A Team With Many Threads
At the recent Nawasia event on 10 – 11 May 2025, I played alongside teammates from Singapore and Malaysia under Team Aisawan International:
Hafidah and Azmi( Singapore), who brought along their two young children Collette and husband Kimi( Malaysia) Deno and Izza( sisters from Malaysia) Ah Fung( Malaysia) Fabian Li( Singapore)
It was a beautiful mix of nationalities, genders, and life stages— but what really stood out was Hafidah and Azmi’ s unique position: being a competitive paintball couple with two kids in tow.
Parenting In The Pits
While some players were reviewing plays or adjusting gear, Hafidah and Azmi were also multitasking as full-time parents. Snacks were packed. Water bottles were rotated.
But they made it work— with good humor, and a visible love for both their children and the game. One could spot Hafidah refilling pods and Azmi carrying paint while keeping an eye on their kids building a Squishmallow Village on the team’ s table.
The team seamlessly blended care for the kids into our routine, integrating it naturally into our rhythm like we did with filling pods.
A Lesson I Didn’ t Expect
As someone without kids, I can only imagine the energy and balance required to travel, compete, and parent— all at once. But watching this family reminded me that children don’ t hinder passion; they reshape it, evolve it, and sometimes, make it richer.
These weren’ t kids glued to screens( once the phone died, anyway). They were soaking in the atmosphere, exploring boundaries, and learning the dynamics of a team without even stepping onto the field.
Jane Koh( Singapore) and Aliyas Poul( India) at the Nawasia Paintball Competition in Bangkok, Thailand. www. paintball. media
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