The 2016 Nobel Cup was held at iM4U Sentral at Taman Perindustrian Puchong, on Thursday, 3rd November 2016. The tournament was won by Touchdown, making it the first time since 2013 that the trophy of Nobel Cup was changed from Bullseye to another house. Bullseye would lose this Nobel Cup before going on to win the 2017 Nobel Cup a year later.
This is the first Nobel Cup to be joined with the 2017 Sports Day scores, and the first time a Nobel Cup only lasted one day; previous Nobel Cups lasted two days each. It is also the first Nobel Cup to be coordinated by Mr Narish. Slamdunk achieved its highest ranking of the Nobel Cup, at third place; and this is also the first Nobel Cup to be held under a new scoring format.
Background
By this time, Bullseye would have had won a Sports Day and Nobel Cup victory in 2014 and 2015, and had already won the 2016 Sports Day. The Operation Speedrunner, initiated by Lau Wei Yiang and Caleb Chuang since the 2014 Nobel Cup, was in full swing. The trust among Bullseye members was building, but many seniors were graduating from Nobel International School, and a whole lot of new Bullseye members will need to learn the victory ropes. Therefore, the 2016 Nobel Cup would be the occasion that Wei Yiang and Caleb's batch, who are in Year 10 at the time, will lead Nobel Cup.
Many Bullseye members, especially the new ones, were aware of the Bullseye victories and were daring to continue the victory streak. However, as more seniors graduate, more lessons will need to be given to the younger students to persuade them to continue the victories for Bullseye, so that the notion and will to continue the Bullseye wins would be there. As the Operation Speedrunner plans had come far since the dawn of Year 8 onto Wei Yiang and Caleb, the time had come for their batch to lead the Sports Day. The 2016 Nobel Cup will be Wei Yiang and Caleb's final Nobel Cup before the IGCSE exams, as Year 11s are not allowed to lead or participate in the Nobel Cup tournament. As such, a journey for Bullseye for Wei Yiang and Caleb had begun in Year 8, and passed over towards the end of Year 10 and the eve of Year 11.
The 2016 Nobel Cup was the final Nobel Cup before the IGCSE exams, and as such, it was the transitional Nobel Cup for the plans of Operation Speedrunner. Because Wei Yiang and Caleb wouldn't be available due to IGCSE exams, the will to coordinate operations of Operation Speedrunner will have to come from younger and more energetic students of Nobel. Hence, 2016 was to be the pilot test of the entire operations of Operation Speedrunner; to send off the creators and initiators in a grand victory of Bullseye in the 2016 Nobel Cup and the 2017 Sports Day, and to honor their initiation of the entire Operation Speedrunner and Bullseye victory streak. The only problem was that there was no plan to combine the Sports Day and Nobel Cup scores at the time of the holding of the 2016 Nobel Cup.
Under Wei Yiang's Bullseye Legacy Plan, the plan initially was to win the 2014 Nobel Cup upon seeing success in the 2014 Sports Day, an event of victory hoped by Bullseye members. This was because it would be perceived as cool by Wei Yiang and Caleb to win both the Sports Day and Nobel Cup in the same year. Then, upon the success of the 2014 Sports Day and Nobel Cup victories, it was decided that the Nobel Cup plans be snowballed and applied to the 2015 Sports Day. Seeing success over the plans, upon victory of the 2015 Nobel Cup, the plans were covered to include every single Nobel Cup and Sports Day until Wei Yiang's graduation from Nobel. This meant that the 2017 Sports Day would be technically the last sports event Bullseye would win under Wei Yiang and Caleb's participation, as well as that of the Bullseye folks from their batch. The 2017 Nobel Cup was just an on-hold event, and it would be technically the Year 10s leading in 2017 supervised and supported by their Year 11 peers.
Should the Legacy Plan succeed, Bullseye would have had won a Sports Day and Nobel Cup in the same calendar year in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017, completing the landmark four-year victory streak desired by Wei Yiang and Caleb, from Year 8 to Year 11. The success of Bullseye would have had spanned 80 percent of the entire period of Wei Yiang and Caleb's Junior and Senior School life. It was expected that this Legacy Plan include the 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 Sports Day, and the 2014, 2015 and 2016 Nobel Cup, as the pressure and constraints of Year 11 would generally block Wei Yiang and Caleb from Nobel events due to the IGCSE commitments, and that the 2017 Nobel Cup would be decided in the near future. The plan was to win every single Sports Day and Nobel Cup as much as possible before IGCSE, as the post-graduation constraints would technically render future Sports Days and Nobel Cups inoperable and unchangable due to Wei Yiang and Caleb's exit from Nobel. Fortunately, many of the Bullseye members had the backing of the project.
Growing discontent of the management team
The Management Team in Nobel International School, were also quite tired of seeing a repeat Bullseye victory year upon year. Both 2014 and 2015 had saw the Sports Days and Nobel Cups fallen to Bullseye, and it appeared that 2016 was on the verge of doing the same. Three consecutive Nobel Cup and Sports Day victories in the same calendar year, would incite the wrath of the management.
The Management Team knew that if nothing was done, Bullseye would snap up a three-year victory of Nobel Cup and Sports Day victories. At the time, the Founder's Run was not listed as a separate event, having been held with Sports Day. The management knew that the Bullseye victories needed to stop. Having experienced almost three years of consecutive wins by Bullseye, the management felt that if Bullseye continued to win, no chance would be given to the other houses to win the Champion House trophy. Hence, the Management decided to do something. It was easy to see 2014 and 2015 fall to Bullseye. The management were concerned that 2016 and 2017 will also be taken over by Bullseye, and it had to be nipped into the bud to prevent chaos.
The Management Team was led by Ms Praveen Shadaan (Head of Curriculum), Mr Chan Lik Hoong (Management Advisor), Ms Lim Mee Wee (Head of Student Affairs), Ms Chia Bee Yong (Principal of Junior and Senior School) and Ms Sim, also known as Ms Sophia Ho @ Sim Kwan Ho (Head of Teaching and Learning).
Ms Praveen joined Nobel International School in the year 2011 and was the Deputy Head of Curriculum and led the planning of Nobel International School's transition from the Sekolah Sri Nobel syllabus. Ms Praveen obtained a Bachelor's Degree from the United Kingdom, and a Masters in Education from Universiti Malaya. Ms Praveen is known for being strict, but also open minded and outspoken. She led the planning of the Cambridge Curriculum and is tasked with liaising and preparing examination related facilities and logistics for Cambridge exams.
Ms Lim obtained her Bachelor's Degree in 2000 from the Malaysia University of Science and Technology. She joined Nobel in 2006 and served in the Upper Primary of the Elementary School as a Mathematics teacher before joining the Junior and Senior School in 2011. Ms Lim is well known for her hardline approach among all the management members. She was responsible for drafting most of the rules in Nobel International School, such as the Student Code of Conduct, and was responsible for disciplining most students in Nobel International School. She would normally rule with a stern approach to all student activities.
Ms Chia Bee Yong joined Nobel International School in 2006 and initially served as the Head of Curriculum. Hailing from Singapore, she served briefly until 2008 before returning to Singapore. Ms Bee Yong returned to Nobel International School in 2015 and served as Principal. She is an individual who puts academics at the heart of all school events.
Ms Sophia Ho @ Sim Kwan Ho, served as the Head of Curriculum from 2010 to 2014, before migrating to Hong Kong until 2016. Upon her return to Nobel, she served as the Head of Teaching and Learning. Hailing from Sabah, Ms Sim is a very wonderful teacher with a cheerful attitude.
Mr Chan Lik Hoong joined Nobel in 2004 and served as Principal of the Junior and Senior School from 2006 until 2010; in 2011, he was promoted to the post of Management Advisor. Mr Chan used to teach Biology and Chemistry in government secondary schools from 1976 until 2004. He is a founding staff member of Nobel International School.
Ms Lim and Ms Bee Yong were the most hardline of all management members, and were determined to put a stop to the nonsense. Ms Lim is known as a very strict disciplinary teacher during her time in Nobel. Ms Bee Yong, on the other hand, while academically focused, is also growing in discontent at the large amount of Bullseye victories. All other management members were neutral, but remain convinced by Ms Lim and Ms Bee Yong that the Bullseye victories must be stopped. This information was kept confidential and not communicated to other students of Nobel International School, and not revealed until 2023.
Prelude to Nobel Cup 2016
Responses by Bullseye members
Significance of a 2016 Bullseye Nobel Cup Victory
The Bullseye members were gunning for a victory of the 2016 Nobel Cup. Fresh from the victories of Sports Day 2014, Nobel Cup 2014, Sports Day 2015, Nobel Cup 2015 and Sports Day 2016, the Bullseye members were aiming to make 2016 a landslide bull run of all three consecutive academic calendar years. This course of victories would have had made Bullseye a formidable force not to be deterred, and it would have had been the most unprecedented plans of all time. Had this been successful, this would have had shocked the entire Nobel International School as it would have had resulted in one house winning three Sports Days and Nobel Cups. As the duration of victory would have had stretched for three years, this would have had been so prominent; it would have had made everyone turn their attention to Bullseye, fulfilling the ultimate aim by Lau Wei Yiang and Caleb Chuang.
The persuit of victory was so contagious; the Bullseye members wanted more. From trying to get everyone to just win both Sports Day and Nobel Cup 2014, and snowballing the success of the strategy from Nobel Cup 2014 to Sports Day 2015, and onwards to Nobel Cup 2015 and Sports Day 2016, the Bullseye members know the script for the third time, and were ready for persuit of excellence in Nobel Cup 2016 and Sports Day 2017. The Nobel Cup 2017, meanwhile, was to be the launchpad to Sports Day 2018.
House Captain Election
In order to win the 2016 Nobel Cup, Wei Yiang and Caleb Chuang's batch needed their own house captain, since they were Year 10 students assigned to lead Nobel Cup in 2016. Every Year 10 batch would lead Nobel Cup, and then the upcoming Sports Day when they enter Year 11. With Lim Wei Ming leading Nobel Cup 2014 and Sports Day 2015, and Sabrina Qistina leading Nobel Cup 2015 and Sports Day 2016, a person of similar charisma as Wei Ming and Sabrina was needed for the Year 10s in 2016.
Technically, the coordination of Nobel Cup 2016 and Sports Day 2017 would have had been very easy for Wei Yiang and Caleb, as they were the leadership batch. There was no need to get a final approval from the house captain as technically, every Year 10 student would be involved in discussions for the Sports Day and Nobel Cup, and that the House Captain would want ideas. Hence, as they were the leadership batch, it would be easier for younger students to look up to this batch. However, question lingered over as to who would be the house captain of Bullseye.
The Management pre-screened four candidates from each house in consultation with Ms Renee, the level leader of Year 10 in 2016, and for Bullseye, four candidates were selected by the teachers; Sean Mark, Yeo Eu Lynn, Chia Yan Ying and Alex Chia. Sean Mark is known for his athletic performance in track and field; Alex Chia for his basketball skills; Yan Ying and Eu Lynn were also reknowned for their dance activities. Eu Lynn also has an edge in Art and Design, having been part of the 2016 Art and Design IGCSE batch. To ensure that no nonsense happened, Wei Yiang and Caleb Chuang discussed interviewing the candidates. Wei Yiang led the interview, and decided that Sean Mark and Yan Ying had the best response to be House Captain and Assistant House Captain. The winner of the election would become the House Captain; the runner up will be the Assistant House Captain.
The Election process took place on Monday, 15th August 2016, and each student was told to put a piece of blank paper inside four separate boxes containing two choices for House Captain. Upon the reveal of the election results, Sean Mark was elected as house captain, and Chia Yan Ying as assistant house captain, to Wei Yiang's relief. This was also good as Yan Ying and Wei Yiang were in the same class. Prior to the election, Wei Yiang and Caleb discussed the interviews, and Wei Yiang concluded that Sean and Yan Ying were best candidates for house captain. Caleb urged against telling the Bullseye members this, warning of conflict and biasness in the results.
Selection of Sports House Committee
Upon the conclusion of the House Captain Election, Sean Mark named two committees; one for the Sports Day and another for Nobel Cup. For the Nobel Cup, Caleb Chuang was named the futsal captain; Alex Chia the basketball captain; Ong Pei Chi the netball captain; Derek Yong the chess captain; Ong Ting Yi the badminton captain and Jordan Tay the table tennis captain.
For the Sports Day, Caleb Chuang was named the Marchpast captain, with Zi Quan and Wei Yiang as assistants. Pei Chi and Ivyna were named dance captains; Benjamin Tenji and Yeo Eu Lynn the banner captains; Ong Ting Yi the Telematch captain; Jason Leing the athletics captain; Janelle Arnelia the secretary and Jen Thong the treasurer. Caleb told Wei Yiang to make sure he stayed on the marchpast team in order to aid him and Zi Quan in leading the squad, as Caleb and Wei Yiang had been in the march since Year 7.
Responses by Management Team
Response by Mr Narish
Mr Narish was the one who decided to let teachers vet the house captains in order to uplift the role of house captain to a serious leadership role. Mr Narish, aside from being the Sports Coordinator, was also responsible as Head of Student Leadership, leading the prefectorial board. He felt that the post of House Captain should be upgraded and not be frowned upon simply by any student aspiring for popularity, and to gain trust in student leadership.
Appointment of Mr Neoh Yeow Wen as Head of CCA
Mr Neoh Yeow Wen, the new head of CCA, was appointed in July 2016 to serve as Head of CCA, replacing Mr Eugene Tan who had resigned from Nobel. Mr Eugene previously served as Head of CCA from July 2015 after replacing Mr Paul Lau. Mr Neoh was a cool and funny guy, and was tasked with collaborating with Mr Narish and Mr Victor to plan for the Nobel Cup events.
Booking of iM4U Sentral as the venue for Nobel Cup
iM4U Sentral is located in Puchong, Selangor, being a 20-minute drive from Nobel's old campus in Kelana Jaya at the time. The venue was chosen because Nobel Cup activities being held at Nobel International School had caused disruption to classes and the IGCSE exams. Ms Praveen Shadaan, the Head of Curriculum, instructed the CCA Department to find a new venue for Nobel Cup to reduce inconveniences. This was in response to some Year 11 classes being used in 2015 for the Chess Competition. Under the plan, only Netball events would remain at Nobel while other events were moved to iM4U Sentral, which contained basketball, futsal, badminton and table tennis courts. The CCA had considered Taman Megah, Forum 19, and even some Chinese schools to hold the tournaments; they eventually settled on iM4U Sentral as the official venue.
Changing of tournament format for Nobel Cup
After numerous consultations between teachers, the CCA Department, led by Mr Neoh, decided on a round robin tournament to hold the Nobel Cup. The elimination tournament format was to be scrapped. Instead, the champion house of Nobel Cup would be decided by the accumulation of points from each game. The Nobel Cup was reduced from a 2-day event to a one-day event. While this made Nobel Cup easy to run and manage, however, it also indirectly disadvantaged Bullseye as the number of points decided the winner, and not the amount of games played.
Awarding of Captain's titles
Beginning from the 2016 Nobel Cup and 2017 Sports Day, a title of Captain was addressed to each of the house captains by Lau Wei Yiang. In this case, Sean Mark was addressed as 'Captain Sean'. This practice continued until the 2018 Sports Day, until which thereafter, this practice ceased to exist.
Nobel Cup Tournaments
The Nobel Cup was played at iM4U Sentral, and was the first time, refereed by external referees. Bullseye begun the tournament with a poor performance in most games, despite encouragement by Wei Yiang and Caleb. The Nobel Cup was eventually won by Touchdown.
The Nobel Cup took place on the backdrop of the 2016 United States Presidential Election. Touchdown would win the Nobel Cup with 100 points, followed by Bullseye 90, Slamdunk 70 and Homerun 60.
Aftermath
The Nobel Cup 2016 became the first Nobel Cup to be included as part of the 2017 Sports Day scores. Bullseye would go on to lose the 2017 Sports Day by one point; 648-649, after a competitive battle between Touchdown and Slamdunk, which pushed Bullseye briefly into third place. Bullseye would eventually go on to win the 2017 Nobel Cup, 2018 Founder's Run, 2018 Nobel Cup, 2019 Founder's Run and reclaim the champion house trophy in the 2019 Sports Day.
Goals for Nobel Cup 2016
The goal of Bullseye was to win the 2016 Nobel Cup, capping off three calendar years each containing a Sports Day and Nobel Cup victory in the same year. Unfortunately, this goal failed to succeed. This was one of three attempts for Bullseye to win a third consecutive Nobel Cup victory year, which all have yet to succeed; the others being in 2019 and 2024.
NOBEL CUP
<<< 2015 Nobel Cup 2016 Nobel Cup 2017 Nobel Cup >>>
[preceding event] [current Nobel Cup] [succeeding event]
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SPORTS DAY
<<< 2016 Sports Day 2017 Sports Day >>>
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FOUNDER'S RUN
<<< 2016 Founder's Run 2017 Founder's Run >>>
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