The JSA programme began in January 2008, when individual schools were selected to be centralised training grounds where promising young pupils from all over the island could receive systematic coaching to excel in their chosen sports. The programme strives for a holistic approach towards sports and academic excellence. Aside from regular training sessions, JSA pupils also attend sports carnivals, sports science clinics and character building workshops.

The first MOE-JSA programme aims to raise new sporting stars in the next generation.

It is most heartening to know that all participants have improved since joining in early 2008," stated Ms Ho Peng, Director-General of Education, who was the guest-of-honour at the JSA graduation ceremony. One of several pupils highlighted by Ms Ho was Samantha, who trained in swimming at the Singapore Sports School (a swimming JSA). Her progress was so impressive that Samantha was chosen to represent the nation in the 2009 SEA Games in Laos.

It doesn't end at graduation, though. To chart the long term development of young sportsmen, MOE has launched an Athletes Profiling and Tracking System (APTS). APTS captures the physical and sporting achievements of student athletes as they grow to provide information that would help them plan their further training and personal sporting goals.

Mastering the martial arts

Trying out a new sport is one thing. But for Adeena, it meant entering a whole new arena for her chosen sport is the traditional Chinese martial art of wushu.

"I really enjoy martial arts," says the small, feisty girl, who has long nursed a keen interest in pugilistic sports. "When I was in Pri 3, our school held a CCA day where I saw some people demonstrating taekwondo," she adds. "I really liked it and told myself I would join it."

Adeena and her mother Mdm Hawa know that race is no restriction in any sport.

She later added wushu to her repertoire, and following an outstanding performance in her National Physical Fitness Awards (NAPFA), qualified for the JSA in wushu, namely Chung Cheng High School (Main). Like others who undergo the JSA programme, Adeena had to commit extra hours to hone her wushu skills - this on top of her regular classes, taekwondo and other CCAs.

Being the only non-Chinese in the wushu JSA, Adeena struggled to pick up training instructions, which were mostly in Mandarin. It was particularly difficult when she was named to join a sports tour of Beijing, China. "I was so shy [in China], because everyone there knew how to speak Chinese and I was standing out - and not in a good way," she reveals. "But now I know a few words, like 'man man' (slowly) and even 'kuai dian' (quickly)!"

Given these challenges, Adeena's mother, Mdm Hawa, was understandably concerned in the beginning. "We had mixed feelings at first. I was very worried, and closely monitored her academic performance," she says. "But that's the good thing about JSA. It pushed her to do well in both studies and wushu. She's now more organised too, because she knows her time is more limited."

A smashing success

Remember Yvonne? Previously, the shy but talented girl shared her experience as a badminton player at the Henry Park JSA.

(From left) Badminton Coach Hamid, Yvonne and her father Mr. Tan

She's graduated now, and like Adeena, Yvonne is keen to continue pursuing her passion for her chosen sport. "I felt happy yet sad because I won't be able to continue training with my coaches and friends in JSA-Henry Park," shares Yvonne. "But I will continue to improve my technical skills and enjoy badminton when I enter secondary school."

Yvonne's father, Mr Tan Siong Cheng, says he was pleasantly surprised when he heard his daughter was selected for the programme in 2008. But after observing her progress in both schoolwork and sports, the senior technical officer states that he would strongly recommend the JSA to any parent "because the training programmes are well structured and systematic."

But perhaps the best person to comment on the JSA would be Yvonne herself. Her advice to future participants? "The training is tough, but it is tough and challenging," she says. "That is the difference. Just give it a go!"