Mohamed Saifuddin Bin Mohamed Julaimi (Silat)
It does not matter the cheers from the boisterous crowd were deafening. Nor did it matter that he was battling a case of nerves in his debut for Singapore in a major competition. National silat athlete Mohd Saifuddin bin Mohd Julaimi knwo what he had to do at the 8th World Championship held in Singapore in 2004 - savour every moment.

"I simply focused on the competition and did my best in the arean", he says. "I got the silver medal but I wasn't disappointed, because I had the opportunity to see how other athletes from around the world fight."

The 19-year-old's single-minded focus on his sport echoes his single-minded love for it - he has lived and breathed silat since he has lived and breathed silat since he was five. His hard work and dedication has rewarded him well: he also picked up gold medals at the UK International Championship and the 4th Sijori Championship in 2004. Now he has capped his winning streak with the Sportsboy of the Year Award at the Singapore Sports Awards 2005.

"Saifuddin is very determined and focused, driven by his ambition to be a world champion," says Sheik Alau'ddin Yacoob Marican, Head Coach of the National Silat Team. "His family plays a huge part in his silat career; he wants to be as good as his uncle, who is a silat exponent."

Says Saifuddin, "I want to continue to participate in championships, so that I know where I stand among the world champions."