Sport in Singapore: The Colonial Legacy

This book is a detailed and comprehensive exploration of the development of sport in Singapore in the colonial period, from the early 19th century up until self-government was established in 1959.

Written by sports lover and academic Dr Nick Aplin — a senior lecturer at Nanyang Technological University’s Department of Physical Education & Sports Science and also the author of several sports books including being lead author of Singapore Olympians: The complete who’s who, 1936–2004, published in 2005 — Sport in Singapore delves into the introduction and growth of the culture of sport in Singapore. More than 20 sports, including football, golf, badminton, netball, polo, and swimming, are examined, with each sport covered in its own chapter.

The book also examines other aspects of sport such as the role of clubs and associations in early Singapore, the different communities, the need for space, access to sport for women, how sport survived during the Japanese Occupation, restoring sporting traditions after the war, and working towards achievement in international sport and the Olympics.

Most importantly, the book highlights the very human stories behind sport in Singapore — the struggles and achievements of Singapore’s early sportsmen and sportswomen, including well-known names like Wong Peng Soon in badminton, Alice Pennefather who excelled in badminton, tennis and hockey, and weightlifter Tan Howe Liang, winner of Singapore’s first Olympic medal.

Sport in Singapore is rich with archive photos from past athletes, the National Archives, and Singapore Press Holdings’ library of photos. It also has charts, graphs, maps and illustrations.