Ong siblings nominated for Manila SEA Games

 Ong siblings nominated

 for Manila SEA Games

IN TRAINING: Jason Ong and his sister Mixhelle are part of the taekwondo squad nominated for the SEA Games.

Jason, 17, is happy that his 21-year-old sister is likely to be on the same squad.

Not that the skilful fighter needs anyone to take care of him. Well, maybe he does – but only with his clothes.

‘Because when we go overseas, she can fold my clothes for me and pack my luggage,’ the Chai Chee Secondary school student said.

Michelle, who studies at the Singapore Institute of Management, confirmed that her brother lacks housekeeping skills and needs her help to fold his clothes.

However, she said: ‘I have no issues with fighting him.’

Jason is wary of hurting his sister, though, and has been reprimanded by his coach for being too gentle on Michelle during training.

‘I try not to meet her in sparring practices so I don’t have to kick her,’ he said.

They took up taekwondo together in 1995. If they pass the final selection procedure, it will be the first SEA Games for both of them.

National coach Wong Liang Ming said that Jason is one of her most promising trainees. Last year, he received the Junior Meritorious Award from the Singapore Sports Council – a first for taekwondo.

‘Speed is his greatest strength. He is also very hardworking,’ Wong said. ‘Even a fractured left hand did not stop him from winning a silver in the Asian Cities Gold Cup Championships earlier this February.’

In the men’s category, Cornelyus Ng was nominated for the finweight division, along with Vincent Chua (bantam), Khor Huat Peng (feather), Low Chuan Kai (light) and Poh Tze Chap (middle).

In the women’s category, Lanetar Quek (flyweight) was picked along with Ananurmelati Abdul Rahman (bantam), Joyce Lim (feather), Dawn Ang (light) and Fong Yee Ming (heavy).

Singapore won one silver and one bronze in taekwondo at the 2003 SEA Games in Vietnam.