Interview: Singapore Women in the London Olympics 2012
Helena Wong (weightlifting), Dipna Lim Prasad (hurdles) and Geraldine Lim (canoeing) are all in London flying the red and white flag. Terry Ong spoke to them before they flew off.
Tell us about your training sessions.
Helena Wong: I train up to six times a week. Prior to the run-up of a major competition, I would train up to twice a day.
Dipna Lim Prasad: I train six days a week. My training programs are a mix of track and gym workouts. I also practice hurdling every single training session.
Geraldine Lim: I train 11 sessions a week and have recently returned from a three-week training camp in Hungary.
How would you rate your chances at the games?
Wong: My current personal (combined) best stands at 153 kg. The current world record for women’s 53 kg stands at 230kg; set by China’s Li Ping in 2010. It’s a long shot for me to get to the Olympics podium, but I am not relenting or giving up.
Prasad: It’s important to not pressure yourself at any competition. I’ve been training hard and through breaking the 100m hurdles national record, I hope my time at the games will reflect that.
Lim: I think the chances of me getting past the heats into the semi-finals are pretty slim. However, I will do my very best. It’d be a bonus if I proceed to the next round.
What can we do to improve our overall rankings?
Wong: The sport has been seeing more participation from a broad spectrum of enthusiasts, from students, PMEBs and even professionals. What’s even more encouraging is the weightlifters are getting younger.
Prasad: On an individual basis: through hard work, discipline and doing all that with heart.
Lim: I hope we can increase the culture in Singapore in a way that sports can become a part of everyone’s life from an early age.
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