NS Deferment for Joseph Schooling & Quah Zheng Wen Being Assessed As Olympics is Postponed

In case you’re unaware, the Tokyo Olympics Games 2020 has been postponed until 2021.

Singapore national swimmers, Joseph Schooling and Quah Zheng Wen have applied for an extension of their NS deferment, the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) revealed on 6 May 2020.

Quah Zheng Wen was supposed to serve his NS back in July 2015 but was granted a deferment to attend the Rio Olympics.

His performance during the Olympics was so good that he’s listed as a “possible medallist” and given a second deferment until after Tokyo Olympics 2020.

His teammate, Joseph Schooling was supposed to serve NS back in 2014 but managed to obtain a deferment to participate in the 2016 Olympics.

He managed to create a new Olympic record in the men’s 100-metre butterfly race and was also granted deferment from serving NS until the Games in 2020.

Applications Being Assessed Now

Both national swimmers have applied for a “further extension of deferment” from full-time National Service until they can participate in the next Olympic Games.

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Mindef will work together with the Ministry of Community, Culture and Youth (MCCY) to understand more about the pair’s training plans and milestones for the upcoming Olympic games during the assessment.

The Controversial Olympics Decision

Before it was postponed, Japan, the host country and the International Olympics Committee were reluctant to postpone the Olympics because it was “complicated”.

A lot of stakeholders, including the organising committee, to athletes to broadcasters and sporting federations would all need to be consulted.

Plus, the sports calendar for 2021 is crowded while the World Cup is going to be held in 2022.

Many Countries & Sports Bodies Boycotting The Olympics

Nations and sports bodies started boycotting the event as the Covid-19 outbreak situation worsened around the world.

Both Canada and Australia said that they would not participate if the event was not postponed.

“We are in the midst of a global health crisis that is far more significant than sport,” Canada’s Olympic Committee and Paralympic Committee said.

The Singapore National Olympic Council, on the other hand, said they’ll trust in the decision of Japan and the IOC, and trained their athletes as though they’ll participate in Tokyo 2020.

Finally, IOC member, Dick Pound, formally announced the decision on Monday, 24 Mar 2020 to postpone the international sports event.

He said that looking at the current situation, it seems like a 1-year postponement appears to be the best decision to make.

The Olympic will be postponed to the summer of 2021, which in Japan, is from June to mid-September.

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