The second modern Olympic Games was a spectacular moment— it was the year female athletes finally stood on (literally) the same playing field as males. As society progresses as a whole, women play an increasingly larger role in sport, with the introduction of all-female sports such as Netball. In Hwa Chong, Wong Yuen Sum Sophia (20A14) is currently representing Hwa Chong as a part of its Netball team. 

 

An avid sportswoman, netball has been Sophia’s sanctuary for 12 years. While studies do show that female athletes are more prone to injuries, Sophia firmly believes that a woman’s body is not to blame. Instead, one should embrace the abilities and needs of their body. In the same vein, Sophia shares that she is also learning to be more patient and comfortable with her body as she takes the conscious effort to get to know herself better.  

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The Netball CCA in Hwa Chong Institution (College), like other schools, consists of a full female team. This certainly has its own benefits, Sophia says, such as the unique comfort and chemistry a full female team has. Being in a full female team  has also allowed her to be more confident and daring in trying new moves around her teammates. Regardless of gender, Sophia voices out the need to immerse ourselves in the community who love and respect the sport. While she understands that she may not be as physically strong as her peers of the opposite gender, she is not afraid to bring something new to the table. In her opinion, sportswomen should not be seen as inferior. Instead, they should use different lenses to view the style and play of female sports and male sports and focus on their respective strengths in order to see the unique plays of the same game. 

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To all the female athletes out there, “The sky is your limit [...]. You have to believe in the possibility of success more than the chances of failure […]. The sheer power of hope that you are capable of good deeds, improvement and success, can spark so much more in you.” Summing up her 12 years playing netball, she shares that “it is [her] biggest privilege and honour to be able to put that fire in [her] to use on court”. 

 

Written by: Tan Xuanmin (21S78)

Photographs: Wong Yuen Sum Sophia (20A14)

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