As far as personifications go, Dr Tan Hwa Luck has definitely been through the proverbial mill. He was raised in a family that had little, but it was precisely this poverty that bred a hunger in him for greater things. He represented Singapore in swimming and water polo, became a Colombo Plan scholar (Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong is among its alumni) and is currently head honcho of Mount Pleasant Animal Hospital. But above all, the 63-year-old veterinarian still credits water polo as the primary reason for his success.
“You learn to manage time and people, and inculcate a sense of discipline,” he says. “These are life skills difficult to pick up anywhere else.”
On Expectations
I represented Singapore in swimming as a backstroker in a medley team when I was 15. Life was much simpler back then – we weren’t sponsored, so we had to buy our own swim gear and cycle or walk to our training sessions. Even the prospect of representing the country carried lots of “firsts”. My first international meet was the 1961 Southeast Asian Peninsular Games (the predecessor of the Southeast Asian Games) in Rangoon. Flying and even travelling by bus was a big deal for most people at the time. What’s more, the exotic locale and the pressure of competition all contributed to making the experience a very condensed one. Expectations today have changed, both in life and in the sporting arena. Cherish even the small things you experience because they definitely don’t come by easily.
On Sporting Purity
In the past, sports was just as it should be – non-professional and with no monetary rewards. If you won, you got a gold medal and that was it. Today, victory is usually rewarded with $40,000 – or more. It was a very different mentality back then: It was all about the love for the sport and the passion for winning. Athletes also demonstrated greater sportsmanship with less backstabbing. Before the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre, life in the athlete’s quarters was communal and a lot more fun. Everybody mixed with everyone else, regardless of nationality. Athletes today fly into competitions with their own physiotherapist, sports psychologist, dietitian and chef, and hardly mingle with people outside their contingent. I miss the old days – it’s similar to comparing the kampung lifestyle to the HDB culture of today.
On Getting It Right
Sports and studies can actually mix. I’ve always been involved with sports and positions of leadership: In the 1960s, I was captain of both the Singapore Combined Schools swimming and water polo teams, captain of the water polo team in Glasgow
University and captain of the Singapore team during the SEA games in 1969. I noticed that people around me who were active in sports actually became very successful later in life – you just needed to discover the right mix that worked for you. When you engage in team sports, you hone people-management skills, time-management skills and personal discipline that prepares you for actual working life.
On National Pride
Patriotism was strong when Singapore gained independence in 1965. We understood what national pride actually meant. It’s ironic because we were born British subjects! The water polo players are highly regarded because we have won the gold medal at every SEA Games since 1965. So much so that winning is sometimes taken for granted by the public. However, rigorous training still takes place and the tension of competition is still there for the players. And I feel that this is what water polo is especially good for: building our esprit de corps. We compete without any foreign talent in the team. If we lose, so be it. But if we win, we win as a nation.
On Missed Chances
My first SEA Games final was especially memorable. We were up against the Malaysians and the score was level until the last quarter. I’ve always learnt to be quick and anticipate events in the pool. I saw a scuffle for the ball and reckoned that we would win the foul, which we did. In the split second before the referee blew the whistle, I positioned myself closer to the opponent’s goal. When the game restarted, there were 10 seconds left. I had the ball in my hands and only the goalkeeper to beat. I made my shot, but sad to say, hurled it right at the goalkeeper. Fortunately, Tan Eng Bok (a local water polo legend) scored shortly after that and won the match for Singapore. This was the closest we ever got to nearly losing a SEA Games gold medal because the difference was only one goal – I still sometimes experience dreams about what could have been if I had scored! But it’s always better to take your chances and miss than to not take them at all.
On Planning Ahead
Always have a game plan before you embark on anything because you need to understand your objectives, strengths, weaknesses and the problems you might face. But a 10-year plan is not possible because things change very rapidly these days – three to five years is a better length to aim for. It’s similar to water polo: You can’t plan for a match beyond the one you’re going to play. Your plan has to be adaptable. Use the same tactic on every team you meet and you’ll lose for sure!
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