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Josephine Teo saying ‘Opposition will turn your house into a house of cards’ resurfaces

Anna Maria Romero
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Josephine Teo saying ‘Opposition will turn your house into a house of cards’ resurfaces

SINGAPORE: You know the General Election (GE) is coming soon when speeches—especially ones with memorable quotes—are shared online yet again, perhaps to remind people of who they are, or are not, voting for.

In a post on r/Singapore, u/trytyping shared a clip of a fresh-faced Josephine Teo, who is now Singapore’s Minister for Digital Development and Information, speaking on Sep 8, 2015, at a rally for the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC.

 

In her speech, she asked the audience to imagine that they had built a house and lived in it for 50 years, but wanted to modify it to accommodate new needs. While the original architect was no longer around, the firm he belonged to still existed, now with a different team that the old team had mentored for many years.

“This is your house,” she said, “Your one and only home. Your home and home to your children and grandchildren. Who would you get to help improve it? Who can you trust with something so precious?”

She asked whether they would entrust this job to people with no idea how to build a house in the first place.

“Who can better help you improve your house?” she asks, and some in the audience shout, “PAP! PAP!”

“The opposition wants to tear your house down. What will they rebuild? A castle in the air…. They will turn your house into a house of cards,” she added.

Reddit users commenting on the thread did not take too kindly to her speech, with one writing, “Question is will the house of cards be larger than the small space?” in reference to another infamous comment Ms Teo had made in 2016.

This prompted another to answer, “I really don’t understand how she can churn out these soundbites after soundbites.”

Another took issue with Ms Teo having people imagine they had lived in the same house for 50 years, writing, “Name me one family that lives in their HDB flat for 50 years and not flip their house like roti prata for a quick 2x.”

One opined, “Think the bigger risk is voting her in again…the old generation built the house… she didn’t contribute.”

“Seriously? Instead of ideas or policies, you have to attack the opposition?” another pointed out.

Ms Teo represented Bishan-Toa Payoh from 2006 to 2020 but was moved to Jalan Besar GRC in the last election. For this year’s GE, she will continue to lead the PAP team at Jalan Besar, comprising Wan Rizal Wan Zakariah, Denise Phua, and newcomer Shawn Loh. Heng Chee How, who represented the Whampoa ward at the GRC, is stepping down, although whether he is retiring from politics or will be fielded elsewhere remains to be seen.

The PAP team at Jalan Besar will face off against a team from the People’s Alliance for Reform, according to PAR secretary-general Lim Tean on April 18. /TISG

Read also: ‘Fantastic orator’: Pritam Singh’s speech at Aljunied rally in 2011 shared online again

 

Ex-NMP’s decision to abstain from contesting GE2025 widely welcomed online

Jewel Stolarchuk
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0
Ex-NMP’s decision to abstain from contesting GE2025 widely welcomed online

SINGAPORE: Former Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) Raj Joshua Thomas is being appreciated online after he stepped back from contesting the coming election, amid mounting criticism over NMPs resigning from their posts to immediately join partisan politics.

Acknowledging the views Singaporeans have shared on this issue, Mr Thomas, a lawyer, said on Facebook, “I will not be running in the upcoming general election. I have instead been spending time on the ground, and would like to earn my stripes first.”

He added that he is grateful to his well-wishers and those who contacted him to express support. He said, “I will do my best to keep and build on your trust and confidence in me,” he said.

Mr Thomas’ decision has been widely welcomed online, with netizens appreciating how healthily he seems to have taken the criticism over NMPs turning election candidates. Some online are also calling on psychiatrist Syed Harun Alhabsyi to follow in Mr Thomas’ footsteps.

Both Mr Thomas and Dr Syed Harun were NMPs who resigned on February 14, midway through their terms in Parliament. Their resignations came suspiciously close to the release of the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) report, a pre-election occurrence that typically signals the polls might be around the corner.

Mr Thomas later commented that he has joined the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) as a member, while Dr Syed Harun has been seen with Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam’s team at Nee Soon GRC, fuelling speculation that he will be fielded as a candidate at the ward.

Mr Shanmugam has defended the right of NMPs to resign and subsequently join political parties to contest in elections. He added that while NMPs must remain independent while they are in active NMP service, constitutional documents had “clearly envisaged” NMPs joining political parties and do not prohibit them from doing so.

Education Minister Chan Chun Sing also asserted that “safeguards are in place to ensure the non-partisan nature of the NMP scheme,” in a parliamentary reply to Workers’ Party (WP) MP Jamus Lim.

Assoc Prof Lim had asked whether there are plans to further safeguard public confidence in the non-partisan nature of the NMP scheme. He had also asked whether the Government will “consider a cooling-off period before NMPs can run for elected office, especially on a partisan platform.”

Pointing out that the Special Select Committee on Nominations for Appointment as NMPs includes MPs from both the ruling and opposition parties, Mr Chan noted that Singapore’s constitution “expressly requires an NMP to vacate his seat if he stands as a candidate for any political party in an election”.

Revealing that the Government currently has no plan to review the NMP scheme, he added, “I believe that many members of this House would agree that our NMPs have, over the years, enriched our debates in Parliament and that they have been non-partisan in their conduct, even as they participate actively in the parliamentary process.”

The minister, however, seemed to skirt the second part of Assoc Prof Lim’s question — the question about whether the government would consider imposing a cooling-off period.

Critics have called on the government to implement a cooling-off period, preventing NMPs from joining a political party or contesting elections for a set period after resigning or completing their term. Advocates for such a measure argue that this would help prevent immediate political affiliations and reduce the perception that NMPs are using the system as a political springboard.

Commenters call WP’s Eileen Chong ‘another star catch’ and ‘most electable new candidate across the board’

Anna Maria Romero
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Commenters call WP’s Eileen Chong ‘another star catch’ and ‘most electable new candidate across the board’

SINGAPORE: The high calibre of new candidates from the Workers’ Party (WP) going into GE 2025 has been noted by many, with Senior Counsel Harpreet Singh and Institute of Mental Health (IMH) psychologist Ong Lue Ping getting much attention.

On Thursday (Apr 17), the party formally introduced four new candidates, one of whom is a standout: former diplomat Eileen Chong Pei Shan, who served with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) for over six years.

The WP also introduced Ms Chong in a video across its social media channels.

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 Member of Parliament (MP) Gerald Giam.

She 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.

Where she will be fielded has yet to be announced, although a number of netizens are speculating that she’ll be made part of the Aljunied team. This is especially true given that the party leaders said on Apr 17 that the slate had not yet been finalised.

Ms Chong has certainly made a good impression on Singaporeans, judging from the comments they’ve made.

“Eileen comes across as confident and with a serving heart. An asset to WP,” one wrote.

“Having seen the full video and read up on her a little bit, I think she’s the most electable new candidate across the board. She has credentials that will match most PAP (People’s Action Party) newcomers, and she’s very well spoken,” another noted.

“Eileen is definitely a strong addition to the Workers’ Party. Her experience in diplomacy, social impact, and community work reflects both depth and heart. It’s rare to see someone who combines global perspective with grassroots empathy so seamlessly,” another commented.

A Reddit user who is a former MFA colleague of Ms Chong’s had this to say: “She was one of the very best diplomats in her batch and a stellar employee and co-worker. A huge capacity for hard work, a spine for what she believes in, and incredibly helpful and approachable; nobody had a single bad word to say about her. No idea where she’ll be fielded, but she’ll be an excellent MP.

“And given all the uncertainty globally re. Trump, it’s good to have an MP with real, extensive, get-your-hands-dirty foreign policy experience.”

Another wrote, “Her credentials resemble the sort of profile who could have gone on to find her place in PAP if her aim was just to get into Parliament for her own career progress. She chose the harder route, and that is commendable—shows her guts at the very least.”

Her debut, along with Siti Alia Binte Abdul Rahim Mattar, Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik, and Kenneth Tiong, prompted one Reddit user to comment that WP Chief Pritam Singh “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.”

Another wrote, specifically regarding Ms Chong, “You got another star catch, WP. Hope she gets into Parliament.” /TISG

Read also: ‘Really outstanding people’: WP’s first group of new candidates makes a strong impression

WP introduces 4 more candidates for GE 2025; former IMH director makes the biggest splash

Anna Maria Romero
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WP introduces 4 more candidates for GE 2025; former IMH director makes the biggest splash

SINGAPORE: On Friday (Apr 18), Singapore’s largest opposition party, The Workers’ Party (WP), introduced a second group of new candidates for the General Election on May 3, and the one who appears to have made the biggest impression on Singaporeans is Ong Lue Ping, a senior principal clinical psychologist at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH).

The other candidates introduced by WP chief and Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh together with party chair Sylvia Lim are Jimmy Tan Khim Teck, Alexis Dang Pei Yuan, and Andre Low Wu Yang.

Dr Ong, 48, served as the director of allied health from 2022 to 2024 at IMH, and prior to that, as the Head of the Psychology Department. He has been with the WP since November 2023 as a case writer at the Hougang Meet-the-People Sessions (MPS). He has also helped organize community events as well as been part of house visits for WP’s East Coast and Punggol GRC teams.

To avoid a conflict of interest, he stepped down from his leadership position at IMH, although he said at the WP’s media conference on Apr 18, “It’s a decision that I don’t regret because basically I’m just serving Singapore in another way.”

@thehammertok

Get to know our people – Ong Lue Ping 王锐斌 Read his profile here: www.wp.sg/candidate/ong-lue-ping #wpsg #WorkingForSingapore #StepUp #GE2025

♬ original sound – The Workers’ Party 🔨 – The Workers’ Party 🔨

Business owner Jimmy Tan, 53, began volunteering with the WP in 2018 and has worked closely with Mr Singh. In 2023, he was appointed as Secretarial Assistant, a position he held until early this year, when he became the WP chief’s Legislative Assistant. Fun fact: He is also the winner of Golden Age Talentime 2023 Season 1.

@thehammertok

Get to know our people – Jimmy Tan 陈钦德 Read his profile here: www.wp.sg/candidate/tan-khim-teck #wpsg #WorkingForSingapore #StepUp #GE2025

♬ original sound – The Workers’ Party 🔨 – The Workers’ Party 🔨

Thirty-four-year-old Andre Low is a former disputes lawyer who worked under Davinder Singh at Drew & Napier. He has since moved to the tech field and is currently a staff product manager at a global fintech company. Having joined the WP in 2020, his work as a Secretarial Assistant to Sengkang Member of Parliament (MP) Louis Chua during the Covid-19 pandemic prompted him to build an MPS solution that maintained residents’ lines to their MP, which is still being used today.

@thehammertok

Get to know our people – Andre Low 刘宇扬 @Andre Low Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrelow.sg Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lowwuyang Link to full YouTube video: https://youtu.be/aRRJuHEf1Ec Read his profile here: www.wp.sg/candidate/low-wu-yang-andre #wpsg #WorkingForSingapore #StepUp #GE2025

♬ original sound – The Workers’ Party 🔨 – The Workers’ Party 🔨

 

Finally, Alexis Dang, 39, has a background in finance but works in the tech sector today, where she leads a team of Business Development professionals. She has been with the WP for the past five years; has been part of house visits, planning and hosting party events; and has supported the party with translation work for newsletters and parliamentary speeches for the WP MPs.

@thehammertok

#传承 #StepUp #WorkingForSingapore Read Alexis’ profile here: www.wp.sg/candidate/dang-pei-yuan

♬ original sound – The Workers’ Party 🔨 – The Workers’ Party 🔨

Among the four candidates, Dr Ong has gotten the most buzz online, with some netizens saying they would like to see him in Parliament as they hope to see mental health issues receive more attention.

“We definitely need more psychologists dealing with mental health issues in Parliament, not some parachuted army general,” one wrote.

“He gave up his leadership role in IMH to run as a candidate for WP. Folks…what more do we need to extract from our talents to just be an alternative voice? Normalise political involvement!” a Reddit user said.

“I heard he was an active volunteer in other areas as well…. He has the heart for the people,” one chimed in.

“One of my colleagues who used to work at IMH as a clinical psychologist had the chance to work with Dr Ong before, as he was her boss. She said he is generally a nice chap and boss, who leads by example, and is very patriotic about SG. He once made his whole team sing the national anthem as part of some celebration. Hope he gets voted in!” wrote another.

Some commented on the WP’s new candidates in general, with one writing, “WP’s lineup this year is honestly impressive, even their new teams. Who says opposition is not qualified?” /TISG

Read also: ‘Really outstanding people’: WP’s first group of new candidates makes a strong impression

Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen retires, hands over Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC to Chee Hong Tat

Jewel Stolarchuk
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Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen retires, hands over Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC to Chee Hong Tat

SINGAPORE: Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen confirmed today (18 Apr) that he is retiring from politics ahead of the 2025 general election and handed the leadership of the People’s Action Party (PAP) team for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC over to Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat.

Speaking at a press conference, Dr Ng said, “It’s been an honour and privilege to serve my residents and Singaporeans at large for five terms.”

Dr Ng, who has spent close to 25 years as the MP for Bishan-Toa Payoh since he was first elected to Parliament in 2001, said: “For any government, there’s always tension between renewal and experience, not sure what the best balance is. I think it’s a virtue that PAP forces itself to renew, and that for more senior politicians like myself, we emulate the examples that we saw when we came in as newbies.

He added, “If older ones don’t step aside for new ones, you don’t prepare for the future. It’s as simple as that.”

Introducing Mr Chee as the new Anchor Minister for his former ward, Dr Ng said, “The new anchor for this GRC, Minister Chee Hong Tat is more than capable, well-established and has proven himself over the last 10 years to have improved the lives of residents here.”

With fellow Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC MP Chong Kee Hiong, a two-term backbencher, also retiring from politics, the PAP team introduced two new faces to join incumbent MPs Mr Chee and Saktiandi Supaat to contest the ward. The new candidates are 41-year-old charity director Elysa Chen and 35-year-old social entrepreneur Cai Yinzhou.

Echoing sentiments the PAP leadership has made about how Singaporeans should be “united” amid ongoing global tensions, Mr Chee said, “In this turbulent and uncertain global environment, you can count on the PAP team to deliver for you, to care for you, to keep you safe, and importantly, to fight for you, to have a brighter future for you and your family.”

The PAP team is expected to face off with the Singapore People’s Party in the coming election, which has been set for 3 May.

‘Something better and not less’: Woman says upgrade on playground at Pasir Ris Street feels more like a downgrade

Anna Maria Romero
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‘Something better and not less’: Woman says upgrade on playground at Pasir Ris Street feels more like a downgrade

SINGAPORE: A woman took to social media to air her dissatisfaction after the improvements to a neighbourhood playground felt more like a downgrade.

On the popular COMPLAINT Singapore Facebook group page on Thursday (April 18), a woman wrote that she wanted to share some of the frustration she felt regarding the “so-called ‘upgrade’” at the playground at Pasir Ris Street 11.

“Honestly, it feels more like a downgrade,” she wrote, explaining that not only is the new structure smaller and shorter, but it also has fewer play features than it did before the renovation took place.

She went on to say that her niece, who is five years old and whom she described as “a true playground expert who lives in Bidadari, which has amazing playgrounds,” took one look at the upgrade and told her that the playground was “not fun anymore”.

The post author explained that the outcome was disappointing for them since they had been expecting “something better, (and) not less”.

She also wrote that the renovation of the playground “really felt like a cost-cutting exercise dressed up as an upgrade,” and added, “Our kids deserve thoughtfully designed, engaging spaces to play—not watered-down versions that tick a box. I know I sound like a Karen, but it is what it is.”

The post author asked the members of the group if anyone else had had the same experience where they live.

While the commenters on the post were generally sympathetic to the woman, one tried to explain the situation this way:

“One of the reasons to be taken into account might be because of residents’ complaints. Some of the residents stay near the playground, and the bigger and better it is, there will be more kids and noise, thus the reason for the downsizing of the playground. This is how I feel. I do not know the whole story and certainly hope that what I feel is not true.”

In answer to the woman’s question regarding whether they’ve had a similar experience, some said yes.

“Same here! Pasir Ris blk 485 playground is no longer fun too!” wrote one netizen, while another chimed in to say, “Same for Woodlands side.”

A commenter echoed this, writing, “Woodlands here. Play area downgraded too.”

Another wrote, “As a Pasir Ris resident for many years, the standard really has dropped. We used to have some of the best MPs (Members of Parliament) who cared for us and can be seen from time to time. Now we have MPs who don’t bother trying because they know their power is untouched.”

The five-member Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC is one of the constituencies that have been wiped off the electoral map. It has been carved into two new four-member GRCs. Punggol West SMC has been merged with estates in Punggol, forming Punggol GRC, while Loyang and Flora estates from East Coast GRC have been combined with the remaining estates in Pasir Ris, forming Pasir Ris–Changi GRC.

The Independent Singapore has reached out to the post author, as well as to the Town Council of Pasir-Ris Punggol, for further comments or updates. /TISG

Read also: ‘No hanging of laundry on the playground’ — Netizen calls park sign the “most Singaporean sign”

SIA and ANA to launch revenue-sharing flights and joint fares between Singapore and Japan

Mary Alavanza
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SIA and ANA to launch revenue-sharing flights and joint fares between Singapore and Japan

SINGAPORE: From Sept 25, Singapore Airlines (SIA) and All Nippon Airways (ANA) will begin revenue-sharing flights between Singapore and Japan, according to a joint statement released by the two airlines on Thursday (Apr 17). Joint fare products for the flights will go on sale in May 2025. This will allow both airlines to offer a wider range of fare options and better coordinate their flight schedules between the two countries while improving connectivity between the carriers.

The two airlines also plan to offer more benefits for their frequent flyer members. Passengers under SIA’s KrisFlyer and ANA’s Mileage Club will be able to earn miles on more booking classes. The carriers also aim to align their corporate programmes for business travellers.

SIA and ANA, both part of the Star Alliance group, first proposed this joint venture in January 2020. They have significantly expanded their codeshare arrangement, offering customers more travel options between Japan and Singapore and beyond.

ANA passengers can now reach 25 destinations through SIA, up from the previous 12. Meanwhile, SIA customers can connect to 34 destinations via ANA, up from nine, including 30 domestic cities within Japan.

The airlines also plan to expand the joint venture to more key markets such as Australia, India, Indonesia, and Malaysia, subject to regulatory approvals.

According to The Business Times, the airlines have received approvals for routes between Singapore and Japan from antitrust regulators in both countries.

SIA CEO Mr Goh Choon Phong said, “The joint fare products, revenue sharing flights, and expanded codeshare arrangements are just the start. As we align our frequent flyer and corporate travel programmes and add more markets to our commercial joint venture agreement, we can offer even greater value, better connectivity, and an exceptional experience for customers travelling between Singapore and Japan and beyond.” /TISG 

Read also: Singapore Airlines ranked 3rd most punctual airline in Asia-Pacific in 2024, up from 7th in 2023

Featured image by Depositphotos (for illustration purposes only)

French Open to pay tribute to retired tennis legend Rafael Nadal on opening day

Aiah Bathan
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French Open to pay tribute to retired tennis legend Rafael Nadal on opening day

FRANCE: This year’s French Open will honour Rafa Nadal, the record 14-time champion, on the opening day of the tournament next month. 

This tribute comes a year after the Spanish tennis legend played his final match at Roland Garros before his retirement. Nadal suffered an early exit in 2024 with a first-round loss to Alexander Zverev. He officially ended his career after playing for Spain in the Davis Cup last November. 

Now, the organisers are paying tribute to his incredible legacy at the Grand Slam. He will return to the French Open to celebrate his incredible achievements. 

The tournament director and two-time Grand Slam champion, Amelie Mauresmo, said: “Rafa made history at Roland Garros, and his 14 titles will perhaps remain unequalled…The ceremony in honour of Rafa will take place at the end of the day session on May 25 on Court Philippe Chatrier… The idea is to have a vision for the future and also to celebrate those who thrilled us in the past.” 

Moreover, the tournament will also pay tribute to Mary Pierce, the 2000 women’s champion, and Richard Gasquet, another local crowd favourite. 

More about the French Open 

The prize money for the French Open, which runs from May 25 to June 8, has been set at  56.352 million euros (S$64.11 million), a 5.21% increase from 2024. 

The increase in prize money follows demands from top players, who recently sent a letter to the four Grand Slam tournaments calling for higher payouts. The French Open stated that it is willing to have discussions on this. 

Gilles Moretton, head of the French Tennis Federation, confirmed that the French Open will still use line judges.  It will not adopt electronic line calling like the other Grand Slam tournaments. Wimbledon will start using electronic line calling this season, joining the US Open and the Australian Open. 

Morretton admitted: “I think we are right to keep our referees and linesmen at Roland Garros. The federation wants to keep our referees for as long as we can… I hope we’ll be able to maintain it in our tournaments in the future.”

A social media post made by Roland Garros stated: “Major announcements from the 2025 Roland-Garros press conference:
🔸 A tribute to Rafael Nadal will take place on Sunday 25 May, following the day session’s three fixtures.
🔸 Centre Court will commemorate the 25th anniversary of Mary Pierce’s twin titles, between the two women’s semi-finals.
🔸 A tribute will also be paid to Richard Gasquet on the conclusion of his last game at Roland-Garros.
🔸 A free fan zone on Place de la Concorde, one of the capital’s most iconic locations, from Wednesday 4 to Monday 9 Jun.
🔸 The second men’s singles semi-final, scheduled for Friday 6 Jun on Philippe-Chatrier, will not start before 7:00 p.m. (local time)”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros)


Netizens commented on the post and said: “Excited for the Rafa tribute 🙌❤️”, “What a fabulous celebration for legends of the game. Love this ❤️ 🙌🔥🇦🇺”, “Yes to line judges! This is what we want. It’s not just hearing the fake automated out call. We, and players, need to see the hand gestures too. That is just as important as the verbal out call, if not more important”, and “Finally, Roland Garros decides to celebrate Mary Pierce!!! Bravo and thank you because she is the last French player to have won the singles title in Paris! A celebration fully deserved.” 

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce unleashes Olympic speed at her son’s school sports day

Aiah Bathan
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0
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce unleashes Olympic speed at her son’s school sports day

JAMAICA: The three-time Olympic gold medallist, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, didn’t hold back at her son’s sports day as she showcased her Olympic skills and dominated the parents’ 100m race, leaving the other moms far behind her. 

For obvious reasons, the 38-year-old Jamaican sprinting legend, who has eight Olympic medals in total, easily won the race and proudly shared some snippets of the fun and memorable family day on her Instagram account. 

In her social media post, the athlete mentioned the events that happened: 

“Here we go!😃 1. My champion boy always!🥇2. Race 1…I was too excited so yea 🤣 3. Had to ask @loudboss for her video 🙌🏾😣😁 4. Proud of my champion🥹🥰 5. The smile crossing the line was everything😍 (I turned my phone over this time 🤣) 6. Podium Pryce 🙌🏾 7. Daddy was in the mix #TeamPryce 8. They haven’t banned me yet so I’m at the line 🤣🤣🚀 9. When them say a duss 🤣 (thanks Andrew for the shot)🥹 10. This ❤️ 11. Till next time 🙌🏾🙏🏾” 


Netizens shared their reactions in the comments and said: “The fact that you didn’t let up has me cryinnnnnnnnn🤣🤣🤣🤣”, “These Olympians are just outrageous at sports day we need a law 😂😂😂😂 as I see them I know I’m not entering okkkkk😂😂😂😂😂”, “Defending the mommy world title shelly 🤣🤣💖”, and “We all knew who was gonna win the race on slide #8😂😂” 

This wasn’t her first win at her son’s sports day. In 2023, she delivered a similarly dominant performance, showing that when it comes to winning, she doesn’t believe in slowing down, no matter whether the competition is world-class or school-level.

Her comeback 

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, known to be Jamaica’s sprint sensation, is set to return to the sport. 

A social media post shared by the athlete highlighted a video featuring her greatest races, and it ended with the phrase “unfinished business.” The post caption also read: “Time will honour your greatness… 2025🚀”


She won the Olympic 100m gold twice in a row — at the 2008 Beijing Games and the 2012 London Games.

Moreover, she claimed five world titles in the 100m, including two wins after she gave birth in 2017. 

However,  at the 2024 Paris Olympics, she had to pull out ahead of the semi-finals due to an injury that she sustained during her warm-up. She was also unable to compete at the 4x100m relay because of this. 

Serena Williams responds to Jannik Sinner’s doping suspension, says she would’ve ‘gotten 20 years’

Aiah Bathan
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0
Serena Williams responds to Jannik Sinner’s doping suspension, says she would’ve ‘gotten 20 years’

INTERNATIONAL: Serena Williams shared that if she had failed a drug test like Jannik Sinner, she would have possibly been banned for 20 years.

Sinner, who is currently ranked number one in men’s tennis, is serving a three-month suspension after testing positive twice for a banned substance called clostebol in March 2024. The athlete, who currently holds the Australian Open and US Open titles, is expected to  make his comeback at the Italian Open on May 7.  

Williams recently gave an interview to Time Magazine. In a social media post, the athlete shared this achievement and said: “@TIME‘s list of the 100 Most Influential People in the world is out. I’m honoured to be a part of this group.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Serena Williams (@serenawilliams)


Netizens showed their support in the comments section by saying: “Congratulations! Always an inspiration❤️”, “We’ve been influenced 😍 Congrats, Serena!”, “YES!!!! 👏🙌❤️ So proud of u!!!”, and “BREATH TAKING + insanely well deserved!!!!!! 🙌❤️💯”.

In the interview, Serena talked about Sinner and said: “Fantastic personality. I love the guy, I love this game. He’s great for the sport.” 

She also added: “I’ve been put down so much, I don’t want to bring anyone down. Men’s tennis needs him… If I did that​ [tested positive for doping], I would have gotten 20 years. Let’s be honest. I would have gotten Grand Slams taken away from me.”

The former world No. 1 joked that if she had been involved in a performance-enhancing drug scandal like Jannik Sinner, she would’ve ended up “in jail”. Moreover, she also showed support for Maria Sharapova, who was banned for two years in 2016 after testing positive for meldonium. Like Sinner’s case,  Sharapova’s doping was considered unintentional but she was still banned for two years. The ban was later reduced to 15 months after an appeal.

“​Just weirdly and oddly, I can’t help but think about Maria all this time… I can’t help but feel for her,” Williams said. 

Novak Djokovic, who has 24 Grand Slam titles, commented that Sinner was shown “favouritism” in his doping case. The athlete said: “A majority of the players don’t feel that it’s fair… A majority of the players feel like there is favouritism happening. It seems like it appears that you can almost affect the outcome if you are a top player, if you have access to the top lawyers.”

Unfortunately, several top-ranked players in tennis have failed drug tests. In 2024, Iga Swiatek served a one-month ban after testing positive for trimetazidine. Former world No. 1 Simona Halep received a much harsher punishment of four years after testing positive for roxadustat.

Jannik Sinner’s comeback 

Sinner is scheduled to make his comeback at the Italian Open on May 7. This tournament is his home ATP Masters 1000 event. He will make history as the first Italian player to play in the Rome Masters as the world number one.

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