Submitted by Vivek Negi, Co-Chair of the Sports Club
Date: 8th November 2014
Activity Organizers: – Nanyang MBA Sports Club (Vivek and Aditya)
Participants: 13 MBA (Full-time and Part-time), 3 Exchange Students, 1 MBA (Part-time previous batch)
Venue: Sport & Recreation Centre
Games: Tennis, Futsal, Slackline
After finishing our poster presentations for one of our elective courses during recess week, the Nanyang MBA cohort was full of energy and went to play sports at the school’s S&RC.
We started the sports afternoon with tennis. Boon Huei was providing expert help to novices like Anand who soon found that the tennis ball was too small to play with.
While some were enjoying tennis under the sun, a group shifted to the futsal court. It was great fun to play in a small court but soon people started feeling drained as the energy and intensity of the game was immense. Even though there was shade, the heat and humidity was high. We took frequent breaks to rehydrate ourselves.
Finally the heat and humidity took its toll and we packed up. Some left to cool down in the swimming pool while the adventurous ones stayed behind to experience slacklining thanks to Herve. It was fun to watch someone on slackline trying to maintain balance. It looked as if the person was swimming, dancing, making tai chi poses in air.
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Submitted by Sharan Grover, Co-Chair of the Technology Consulting Club
On 13th Sep 2014, the Graduate Student Council organized a bowling competition at Chevron, Jurong East. The Nanyang MBA sports club brought it to the MBA students, who greeted it with a fair amount of enthusiasm.
Some of us were looking to win the competition, while others just went for fun.
However, as soon as the whistle blew for the games to begin, the hidden bowler inside each one of us woke up, with everyone looking to better the rest. Some of us got too involved in the game, getting quite emotional on not being able to win their individual group at least, if not the contest.
The camaraderie and bonding that sports brings with it was quite evident, as everyone enjoyed themselves, with even those who were hugely disappointed at not winning, joining in the fun and frolic that followed.
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After getting our brains fried by overdose of case studies, our MBA class was looking forward to a stress buster day at Pulau Ubin Island. We reached Changi Point Ferry Terminal (different from Changi Ferry Terminal and due to this confusion one of our mates had some trouble reaching the place). It was a very different place from the Singapore we know of; no big buildings, not much traffic and life seemed to be going at a leisurely pace.
We had breakfast at Changi village while waiting for friends who commuted on their own. There was a lot of hustle bustle at the ferry terminal with people carrying angling equipment, bicycles to enjoy the Sunday in the lap of nature. After a 10-minute bumboat ride, we stepped onto Pulau Ubin Island. The bumboat was shaky while it was parked at the jetty, making it a minor adventure to jump off the boat and the guys (almost all nationalities) took this opportunity to show off their machismo by avoiding a helping hand 😉
On the island we were greeted by stray dogs which reminded me of my home in India. We turned right from the jetty and walked up to the Celestial Ubin Beach Resort. After formalities and some photo taking, we jumped onto the Kayaks (there were single and double Kayaks). We paddled hard and raced against each other. Our Student Exco President, Mathew, parked his kayak near a rock to take pictures. It was a cheeky moment as after happily posing for pictures, the others stole his Kayak leaving him stranded, asking for a lift. Next we wandered towards the mangroves and it was great fun attacking each other and having water wars. It was great to see our usually calm Japanese friend transforming into mischief-monger.
After kayaking, we took a shower and then went for lunch. It was fun when girls started showing off their sun tan but the fun was ruined when guys joined in 😛 As the majority of people wanted to head back, we decided to skip cycling/fish spa.
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Submitted by Reina Wong, Student Exco VP Communications
The Nanyang MBA participated in the Yellow Ribbon Prison Run held on 14 Sep 2014. Students and alumni have been highly encouraged to join this event, and we have been a regular participant for the past few years.
The run started at the SAF Open Field near Changi Village and ended at the Changi Prison Complex. There were two categories, namely the 10km Competitive Run and the 6km Fun Run. We proudly participated in the run in our Nanyang MBA t-shirts.
At the finishing point, a carnival was set up and we enjoyed several activities such as performances by inmates, foot massage, photo-taking and there was even a selfie challenge.
The Yellow Ribbon Prison Run aims to create awareness of giving second chance to ex-offenders, to generate acceptance of them into the community and to support their rehabilitation and re-integration into the community. The theme for this year’s run is “The Road to Acceptance”. For more information, visit their website here. You can also read about the news coverage here.
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The Credit Suisse Asian MBA Football Tournament is a prestigious tournament that pits MBA teams from Asia’s top business schools. Held yearly, and organized by HKUST’s MBA students, the 2013 tourney featured 10 teams -.HKUST has three (3) teams, (HKUST International students, HKUST, HKUST Alumni, CEIBS, Nanyang (NTU), NUS, Chicago Booth, Tsinghua, Chinese University of Hong Kong, and the major sponsor, Credit Suisse.
This is the 3rd year that Nanyang MBA is participating. Our multi-national team comprise of players w from Lebanon, Singapore, Canada, Austria, Germany, Pakistan, India and Singapore. The participating teams were divided into two groups of five teams- and two games were played simultaneously in courts next to each other. The top two teams from each group will qualify to the semi-finals of the Gold Cup, the two runners up teams from each group will then qualify to the semi-finals of the Silver Cup, and the last team from each group will play out a consolation game called the “Best of the Rest”.
Our first game was against CEIBS and it was one of the opening games of the group stage. As expected, excitement and nervousness was evident on the field from both teams. However that did not stop us from playing what we like most: attacking football from the second the referee blows his first whistle till the end of the match. We pressed towards our opponent’s goal when they had the ball and pressured our opponents when they had the possession. We managed to score a goal. Jad’s deflected shot from outside the goal area went in – 1-0, Nanyang take the lead. During the match two penalty shouts against CEIBS went unanswered by a very incompetent referee who caused more tension on the field between the two teams. However, CEIBS were able to tie the game, as they stole a point game by scoring a goal towards the dying minutes of the game. The game eventually ended in a draw- 1-1. A good start!
Waiting for our next game, we watched and observed our other opponent’s game very carefully. Our second match was against Tsinghua (from China) who played a counter-attacking style with wingers who boast good pace and skills. Our defense was rock-solid as we thwarted successfully any of their counter-attacks. Our team, however, was not able to find the net as well and the game ended 0-0. We haven’t loss a game still; nor have we won one yet!
Our third game was against Chicago Booth (from Singapore). Both teams were fighting hard for a win but this time, the referee issued many badly judged calls and his lack of discipline on the field nearly caused injuries. Chicago Booth took a surprise lead at the first half of the match but with our never-say die spirit, we fought on with Joshua scoring a goal to tie the game at 1-1. So far, 3 draws.
Our final group game was against NUS (from Singapore) and we needed to win to qualify for the semi-finals of the gold cup- if another draw or loss, it will put us in the silver cup playoffs. The game ended 0-0 with both teams hesitant to making mistakes on the field – we did have a couple of good attempts that were not converted into goals.
Thus we ended up in the silver cup semi-finals to face HKUST Alumni. With fatigue starting to show on some of us as we ran tirelessly over 20 minutes per game on a large field with relatively smaller goals; the task to win one game seems to loom a lot bigger as we hoped for a lucky break. This time, we used other players who have not played much during the initial games; and yes, some of us were physically tired to continue to play on. With both teams battling it out, the result ended in HKUST Alumni’s favor 1-0 in spite of the several chances we had to draw the score level.
Over-all , our team enjoyed our brief Hong Kong, experience especially the football tournament – we gained more international and cultural experience on a physical, emotional, and mental level. “I think we gained a lot from this experience, and will recommend to continue participation in this wonderful tournament “, said Daniel.
On a final note, on behalf of the Nanyang MBA Football team, we would like to thank from the bottom of our hearts, our kind-hearted donors and supporters, who believed and supported their fellow students in this worthy undertaking.
My life while taking the MBA at Nanyang is both busy and hectic. It is always nice to find time to take care of one’s health. A short run or walk can make a lot of difference. I can run and walk while immersing myself in the lush greenery of Nanyang’s campus.
How about taking care of our health (by running) while at the same time contributing to a good cause? That’s the reason my peers and I signed up for the Terry Fox Run 2013 at the scenic coastline park, East Coast Parkway.
The Terry Fox Run is the world’s largest one-day fundraiser for cancer research organized by the Canadian association of Singapore in conjunction with Singapore Cancer Society (SCS). The annual event in Singapore is held in honor of Terry Fox, the one legged amputee cancer victim who embarked on a cross-Canada run to raise funds and create awareness for cancer research.
Our group of 10 woke up as early as 6 a.m. as we were too eager to embark on our run which started at 8 a.m. We had chosen the 10 km run instead of the 5 km run as we did not find it challenging enough. It was a great way to shed off the pounds gained during our holiday break while at the same time help raise funds for the Singapore Cancer Society research program. Without prior preparations and practice round, all 10 of us still managed to complete the 10km run. Hooray!
It was a challenging yet fulfilling day. Thanks to the Corporate Social Responsibility Club for organizing the registration and transportation of the participants.
By Shilpa Ramesh Vaswani, Indian, Intake Class of 2012
As I walked alongside the lush foliage across campus and felt the soothing evening breeze of Singapore refreshing me with its gentle blow, I thought to myself, “Where did the first trimester go!” I was headed to the gym, after an intense two week span of mid-terms, to debit my much deserved leisure and credit my study time liability for later (let’s blame that random analogy to the mid-terms)!
A dig in the soccer pit with the women’s varsity football team as amazing as it was intense. It brought back so many memories (I love football!) and I loved the fact that the team is open to integrate with passionate football lovers and not just ‘professionals’! With all due love for the affiliation to the team, I couldn’t wait to hit the treadmill and make use of the amazing gymnasium equipment. The Sports and Recreation Center (SRC) offers a football arena, a synthetic track field, tennis courts, indoor as well as outdoor basketball and badminton courts, a refreshing pool and two remarkable gymnasiums. The walk towards the place is refreshing in itself; watching individuals play their hearts out, and realizing how an effortless drag to the SRC and a little bit of sports, can be such a radiantly enhancing experience on campus! I stopped by to grab a Gatorade at the much revered 24 hour convenience store in the area (how cool is our campus)!
I got digressed from my walk towards the gym, and got pulled towards the basketball court. I had the opportunity to watch and somehow experience the NTU women’s basketball team in full action, who stood victorious as they literally thrashed the opposing team with their consistent rain of shots made. I almost felt like I bled NTU and was so proud of the series of 3-pointers that shot up OUR score!
After much digression, I finally hit the treadmill – upbeat, with an electrifying bhangra, (a popular lively fusion of traditional North Indian Punjabi and Western pop, hip-hop, house and reggae music), playlist on my shuffle, de-stressed, rejuvenated, fulfilled, content, and liberated… Bhangra is always great for an energetic exercise regimen. The sports streak in me was alive again and I don’t think the NTU SRC amenities will let it fade. As I ran at a speed of 10.2, I watched my neighbor running at least 15 and thought to myself, ‘This is risky but will definitely yield a high return in terms of calories burnt and less guilt while munching on French fries’ – I’m telling you, it’s the mid-terms!
by Ng Wei Fang, Singaporean, Nanyang MBA Participant, Intake 2011
Engaging in sports is one of the many venues to foster team spirit and camaraderie, and often times it brings out the best in people – to become leaders, team players and great supporters in a ‘more fun way’. That is why we recently had our first bowling event where we had all the ingredients we want in a sports activity – getting fit, having fun and fostering team spirit and camaraderie with not only with our MBA peers, but also with the MBA Office staff.
Our batch’s first ever organized ‘friendly bowling’ tournament was held last September at the Orchid Bowl at The Chevrons, a vibrant and relaxing bowling facility located in the west side of Singapore. There were over 50 MBA participants from our batch (new cohort) and outgoing batches, together with members of the MBA Office who participated and shared the fun with each other
As The NANYANG MBA prides itself with its student diversity (well, we have 18 nationalities in our current cohort!) and how we work together as a team, we were divided into 8 groups that consist of a mix of at least 2 nationalities. Our teamwork came into play in a different setting – bowling! As our Thai classmate Chaweewan puts it, “The bowling session creates unity within the cohort. We get to enjoy each other’s company and get to know each other better. It also creates a good opportunity for the full-time MBA students to meet with our part-time classmates.”
As the games progressed, we witnessed strikes, spares and splits. We screamed and cheered, even if the ball rolled into the gutter. Curved balls, dead balls and even gutter balls – you name it, we have done it. And the way these balls were thrown, add up to the excitement and anticipation whether we could make a strike or just hit the plain gutter. In fact, there were many tries that went down the drain. Nevertheless, we had fun, and our resilience to be the best in what we can do in bowling, just shows that we strive to beat the odds, in whatever we do. And I believe that this makes us Nanyang MBA students to be more successful later in life.
Author: Andrew Humphreys, VP for Social and Sports, Student ExCo 2011
What started as a friendly warm up among thirty MBA students turned into a healthy competition of strikes and spares between teams of three!
Bowling between the MBA students! It was exciting to watch, many of us just couldn’t sit down.
Though we didn’t know when our competitive spirits kicked in, we were all in the same frequency through out the competition.
The teams displayed their skills, and gusto. Sure, some were better than others but from where I was standing, we all had an equal share of fun! Esmond and Tai took down bragging rights as the top male and female bowlers of the day. This gave their teams crucial advantages in the competition and they played a really good game.
I think, even if you weren’t playing, it would still be pretty interesting to watch. For example, Rob, “Mr Consistency” actually scored 132 in all the three games he played. I am not entirely sure of how he managed but the coincidence in itself earned him the name.
Nino claimed the title of “Mr High-Score” because he scored 161 in his second game and was undefeated for the rest of the day.
To the thirty of us who went, it’s been great fun and I do look forward to doing this sometime soon again. This time, maybe I’ll claim one of those titles and keep it for myself!
Looking at this photograph will probably always succeed in making me smile. After all, we made it to the semi-finals as a team this year!
HKUST hosted other football teams from INSEAD, CEIBS, HKU, HKCU in this rough but thoroughly enjoyable one-day tournament. Our team was drawn in a group with HKUST Team 2, HKUST Alumni and HKU where our very own Italian stallion Henri Allegra scored 2 goals to take us into the semi-finals.
However, having the smallest team of only 9 players took its toll on us. Henri, Alexander, Gabriel, Andrew, Vincent, Benny, John and Rob – we all just had each other to lean on against some very skilled players. We really were at a disadvantage.
We lost to match the eventual champions, INSEAD. Still, we don’t walk away from this experience disheartened. We’re far from that, actually. The team showed great sportsmanship despite injuries and the rain. There really wasn’t room for defeat anyway, because at the after-party, everyone felt like a winner. We went to Republic, a posh club in Hong Kong’s Lan Kwai Fung district, a generous treat by the host!
After all that hard work and good play, we were sore everywhere by the end of the trip. We still find the experience worth it though. It was great fun to compete and at the same time, we got to network with other MBA students of different nationalities.
The best part was getting to bond with each other and functioning as a team. I really feel like we did win a great prize and we’re walking away with it. This prize, to me, is invaluable. This event led me to meeting some great individuals indeed, and I relished every step of the way.
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