Fourteen-year-old Chow Yong Jun, a water polo player from Singapore, is set to embark on a unique two-year adventure with Serbian club Valis. This opportunity marks the first time a Singaporean player will join a team in Serbia’s top water polo league. Departing for Serbia on January 20, Yong Jun, a student at the Singapore Sports School, aims to make the most of this chance despite acknowledging the challenges, such as the contrasting focus on studies in Singapore compared to Serbia’s emphasis on sports. The young athlete believes that the intense training and exposure in Serbia will help him improve rapidly and compete at a higher level. His talent was noticed by national senior team head coach Kan Aoyagi, who invited Yong Jun to train with the senior team since October. The Serbian stint is viewed as an excellent opportunity for him to further develop in water polo, and his academic studies will be continued through a distance learning program supported by the Singapore Sports School. Valis, based in Valjevo, Serbia, will provide a new and challenging environment for Yong Jun, who is eager to succeed during his two-year stint. His ultimate goal is to play for the national team and win medals. The support from his club, Pacer Water Polo Club Academy, and the Singapore Sports School will enable him to balance academics and sports during his overseas training.