There at the burial ground, it started pouring. It was poorly-lit and I can see the last scoop of earth being poured onto the grave of my old friend.
Tears rolled down my face as that was the last time I saw my buddy being committed to the ground.
I went up to his father, Col (RTD) K.N. Zain to offer him my sympathies and deepest condolences.
He was calm and composed. Later in the night, a thanksgiving prayer was held at the late Shaharul parent's home near Lucky Gardens, Bangsar. 
Jeb and I went there to pay our respects to Shaharul's Mom and Dad.
"Hello Uncle," I introduced myself.
"Yes, I remember you. How have you been?," asked the Colonel.
"Fine, Sir," I replied.
The Colonel shared with me about Shaharul's final days.
It seems that he was doing very well and was at the peak of his career with the Malaysian Investment Bond.
I wished both parents well and went on. That was many months ago.

The caller...

The guy who rang me up tried to sell some land to the Colonel. He was a "close family friend".
Truth to be told, some guy who calls you after 13 years and informed you about a drive that is taking place on that very same day - is someone that is the least sincere.
The guy asked if I am employed. I said: "No".
"Hey, I have a website, it's a non-profit thing, you can write to "stay relevant"," he pitched.
"Nah, thank you very much. I will rather be irrelevant these days," I told the guy.

The business...

I spent nearly half my life in the media scene. Started as a photographer, changed my career as a reporter and eventually rose up the ranks to a Deputy Editor and ended my gig as a Producer.
Someone I knew said I will never make it far. Why? I don't "kiss ass".
I am a non-conformist and had never been in the "mainstream". For most of my career as a reporter, I was very fortunate to have some really good mentors.
Back in the newsroom, there were good Editors and a few great Editors.
The rest? Well, the majority of them are just dead weight. Great Editors, they take the trouble to teach you. Good ones, well, they just want to get things done and over with. And some, are just plain assholes.
The connection made with the phone call was the days in the newsroom. The guy who went for the drive was somebody who is still trying to "stay relevant". Well, good luck!