MRUDUL TUMMALA
18, INDIAN
School: Canadian International School (CIS) Years at the school: 7 Sporting passion: Volleyball, basketball, cricket and softball
I represent CIS at interschool volleyball, basketball and softball competitions, and outside of school I play cricket for the Singapore Cricket Club. I started basketball and cricket when I was 12 years old, volleyball at 14 and then softball at 15.
The tight-knit community at CIS encourages students to take risks and step outside of our comfort zones – in my case, by trying out new sports. The vast number of opportunities enabled me to discover my strengths and passions. CIS was also extremely supportive of my endeavour to introduce cricket as a new sport at our school.
Sport provides an escape from academics, while fostering a balanced character. Apart from staying active and healthy, I have developed an array of essential skills that are transferrable to all aspects of life, such as communication, social interaction and leadership. My achievements include Athlete of the Year (Middle School), Most Valuable Player, Coach’s Choice Award, and a handful of medals.
A word with... DEAN MONAGHAN High School Activities and Athletics Director, CIS
How kids benefit from sport “Young children spend so much of their time using electronic devices. We are noticing that they lack the gross motor skills that the adults around them had developed when they were growing up. It’s vital that we encourage children to play a variety of sports to maintain a balanced lifestyle. Hand-eye coordination, flexibility and fitness, being part of a team, displaying good sportsmanship and making lifelong friendships are not just skills learnt on the field or in the pool, but life skills that children will cultivate now and continue to benefit from in the future.”
Sport for teenagers “As children grow into teenagers, they need balance in life – especially in Singapore, where so much emphasis is placed on studying. Not only does sport provide contact and communication, it’s also a fantastic way to de-stress during the school term. There’s no better feeling than when the endorphins
kick in after a full-on session in the pool, on the field or in the gym. I also encourage our students to continue with sport in their adult lives; it’s too easy to lose life balance as you get older.”
Visits from elite athletes “This year, the New Zealand Rugby 7s team trained in our gymnasium, and our students witnessed how professionals prepare themselves for an international event. Rob Vickerman, former England rugby captain, delivered an inspirational speech to our rugby academy members about turning your sporting successes into lifelong learning opportunities. Last year, we hosted Joe De Sena, Spartan Race founder, whose no-nonsense speech to our alumni and alumnae stressed how life only gets harder once you graduate from high school!” To read about these and other sports at the school, visit cis.edu.sg.