For Vanessa Yong the past 18 months have been punctuated with new heights in achievement and focus. By nature a friendly girl, the18 year old trains full time in one of the most mentally demanding sports. The Sportsgirl of the Year for 2007 is one of 22 elite athletes in Singapore preparing for the Beijing and London Olympic Games under the umbrella of Project 0812.

Vanessa earned her Sportsgirl Award on the back of a team silver medal in the women's 10 meter air rifle at the Asian Games in Doha in December 2006 and individual and team bronze medals at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in March. She has come a long way since she began shooting as a Secondary One student at Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School.

Deferring her university studies was a major decision. As much as she recognized the importance of education she also nurtured a long held desire to compete at the Olympic Games. The silver medal at the Asian Games and her scores in Melbourne helped convince her that she has the ability to go the distance; “I used to panic under pressure, but the focus and concentration required in shooting have taught me how to manage difficult situations,” says Vanessa, “Training full time brings me closer to achieving my Olympic dream.”