SINGAPORE: A few days after being introduced as a “new face” for the ruling People’s Action Party, lawyer Kawal Pal Singh has clarified that he will not be a candidate in this year’s General Election.
Mr Singh is a nephew of Inderjit Singh, who had served as a Member of Parliament for Ang Mo Kio GRC from 1996 to 2015.
Though he had been present at a PAP walkabout on April 13 at Toa Payoh West Market and Food Centre, he put to rest speculation regarding his candidacy in a social media post on Tuesday (April 15), stating definitively that he will not be contesting.
Mr Singh clarified that he is a longtime member of the PAP and understood the speculation, adding that he had been “deeply moved” by the support and encouragement he had received and was “deeply grateful” for the trust placed in him.
However, after discussing the matter with his family and his uncle, he will not be a candidate in the election.
“At this stage of my life, I want to focus on balancing my professional commitments with time for my young family. I will continue to support the PAP in other meaningful ways and remain committed to serving both the Sikh and wider Indian communities,” he added.
Many commenters on his post expressed support for Mr Singh, though some wrote that they were disappointed. Others said that he would have other chances to contest, should he choose to do so.
“While respecting your decision, I, for one, was looking forward to you adding vigour to Parliamentary debates just like your Uncle Mr Inderjit Singh. Perhaps next GE,” wrote one.
Mr Singh’s decision was reported by several media outlets.
One netizen called it a “great decision,” adding, “One needs to be loyal to themself…It shows his true character & integrity.”
“Well done. Salute him. Respect his decision!!!” wrote another.
“Tbh, respect to Kawal for putting family first. Not everything must be about politics,” a commenter chimed in.
Another observed, “Stepping forward to serve is hard. You need the full support of your family. There are expectations of public optics and little time with your loved ones. It is a hard choice. Hence my admiration for the many good men and women who serve Singapore.”
While one called Mr Singh’s choice, writing, “Wise move. Fully support putting family and serving the community first,” another wrote, “We appreciate your transparency and continued support for the PAP.”
According to his biography on LinkedIn, Mr Singh studied electrical and electronics engineering at the Institute of Technical Education before he began his law studies nearly a decade later. He is currently the managing partner at Tito Isaac & Co LLP, where he has been since 2016. The biography also identifies him as a community servant.
SINGAPORE: In the run-up to the General Election on May 3, a speech from the Workers’ Party’s Pritam Singh at the Aljunied GRC rally in 2011 has been making waves online. It appears to have impressed viewers all over again, and perhaps even gained Mr Singh some new supporters.
Mr Singh, who is now the party secretary-general and the Leader of the Opposition, was just about to make history as part of the WP team which won at Aljunied that year. It marked the first time an opposition party won a group representation constituency (GRC). The WP went on to win again at Aljunied in 2015 and 2020, and the area is now considered one of the party’s strongholds.
Though Mr Singh was only 34 years old in 2011 and contesting an election for the first time, he spoke with confidence and poise. He requested that no acts of vandalism be committed against the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) campaign materials at Aljunied — a remark which drew cheers from the crowd.
Mr Singh can be seen taking his time with his speech, and when the crowd begins to chant “Workers’ Party!”, he patiently waits for them to stop instead of speaking over the shouts.
“The Workers’ Party has been fighting for Singapore since 1957, and we plan on continuing to do so in the future…. Let us work to keep our politics civil and clean,” he said, underlining that the WP raised national issues “rationally, respectably, and responsibly”.
Addressing the youth, he said that the elections that year were not just ordinary events, but were about “changing the spirit and substance of Singapore politics…. I hope I am right that this signals a new and honorable brand of politics in Singapore, where opposition MPs and Singaporeans who support opposition parties are treated as equal citizens who are loyal to Singapore”.
He also expressed the hope that no matter who won the election that year, Singaporeans would hold the government to the highest standards of transparency and accountability.
At one point, he said, “Singapore is larger than the PAP,” which again drew loud cheers.
On Reddit, where the video was shared earlier this week, a commenter wrote, “He was a fantastic orator even at his maiden election.”
Another agreed, remarking that Mr Singh appears to have taken after his father, lawyer and district judge Amarjit Singh.
When a Reddit user remarked how young Mr Singh was at the time, another agreed, calling him “fresh-faced,” but remarking that “he already had such charisma.”
“For someone in such a stressful role, he’s certainly ageing very well,” a commenter noted.
“One of my favourite moments of him was in the video showing the Aljunied team’s reaction after winning in 2015 where everyone was celebrating while he was just standing there with a serious expression knowing that there is a lot of work to be done since they won by only a small margin and that they cannot take anything for granted, a true leader who has come so far,” one wrote.
“This feels surreal to watch and how far Singapore politics have come,” commented another. /TISG
SINGAPORE: At a press conference on Thursday (April 17), The Workers’ Party launched an initial group of candidates for the General Election on May 3.
The four candidates introduced by WP secretary-general Pritam Singh and chair Sylvia Lim are Eileen Chong Pei Shan, Siti Alia Binte Abdul Rahim Mattar, Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik, and Kenneth Tiong.
So far, the response to the new candidates has been positive, especially since one of them is a former diplomat who had served with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and another is a legal practitioner who had served with the Monetary Authority of Singapore
Moreover, the WP leaders confirmed speculations that have been made concerning where Mr Muhaimin and Mr Tiong will contest. The former will be joining the WP slate at Sengkang GRC, while the latter will be with Mr Singh and Ms Lim at Aljunied GRC.
Where Ms Chong and Ms Alia will be fielded by the WP has yet to be announced. What the public learned today about the two women concerns their background and credentials.
Ms Chong, 33, joined the WP in the latter part of 2024, participating in house visits in Bedok Reservoir and Kovan. At present, she is a volunteer caseworker at Meet-the-People Sessions in Aljunied with MP Gerald Giam.
Eileen Chong. Photo credit / The Workers’ Party
She currently works in the social impact sector at the Asia Philanthropy Circle. Her years at the MFA include a stint at the Singapore Embassy in Beijing from 2020 to 2023. While with the ministry, she covered Singapore’s bilateral ties with China, Thailand, the Philippines, and Laos.
Ms Alia, 43, also joined the WP last year and has been part of the ground team, doing house visits as well as engaging residents on concerns and feedback. She has also helped with organising Ramadan and Hari Raya activities.
Alia Mattar. Photo credit / The Workers’ Party
While she works today as a legal counsel in a multinational corporation, focusing on family and corporate litigation, from 2008 to 2016, she served in the Legal Department at the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
Mr Tiong, 36, is a tech entrepreneur. He has been the director of news intelligence platform Sensemake.ai, since 2023. As WP’s Serangoon coordinator, he has been featured by Ms Lim in her social media posts about activities in the ward. He started volunteering for the party in 2023, contributing to the policy team and assisting in East Coast, Bedok Reservoir-Punggol, as well as Serangoon, and officially became a member that year.
Kenneth Tiong/ Photo credit/ The Workers’ Party
Among the four new candidates, Mr Muhaimin has been with the WP the longest, as he started with volunteering for house visits in 2019 and went on to serve as a polling agent and counting agent for the party in GE2020. He has also been the de facto coordinator for Compassvale in Segkang GRC since February 2023, and is active within the Workers’ Party policy team.
Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik. Photo credit/ The Workers’ Party
He is also a former SCDF platoon commander and works today as a senior property manager in Aljunied-Hougang Town Council.
The initial response to the introduction of the WP’s new candidates has been positive, with one commenter calling them “people with real-world and ground experience, compared to parachuted paper generals.”
Ms Chong, in particular, has generated no small amount of interest, especially due to her previous stint at the MFA.
“Interesting, didn’t expect they managed to recruit a former MFA diplomat to stand for election, none of the news even mentioned her so far. WP could have some hidden candidates who everyone does not know yet,” a commenter observed.
A Reddit user wrote, “WP has a thing about introducing their weaker candidates first and the strongest candidates at the very end. But these are really outstanding people.”
Another chimed in with, “Wow, Pritam really has a lot of cards up his sleeve…Seems like the Leader of the Opposition is appealing to a much more diverse pool of candidates, and is looking like the leader that people want to follow.” /TISG
SINGAPORE: On Wednesday (April 16), the Workers’ Party stated in a social media post that “Constructive, rational opposition works for Singapore”, highlighting 15 of its policy proposals that have been adopted by the government in some form over the years, to the benefit of Singaporeans.
“These aren’t just policy wins for the Workers’ Party – they are wins for all of us,” the post reads.
The proposals include unemployment insurance, which the party first called for in 2006. In 2023, then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced that support for the unemployed was in the pipeline, which was further elaborated on in this year’s Budget Statement.
Temporary financial support will be made available to lower- and middle-income workers who are involuntarily unemployed. Applications for the scheme opened earlier this week.
The WP also called for anti-discrimination legislation in 2020, and some years later, the Workplace Fairness Act was passed by Parliament. Similarly, the party first brought up flexible work arrangements (FWA) in 2015, and last year, the Ministry of Manpower announced guidelines for such arrangements.
The other WP policies adopted in some form are
Shared Parental Leave,
Work Pass Credential Assessments,
Expanded the Public Rental Scheme,
Vouchers for Renting HDB Flats in the Open Market,
Shorter BTO Wait Times, Family GPs,
Protecting Scam Victims,
Widening Access to Justice,
Adjusting National Servicemen’s Pay,
Tudungs at the Workplace,
Waiving ERP Administrative Fees, and
the National Hydrogen Strategy.
More details on these policies and how they have been implemented may be found here.
“As a rational and responsible political party with elected representatives in Parliament, the Workers’ Party advances policy proposals to benefit our citizens.
“While we are not in government – and therefore not in a position to implement policy – we believe that many of our proposals do end up being adopted in some form, which ultimately benefits Singaporeans,” the WP said.
Some commenters on the WP’s post thanked the party for its proposals, but others brought up some issues that they feel should be raised in Parliament.
“Please fight for animal welfare too… we shouldn’t just focus on humans but on animals as well, “ one wrote, adding that there have recently been too many animal abuse cases.
Another agreed, writing, “Yes, please fight for animal rights too.”
One wrote, “Can we have your party advocate in parliament to impose higher fines, stricter laws on animal abusers? It’s so lax.
“Could you also help to propose reallocation SkillsFuture credit to people above 40 who are not using their $4000 credit? Younger folks are eager to spend more on self-development courses. $500 base + $500 (bonus with expiry date) is not sufficient! Yearly top-up would be great.”
One commenter wrote, “Our WP MPs currently in Parliament are no longer just opposing for the sake of being an opposition party…but have especially over the last five years. They’ve been very engaged, and hard work has been put in via many constructive debates and initiatives… The brief list of initiatives posted here is their testimonial.” /TISG
SINGAPORE: The Workers’ Party (WP) is calling for the abolition of Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs), saying Singapore has matured as a society and there is no evidence that Singaporeans vote solely along racial lines. Its election manifesto also calls for the elimination of the mayor’s office, exemption of basic food items from the Goods and Services Tax (GST), and more support for workers, including compulsory retrenchment benefits and a redundancy insurance scheme.
In the run-up to the General Election, which will be held on May 3, the Workers’ Party held a press conference at its headquarters at 701 Geylang Road on Thursday (April 17).
The WP secretary-general Pritam Singh and chair Sylvia Lim introduced four new election candidates: Kenneth Tiong, Eileen Chong, Abdul Muhaimin, and Alia Mattar.
The party also released a 122-page election manifesto, which was presented by some of its younger MPs — Aljunied GRC’s Gerald Giam. the party’s head of policy research, together with Sengkang GRC’s He Ting Ru and Jamus Lim.
The party’s policy proposals to improve the lives of Singaporeans are divided into five sections: affordability and cost of living concerns, economic growth and opportunities, inclusion and equality, accountability and democracy, and security and geopolitics. It can be read in full on the WP’s website here.
The WP has long highlighted the rising cost of living, and this is reflected in the first part of its 2025 manifesto. Its proposals include alternatives to the goods and services tax (GST) so that more revenue can be generated, as well as those concerning the affordability of housing, care, and utilities. As it has in the past, the WP is also calling for more support for workers facing job insecurity, which includes compulsory retrenchment benefits and a redundancy insurance scheme.
Regarding the GST, the WP voted against the increase implemented in 2023 and 2024, going from 7 to 9% out of concern for Singaporeans’ cost-of-living burdens. It suggests that more essential goods, including basic food items, be exempted from GST, which would help particularly middle-income households who receive less support from GST vouchers.
Under the manifesto’s accountability and democracy section, the WP called for abolishing not only the GRC scheme but also the NCMP and NMP Schemes.
“Singaporeans have matured as a society, and there is now no evidence that Singaporeans vote solely along racial lines. Continuing the Group Representation Constituency (GRC) system may unintentionally suggest that minority candidates cannot get elected on their own. This was not borne out in past elections,” says the WP manifesto. It suggests that GRCs should revert to Single-Member Constituencies (SMCs), which would ensure that every candidate is fully accountable to the voters in the constituency they manage.
If GRCs were abolished, the WP argued that there would no longer be a need for Non-Constituency MPs (NCMPs), and added that the Nominated MP (NMP) scheme should also be abolished.
“The Office of the Mayor should be abolished,” the manifesto says, contending that the assignment of mayors aligns with existing political divisions, with each handling between four and six GRCs and SMCs. The WP added that many of the roles handled by the Community Development Councils under the mayors have already gone back to other organisations, such as the Social Service Office.
“The reduced role of Mayors does not justify a salary of about $660,000 a year,” added the party.
The WP’s policy proposals appear to resonate with many online.
“I like their call to abolish mayors. Saves $3.3M a year,” wrote one Reddit user, while another called it, “A very reasonable suggestion. Our small island state does not need 5 mayors.”
A commenter opined, “GST exemption makes more sense than going back to old rates. That’s the kind of responsible opposition that we need.”
One called the manifesto “Very comprehensive and well thought out. I really hope they can get another GRC.”
Another opined, “These are the kind of sensible suggestions that I thought the PAP were at least capable of in rhetoric if not willing to implement policy-wise. But all they have to say to us is ‘sorry GST must increase’ and telling the young generation that ‘we hear you’ but not doing anything for us materially.” /TISG
MALAYSIA: The Johor government is gearing up to unveil a Green Policy aimed at accelerating its journey towards sustainability. This is in alignment with the ambitious Maju Johor 2030 agenda.
According to Bernama, the policy, which was approved during a recent Green Committee Meeting chaired by Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, outlines key targets such as the large-scale deployment of electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure and the development of renewable energy through solar farms.
State Health and Environment Committee chairman Ling Tian Soon confirmed that the policy will be tabled at the Johor State Executive Council meeting in May, with the official launch scheduled shortly after. “The Johor State Planning Division (BPEN) is preparing the paperwork to be presented. Once approved, we will launch it,” Ling told reporters during the Asia EV Motion 2025 Exclusive Media Preview on Monday.
Boosting electric mobility across the state
One of the centrepieces of Johor’s Green Policy is a push towards widespread EV adoption. The state aims to install a minimum of 1,245 EV charging stations by 2030, where each local authority is required to meet specific installation targets.
The policy is intended to make EV usage more accessible to decrease state reliance on fossil fuels, and lower carbon emissions. This means that each local council has a role to play in building this green infrastructure so that more people can take advantage of its offerings.
The policy also carves out a clear direction for renewable energy development, particularly in solar power. Several potential sites for solar farms have already been determined across Johor. The state hopes to reduce its carbon footprint while diversifying its energy source by tapping into Johor’s sunny climate.
Johor is also investing in smarter and more sustainable public transport, which includes the proposed Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) system in Johor Bahru. This advanced transport system offers a flexible solution to traffic congestion in the city by using sensor-driven vehicles that navigate virtual tracks,.
A call for private sector partnership
Recognising that such ambitious plans require broad cooperation, the Johor government is actively seeking collaboration with the private sector. Ling encouraged companies with expertise in green technology, energy and transport innovation to submit proposals that support the policy’s goals.
“We encourage the interested companies to give their suggestions so that future developments are in line with our sustainability efforts,” Ling was quoted as saying by Bernama. With a bold vision under Maju Johor 2030, supported by targeted infrastructure and smart public transport solutions, Johor is laying the groundwork for a cleaner, greener future — one that benefits both its people and the planet.
SINGAPORE: If you’re looking for the tastiest local eats in Singapore, Class 95FM’s DJ Yasminne Cheng is definitely the person to ask – she knows all the best spots. Her food hunting skills also apply to other cities as well. Cities like Bangkok, New York City and Peru are some of the places where she found the best food. CNA asked the DJ to narrow down to just one city and eventually she chose Bangkok as her favourite food city as she has gone there too often to count.
Cheng mentioned how convenient it is for Singaporeans to visit Bangkok. Not only the produce is fresh and variety is good, from affordable eats to fine dining and Michelin-starred restaurants. The standard and quality is up to par. Cheng also mentioned that you can get much cheaper food in Bangkok compared to similar dishes in Singapore. What really draws her to any local food scene, she explained, is when the food truly shows you the heart and spirit of the people who make it.
She often gets carried away by how good the food looks and ends up ordering more than she can actually eat. Despite going on a hunt for food no matter where in the world she is, there is one caveat. Cheng is pretty firm about not waiting in long lines for food, no matter how popular it is. In fact, she’s never stood in a queue for more than an hour just to eat. Her colleague from Class 95, Big Mutton, once took things to another level in Bangkok at a place called Here Hai – he actually paid someone to queue for three whole hours so that they could skip the wait!
So, if you’re planning a trip to Thailand and wondering where to eat in Bangkok, you’re in luck! Here are some of the top spots that Cheng personally recommends – straight from someone who knows her way around the local food scene.
Photo: Yasminne Cheng
HERE HAI
Highly recommended at Here Hai is their famous ‘Insane Crab Fried Rice’.
It may be called crab omelette but it is more like, ordering omelette to go with your crab. Their crab fried rice is delicious with wok hei as well as their amazing crab omelette. It lives up to the hype and it was so good that Cheng took some home for her mother.
Photo: Yasminne Cheng
AFTER YOU DESSERT CAFE
This famous dessert place cannot be missed. Their Shibuya Toast is described as having that perfect contrast – a lovely crisp outside with a soft, fluffy inside. They suggest drizzling the syrup all over the original flavour. And if you’re looking for something else, the Mango Sticky Rice Bingsu is also highly recommended.
Photo: Yasminne Cheng
THONG SMITH
This boat noodle spot is one of those places that’s always reliably good. If you’re heading to their Siam Paragon location, a little tip is to get there around 11:30 in the morning to beat the crazy lines. Their wagyu beef noodles are a real treat, but be warned – they do have a bit of a kick! They even have a ‘small spicy’ option that sounds absolutely delicious. Oh, and apparently, adding extra pork lard makes it even better!
Photo: Yasminne Cheng
GAGGAN X LOUIS VUITTON
Cheng enjoyed this experience of casual fine dining. Licking these vibrant, monogrammed dollops of flavoured mashed potato straight from the plate was actually quite enjoyable and had a playful, quirky vibe There were also many flavour bombs.
Photo: Yasminne Cheng
POTONG
You absolutely have to check out this place run by Chef Pam – who cooks incredible Thai-Chinese food! It’s not just a fancy meal; it’s a whole experience. Everything, from the delicious dishes to the amazing service, and even the story of where the restaurant is and the inspiration behind each plate, is just fantastic. Plus, you get really generous portions, and it’s actually great value compared to what you’d shell out for a full tasting menu with wine in Singapore.
KOREA: In life, sometimes we just want to relax. It is not about being selfish but it is about relaxing, rejuvenating and recalibration. There are some K-dramas that are similar to real life, with topics such as mental exhaustion, stress and burnout. It is okay to slow down, recharge and restart. Here are five K-dramas that teach us that, as reported by Soompi.
Photo: SBS Korea
Love Scout
For Han Ji Min’s character, Kang Ji Yun, her work is more than just a job; it’s her entire existence. She’s a true workaholic She is smart, sassy, and successful, and she serves as the CEO of a headhunting company. She does not prioritise self care.
She is a woman who’s built her life and career on her own strength and independence. She’s got strong principles and a firm belief in what’s right, to the point where she feels personally responsible for everything that happens at work.
Constantly stressed and running on a huge amount of coffee, it’s no wonder she struggles with sleep and is generally on edge.However, the arrival of Yu Eun Ho (Lee Jun Hyuk) shakes things up at work. He’s a former HR manager who’s now Ji Yun’s assistant.
Completely different from her, Eun Ho really believes in having a good balance in life. When his young daughter started showing signs of being down, he didn’t hesitate to take a whole year off work just to be there for her and take care of her. He’s a single parent who’s really good at juggling his work and home life. He is a kind person who helps Ji Yun lead a normal life.
If you’re looking for a workplace romance that feels genuinely sweet and uplifting, you should definitely check out ‘Love Scout’.
Photo: My Mister
My Mister
IU portrays Lee Ji An, a young lady who is heavily indebted. She has been unable to find full-time employment, so she is balancing several part-time jobs to make ends meet. She takes care of her ill grandmother. Her situation causes her to drown in depression and misery, which threatens to overwhelm her. She meets Park Dong Hoon (Lee Sung Gyun), an ordinary office worker with a truly kind soul. Despite the challenges he faces, he has this quiet strength and a positive outlook on things
Ji An found a friend in him and he is not just supportive but also becomes her mentor. The empathy and understanding he shows her, along with his wise advice, really give her the emotional support she’s been longing for.
‘My Mister’ is one of those dramas that just stays with you – it’s a really moving and comforting story about the deep friendship that develops between a young woman and a man who truly get each other and help each other become stronger. It’s a soulful show, beautifully told, and the acting by IU and Lee Sung Gyun is just incredible
Photo: My Liberation Notes
My Liberation Notes
You know that feeling when you just desperately want to break free from the boring routine of everyday life? That urge to shake off that heavy feeling of nothing ever changing and the same old stuff all around you? Stuck living in a small, out-of-the-way town outside Seoul, the Yeom siblings – Ki Jung (Lee El), Mi Jung (Kim Ji Won), and Chang Hee (Lee Min Ki) – feel totally trapped and like their lives have no real purpose.
Ki Jung is single and choosy when it comes to finding a partner. She is afraid that once she is past the marriageable age, she might not be able to get married. Mi Jung, on the other hand, really struggles with her self-confidence and doesn’t think very highly of herself.
Mi Jung feels like she doesn’t deserve to be loved and is really affected by what other people think of her. She’s always looking for approval. Her brother, Chang Hee, on the other hand, just wants to make enough money to finally get out of his financial mess.
Then, this enigmatic guy, Mr. Gu (played by Son Suk Ku), shows up and completely turns their world upside down. He also helps them figure out what it really means to feel free, deep down. It makes you wonder – are we really just defined by what we need, what we want, and what we expect from life?
‘My Liberation Notes’ feels like a beautiful tribute to just living. The way the story is told is almost poetic, and the whole cast does an amazing job bringing it to life
Photo: I’ll Go To You When The Weather Is Nice
I’ll Go to You When the Weather is Nice
Mok Hae Won, the character played by Park Min Young, is a cellist. She became burned out and emotionally spent in her pursuit to excel. She then decided to return to her hometown.
She reconnects with her past when she unexpectedly bumps into her old classmate and neighbor, Eun Seob (played by Seo Kang Jun). He runs a bookstore and everyone in town loves him because he’s such a kind and positive guy. What Hae Won doesn’t realise is that her old friend still has a big crush on her, one he’s never been able to tell her about.
As they reconnect, they start off with a relaxed, easy friendship that slowly blossoms into something much deeper and more important. They both come to realise that trying to live up to everyone else’s expectations has just left them feeling completely exhausted and empty.
‘I’ll Go to You When the Weather is Nice’ has this really beautiful and soft quality to it. It takes its time telling the story, and the acting by the two main actors makes it a really emotionally satisfying and even healing watch.
Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha
You know how sometimes the people who help you heal and feel better come from the most surprising places? Well, Hye Jin (played by Shin Min Ah) is a really driven and opinionated dentist who’s totally fed up with all the drama at her clinic in Seoul. So, she decides to pack up and move to this small seaside town called Gongjin, which has some special memories for her. She opens her own practice there, but because she’s a bit rigid, she doesn’t exactly become the most popular person in a town where everyone knows everyone else’s business.
This town wouldn’t be the same without Hong Doo Shik (Kim Seon Ho) – he’s the real star. He’s like a superhero when it comes to fixing things – seriously, there’s nothing he can’t do or figure out. He’s super friendly, the opposite of Hye Jin, and their different personalities definitely clash. Hye Jin learns from Doo Shik that sometimes not everything in life can be controlled and that it is best to just let go and take chances. This drama feels like a warm hug. The main actors are remarkable and you can enjoy this drama any time you want.
British tennis player Harriet Dart has apologised after asking the umpire to tell her French opponent, Lois Boisson, to use a deodorant during their first-round match at the Rouen Open.
Currently the British number four, Dart lost the match with a final scoreline of 6-0, 6-3, and the first set lasting only 28 minutes. The incident occurred during the match, when the Briton was heard on the broadcast talking to the umpire and said: “Can you ask her to put on deodorant? She smells really bad.”
Following the backlash afterwards, Dart admitted the comment was inappropriate and expressed regret for her behaviour.
In her Instagram story, she expressed: “I want to apologise for what I said on court today, it was a heat-of-the-moment comment that I truly regret. That’s not how I want to carry myself, and I take full responsibility. I have a lot of respect for Lois and how she competed today.I’ll learn from this and move forward.”
Boisson responded to the incident lightly by posting an edited photo on her Instagram story where she held a stick of deodorant and joked that Dove “apparently needs a collab.”
Moreover, BBC Sport has reached out to the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) for a response.
In a social media post made by Open Capfinances Rouen Métropole, it posted a photo of Boisson, which netizens commented on.
Netizens showed their support to Boisson and said: “The only thing to smell here is success”, “The smell of victory. 🔥🔥”, “Congratulations on the win. I’m English and glad you won. Dart is known for being a bad sport. Well done on your dignified funny response”, “The sweet smell of sucess!! I hope you smash Wimbledon too!”, and “Smell has never felt so good! 💪🏻💪🏻”
Athletes’ performances
Dart was unable to convert any of her six breakpoints, as Boisson claimed a dominant victory to advance to the last 16.
Boisson, who is making her first WTA Tour appearance of the season after recovering from injury, is currently ranked 303rd in the world. She pulled off an upset by defeating the 110th-ranked Dart, who struggled with her serve, getting broken four times during the match.
This was Dart’s second clay-court match of the season ahead of the French Open next month. She had previously lost to Varvara Gracheva in the first round of the Charleston Open last month.
A 28-year-old man from Belgium has apologised after throwing a plastic bottle at former world champion Mathieu van der Poel during the Paris-Roubaix race.
The incident sparked a criminal investigation by French authorities. The man, who is from Waregem, admitted that it was a “stupid and dangerous” act done in a moment of impulse and said he deeply regretted his actions.
The man said: “I am so happy that he crossed the finish line first on Sunday, despite my stupid action… A water bottle was in the grass. I picked it up and threw it when he passed. Without thinking. Half a second later, I realised how stupid and dangerous it was.”
The man also confessed that he had “drunk a lot” that day, and said he felt ashamed for several days after the incident. He deeply regretted it and offered his sincere apologies to Van der Poel, the other cyclists, and cycling fans around the world. He admitted that his behaviour was unacceptable and went against the spirit of the sport.
French prosecutors launched an investigation into what they described as “violence with a weapon”. Lille public prosecutor Carole Etienne confirmed that authorities were working to identify and arrest the suspect. Moreover, the International Cycling Union (UCI) condemned the act, calling it “unacceptable behaviour”.
The UCI stated: “Such behaviour cannot be tolerated in the context of a cycling event… We express our support for the rider and will explore all legal avenues to ensure such actions are duly and severely punished.”
The cyclist van der Poel also stated after the race: “I hope they identify the person and press charges… throwing objects at riders who are giving their all — this has to stop immediately! Just enjoy the race!..I got hit in the face with a bottle at 50 kilometres per hour. That’s enough to break a jaw… We can’t just let that slide.”
The athlete added: “It doesn’t destroy the fun I had, but it’s not normal… It was a full bottle, maybe half a kilogram, and I’m riding at 50kph. It was really like a stone hitting my face… It’s not acceptable…When they throw beer, it’s also not acceptable, but that’s a different story. This is really something we have to take legal action against.”
Regardless of the incident, Dutch cyclist Mathieu van der Poel made history by winning the so-called“Hell of the North” race three times in a row, becoming only the third rider ever to achieve this feat.
