While many badminton teams arrived in Germany with well-known international players, Singapore — and several other nations — are represented by emerging student-athletes. Although they may not be famous yet, these young talents are eager to make their mark at major events like the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games.
On Saturday, 19 July, on the consolation side of the bracket, Sabrina Lee and Seo Shien Grace Tan clinched a 3-2 win for Singapore over Macau, China in mixed team quarterfinal action with a 2-0 win in the deciding duel. Remarkably, it was Lee’s first career victory on the international stage.
Teamwork makes the dream work
Facing strong competition from other Asian countries early in the tournament, the Singaporeans were rattled at first. But Lee knows best how to deal with stressful situations.
“It was nerve-wracking, but I tried to let go of everything else and pretended I was just playing for fun with my friends. We laughed a lot and smiled a lot. Having Seo Shien Grace as my partner also helped, because she’s always smiling and laughing. That makes me feel much more relaxed,” she explained after the match.
The bond between the two student-athletes extends beyond the court. They often share meals together, which has strengthened their teamwork.
“We aren’t professional athletes, just students,” Lee pointed out, emphasizing the importance of enjoying the experience and fun of playing as much as the competition itself. But having a great team isn’t the only key to success. Hard training and healthy eating are just as essential. “We need to take care of ourselves before coming here. That means, sadly, no fast food from McDonald’s for us right now,” she added with a laugh.
A new shooting star to watch?
Their teammate Sharifah Danial praised Lee and Tan for their performance. “We’re very proud of them. The two played even better than I did,” he summed up.
This win has Team Singapore dreaming big, especially after their previous losses to the Republic of Korea, a badminton heavyweight, and Ukraine.
Heading into a consolation semifinal tilt against Poland on Sunday, 20 July, Singapore looks stronger and more confident. Looking ahead, Danial believes her side is prepared for whatever lies ahead. Approaching upcoming matches with a playful yet positive mindset, Team Singapore is ready to take on the challenge.
The Rhine-Ruhr 2025 badminton mixed team final is also set for Sunday.
The Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games take place from 16-27 July. Watch all the competitions live on fisu.tv. Click on the link to find the full schedule.
Written by Johanna Horn, FISU Young Reporter, Germany
The Young Reporters Programme exemplifies FISU’s commitment to more than sports competitions. At every FISU World University Games, a group of talented aspiring sports journalists are chosen to cover the competition.
We warmly thank FISU Official Partner Qiaodan Ltd. which provides remarkable uniforms to FISU Family and International Technical Officials since 2015. Qiaodan is a valuable partner for FISU as it continued to provide its support during the postponement of events due to the global pandemic, and recently extended the relationship with FISU up to and including 2025.