Joseph Schooling’s career on hold as national service calls following disappointing Olympic title defence
- Singapore government, which offers deferment for ‘exceptional sportsmen’, says Schooling’s national service must begin now meaning he could miss 2022 Asian Games
Singapore swimming sensation Joseph Schooling could be set for a lengthy absence from the pool after it was announced by the country’s ministry of defence that the 26-year-old’s national service deferment will not be extended.
Schooling, who shocked the world when he claimed the gold medal in the 100-metre butterfly at the Rio 2016 Olympics, had hoped his deferment of national service, which is compulsory for all Singaporean men, would be extended beyond August this year.
But those hopes were dashed on Thursday when the ministry of defence announced it would not be extending his deferment, nor that of his national teammate Quah Zheng Wen.
“As their deferment until 31 August 2021 has ended, both Mr Schooling and Mr Quah will proceed to fulfil their NS obligations, as agreed to when they applied for deferment,” read a statement.
“They will be enlisted once the necessary pre-enlistment procedures have been completed.”
Government rules in Singapore state that long-term deferment from full-time national service is only granted “very selectively for exceptional sportsmen”.
