Group photograph of Singapore Yuen Kiew Physical Association staff and members who took part in the national pugilistic competition

This group photograph shows staff and members of the Singapore Yuen Kiew Physical Association who participated in the national pugilistic competition, held from May 20 to 27 in 1967 — the first of its kind in Southeast Asia. Amongst those pictured are instructors Sia Mok Tai (谢沐泰, front row, 3rd L) and Huang Sheng Shyan (黄性贤 front row, 4th R).Affiliated to the Foochow Association, Yuen Kiew Physical Association was established in 1956 in the spirit of promoting traditional martial arts such as wushu, Taiji, lion dance and dragon dance among Foochow practitioners. One of the earliest in Singapore to establish a dragon dance troupe in 1959, the association performed in numerous milestone events in the pivotal years leading up to Singapore’s independence. These included the opening of the Promenade along Nicoll Highway in 1959, as well as the commemoration of Tungku Abdul Rahman’s departure to participate in the London talks of 1961 — a series of discussions to iron out terms of merger between Singapore and the Federation of Malaya. The troupe's prominence and visibility continued in post-independent Singapore, through its presence in numerous local and regional pugilistic tournaments, as well as performing in several of the nation's National Day Parades.

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