Integrity and Fairness

I am Nicholas Chua from maris Stella High School. What had happen on 2nd of April was what i had least expected...

I was standing behind the court supporting and cheering for my junior. This is a very important match to us, everyone was there was very focused on the game. However, after the we had won, we were elated and we were full of emotions. All of us rushed over to our star of the day and celebrated our victory. We then went to get our bags and were ready to leave.

However, we heard a sudden cheer from Anglican High and we were shock and confused. Why had cheered when they had lost to us, they should be very dissapointed and sad. We went back to the battleground and the umpire came to us. Then he told us that the shutter was out. We were all flabbergasted by the sudden, ridiculous announcement by the umpire, saying that the ball was out when just now, which is ten minutes ago, the shutter was so clearly an IN. THE LINESMAN said the ball was IN. He had put out two parallel hands at the point when the shuttle landed, AND THE UMPIRE DID NOT EVEN SAY THAT THE LINESMAN WAS WRONG OR ANYTHING. HE DID NOT EVEN DO ANYTHING LIKE GATHERING THE TEACHERS-IN-CHARGE OF BOTH SIDES TOGETHER AND SAY HIS DECISION IN FRONT OF ALL.

10 minutes later, he then told us that we lost because the shuttle was out, All Marist were very angry.The things in my mind lead to thinking that the Singapore umpires are not professional at all. Aren't they supposed to be fair, honest and righteous in their every decision made. After that day, I lost my total trust and respect for the umpires, if this could happen in this competition, what else would happen in bigger competition or games such as the Youth Olympics being held next year in Singapore? Are we ready for the Youth Olympics next year?

I thought sports was about sportmanship. If sports was like this, the example of this game, I cannot see anything like good sportsmanship, integrity and honesty of the game at all. I could only see unfairness and dishonesty. This wil big a joke when it travels to other countries and does not reflect well on the standard of our umpires. And with the incoming Youth Olympics, it is not good to us at all. And I don't think we can go far in sports with all these happening...

I know that it is our team that has truely won, we hope justice will be done. Sorry to Anglican for the rude remarks, we are too agitated that day.