Singapore’s first indoor rowing challenge on slides - The new sports & family activity?

The Civil Service Club recently held its 2025 edition of the Public Service Sports and Family Day, its annual event for all civil servants. The event, held on 26 July 2025, featured indoor rowing as part of its inter-agency team games, in addition to pickleball, tchoukball, and dodgeball. 

The indoor rowing challenge, led by Olympian & National Rower Joan Poh, saw great success as we introduced Concept2 slides. Rather than having the teams move on a fixed machine, the slides gave an on-water rowing experience, and the teams could row together on the ergometers. This is the first time Singapore has seen an indoor rowing challenge with slides. 
​
“It was incredible to see the energy and enthusiasm from the teams — some of whom were trying rowing for the first time! By introducing the Concept2 slides, we brought the rhythm and teamwork of on-water rowing into an indoor environment. This is more than just a workout; it’s a sport that builds connection, resilience, and trust. I’m excited to see indoor rowing take off in Singapore as both a fitness and community activity.” – Joan Poh, Olympian & National Rower

Apart from planning for the indoor rowing challenge, tryout and training sessions were available for the teams. The teams could experience indoor rowing with the slides while receiving coaching from professionals like Ms Pamela Leow, who is a World Rowing Level 1 and Strength and Movement Coach (MSc).

A total of 6 organisations participated in the indoor rowing challenge: Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Health, Civil Service College, Government Technology Agency of Singapore, and Sport Singapore. 
​
The challenge featured a Men’s Team Relay (4 males), a Women’s Team Relay (4 females), and a Mixed Team Relay (2 males, 2 females). 4 ergometers were set up on slides, and each team rowed a combined distance of 1000m in synchronicity, where it’s the ultimate test of team work and team effort — no one could simply spin off on their own. To put it simply, there could be no star rower!

The ergometer cable will extrapolate the wattage produced by each rower on the machine, and the timings were computed. Through a round robin system, we ranked the teams according to the number of wins. Congratulations to the following winners of each category!

Women’s Team Relay
Champion: Ministry of Home Affairs
2nd: Civil Service College
3rd: GovTech (1)
4th: GovTech (2)

Men’s Team Relay
Champion: Ministry of Health
2nd: Ministry of Home Affairs (2)
3rd: Ministry of Defence (1)
4th: Ministry of Home Affairs (1)

Mixed Team Relay
Champion: Ministry of Home Affairs
2nd: Ministry of Defence
3rd: Ministry of Health (1)
4th: Ministry of Health (2)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Singapore Rowing (@rowingsingapore)

Thank you to the Civil Service Club for this opportunity to share our wonderful sport, and we are certain that this challenge will be a trailblazer for Singapore to see more indoor rowing events with slides.

We would also like to thank Mr Desmond and Mr Goh Tua Soon for being our point of contact, and to our dedicated volunteers: Ms Lim Jia Yan (Former Rower), Mr Paul Ong (Member of Easter Rowing Club), Ms Pamela Leow (Strength and Movement Coach), and Ms Jasmine Poh (Participant at the last Singapore Indoor Rowing Championships).
​
For anyone out there looking for a recreational or competitive activity, we have you covered! Sign up for our Learn-to-row programme, and we will show you why rowing is one of a kind. If you are only looking to venture into indoor rowing, do mention it in the Learn-to-row form under “Anything you'd like to ask or share with us?” 

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok to keep up with the latest rowing news!