Dear Coaches,

This is an important message regarding the latest updated advisory on COVID-19 Vaccination.

As you may have read on local media, a 16-year-old Singaporean boy suffered cardiac arrest, six days after receiving his first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. It was reported that he did weightlifting at a gym and trained with heavy weights that were above his body weight, before he collapsed at his home in the subsequent morning on 3 July. He is now in critical condition at the intensive care unit in the National University Hospital (NUH).

From the latest Ministry of Health (MOH) Updated Advisory on COVID-19 Vaccination, dated 5th July 2021, MOH concurs with the recommendations by both the Expert Committee and Health Sciences Authority (HSA) for vaccinated persons to avoid strenuous physical activity after either the first or second COVID-19 vaccination dose. MOH advises all persons, in particular adolescents and younger men aged less than 30 years old, to avoid strenuous physical activity for seven days after their vaccination, be it the first or second doses, as a further precautionary measure.

Please read the advisory here: https://www.moh.gov.sg/news-highlights/details/updated-advisory-on-covid-19-vaccination.

Coaches are strongly advised to track your athletes who have taken their vaccination, and plan your training for them safely and appropriately as well as monitor their training responses.

As a responsible coach exercising your duty of care, it is important that you keep yourself updated with the latest MOH (https://www.moh.gov.sg/), and Sport Singapore advisories (https://www.myactivesg.com/COVID-19, https://www.sportsingapore.gov.sg/newsroom/media-releases).

It is with great sadness that the Singapore Taekwondo Federation (STF) informs you that our STF President, Mr. Edwin Lee, passed away this morning.  He was a great man, a passionate leader and a generous and active member of the Singapore sports community.

STF President Edwin Lee stepped in during a time when the STF was facing a tumultuous and uncertain future.  Although he had only held his tenure of the STF since 2020, STF President Lee worked tirelessly to restore the standing of our beleaguered Federation. With the trust and support of the STF board members, we are on our way to getting the STF reinstated with the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) and World Taekwondo. STF President Lee’s goal was to raise the profile of Taekwondo in Singapore and for us to be able to compete in the international arena. He envisioned that our High Performance team would participate and win Olympic medals in the near future.

STF President Lee was an avid member and contributor to Singapore sports.  Prior to joining the STF, STF President Lee was part of the leadership team of the Singapore Table Tennis Association (which led to Singapore winning a silver medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and 2 bronze medals at the 2012 Olympic Games in London). He also led the Singapore Tennis Federation as President for 14 years from 2001 to 2015.

Concurrent to being STF President, he was also the Treasurer at the Singapore National Olympic Council, a director of Singapore Olympic Foundation, and President of the Chinese Swimming Club.

Aside from being an active contributor to Singapore sports, STF President Lee was perhaps better known as the leader of one of Singapore’s renowned property developer, Lee Kim Tah Holdings.

Over the years, his philanthropic ambitions has known no bounds. Through the Lee Kim Tah Foundation, he helped to provide social services to children and youth and contributed generously to various Singapore schools. He also serves actively on the boards of several churches in Singapore and helped in the redevelopment of the Novena Church.

The STF would like to extend our deepest condolences to STF President Edwin Lee’s family.  His leadership, generosity, and spirit will genuinely be missed.

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Mr. David Koh, Deputy President

While I have only known him for nine months since he took up the Presidency, Edwin has worked tirelessly for the STF.  We would like to thank him for his kindness and effort during his tenure. The board will continue to work towards the vision President Lee established for the STF and continue to guide the organization to realize these goals. 

Ms. Jessie Phua, SNOC Vice-President and STF Board Member

Singapore has lost not only a great champion of sports but also a most generous son who warmly supported many community causes. A warm, sincere and kind gentleman with a heart of gold, I will definitely miss this dear friend of over 30 years. RIP Edwin.

Mr. Lawren Poh, Athlete’s Commission Chairman and STF Board Member

Mr. Edwin was most supportive of all the initiatives in developing the National squad to excel at the international level. On behalf of the national squad, we are deeply grateful and thankful of all the support rendered to us in the last few months.

Mr. Eric Li, Secretary, High Performance Standing Committee

As the President of Singapore Taekwondo Federation and the Chairman of the High Performance Standing Committee, Mr. Edwin has played a major role in supporting our National Athletes. Beyond that, he is always sincere, thoughtful, and has been a great friend and life mentor. I am deeply saddened by his passing.

Benjamin Sim, High Performance Standing Committee Member

“I will always remember the exuberant charisma in addressing working issues with a wicked sense of humour. Mr. Edwin has led with candour and quickly earned the respect of the committee to roll out various initiatives towards the sporting agenda. It’s been an honour and privilege to have crossed path with him and I will be forever grateful for his mentorship and friendship.”

Ms. Chelsea Sim, National Athlete

Mr Edwin was a generous man with a big heart and we appreciate all the good work he has done for the Taekwondo family.

Mr. Raja Zulfadli Bin Raja Mahmod, National Athlete

My team and I will always remember Mr Edwin as a fatherly figure who took care of our welfare so that we can focus on training hard and better our chances at international games.