SEA Games: Mixed doubles and men's doubles pairs claim 2 golds for S'pore 1 of 2 Koen Pang (left) and Wong Xin Ru won Singapore's first table tennis gold at the SEA Games on May 18, 2022. PHOTOS: WORLD TABLE TENNIS, LIANHE ZAOBAO Laura Chia PUBLISHED MAY 18, 2022, 4:28 PM SGT HANOI - Koen Pang and Wong Xin Ru won Singapore's first table tennis gold at the SEA Games in Vietnam on Wednesday (May 18). They beat teammates Clarence Chew and Zeng Jian 3-2 (11-5, 11-8, 7-11, 7-11, 11-5) in the all-Singapore final at the Hai Duong Gymnasium. Pang and Wong started on the right foot, storming to a 6-0 lead in the first game and dominating it. The second was a much closer affair, with Zeng and Chew upping the ante but Chew then sent the ball into the net on three straight occasions to hand Pang and Wong the game. The third saw a series of long rallies with both teams evenly matched before Zeng and Chew edged ahead and later continued their momentum to force a decider. However, Pang and Wong regrouped to dominate the rubber and clinch the gold. Chew was also a gold medallist on the day, combining with Ethan Poh to beat Richard Gonzales and John Russel Misal of the Philippines 3-1 (5-11, 11-8, 11-4, 12-10) in the men's doubles final. The women’s doubles pair of Zhou Jingyi and Zeng settled for the silver after losing 3-0 (11-9, 11-4, 11-7) to Thai defending champions Suthasini Sawettabut and Orawan Paranang. MORE ON THIS TOPIC SEA Games: End of an era as S'pore women's team surrender table tennis crown SEA Games: Shuttlers settle for sixth straight team bronze
GAN WRAPS DISTANCE SWEEP ON DAY 5; SINGAPORE STAYS ATOP SEA GAMES MEDAL TABLE Gan Wraps Distance Sweep on Day 5; Singapore Stays Atop SEA Games Medal Table (swimswam.com) Retta Race BY RETTA RACE 0 May 18th, 2022Asia, International, News, Previews & Recaps 2021 (2022) SOUTHEAST ASIAN GAMES Tonight’s finals session saw Singaporean Gan Ching Hwee complete an impressive sweep of freestyle events culminating in her victory in the women’s 1500m distance. Stopping the clock in a time of 16:36.73, the 18-year-old captured her 4th individual gold medal, adding this event to her previous wins this week in the 200m free, 400m free, and 800 free. Her results this week are a carryover from a successful freshman season at Indiana University in the United States, where she placed 3rd in the Big Ten in the 1650 yard freestyle after making her debut for the team in January. She raced at the NCAA Championships, earning Honorable Mention All-America honors in the same event, and shortly thereafter rolled into a best time in long course in the 400 IM at the Pro Swim Series meet in San Antonio. In other races Thailand’s Jenjira Srisaard earned her 5th medal of the meet in the women’s 50 free. She won the 50 fly individually earlier this week and was also the silver medalist in the 100 free, 50 breast, and 400 free relay. Jenjira took top honors in the 50 free in a mark of 25.12 while her teammate, Kamonchanok Kwanmuang got it done for gold in the 400m IM in 4:49.98. Jenjira’s 50 free swim is a new Thai Record, breaking her own mark by two-tenths of a second. With one day of competition remaining, Thailand has 4 gold and 20 total medals. That already surpasses their total of 2 gold and 18 total medals from 2017. Singapore ended the night in the women’s 400 medley relay, with the combination of Bonnie Yeo, Letitia Sim, Quah Jing Wen and Quah Ting Wen collectively clocking a winning effort of 4:07.62. The men’s events were highlighted by Vietnam’s Pham Thanh Bao doubling up on his 100m breast win with a victory in the 50m breast. The Vietnamese ace earned a time of 28.28 to beat the field and add another gold to his nation’s column, plus a new National Record. Additional Winners: Malaysia’s Hoe Yea Khiew took the men’s 200m free in a mark of 1:47.81. That puts him half-a-second short of the Malaysian National Record that was set in 2017. That marks a second-straight win in the event for Malaysia, following up on Welson Sim’s victory in 2017. The men’s 200m IM saw Trần Hưng Nguyên complete a sweep of the men’s IM events, with the Vietnamese swimmer stopping the clock in a time of 2:01.22 to win the 200m IM this evening. That swim is a new Vietnamese Record. Vietnam has 9 gold medals and 21 total medals with a day of racing remaining – 1 gold and 2 total medals shy of their 2017 result. Swimming Medal Table Through Day 5 ABOUT RETTA RACE Retta Race Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having just earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.
SEA Games: Teh Xiu Hong bags Singapore's first shooting gold since 2017 Teh Xiu Hong finished first with a score of 34. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI Deepanraj Ganesan PUBLISHED MAY 18, 2022, 2:47 PM SGT HANOI - After missing out on the top prize at the last edition in 2019 and suffering a slow start at the current SEA Games in Hanoi, Singapore's shooters finally broke their duck on Wednesday (May 18). In the women's 25m pistol final, Teh Xiu Hong finished first with a score of 34. Compatriot Teo Shun Xie (22) finished fourth out of eight finalists. It is Teh's first gold medal after finishing second in the event in 2015 and 2017 and the Republic's first title in this discipline since Nicole Tan's win at the 2013 Games. At the 2019 SEA Games in the Philippines, Singapore took home one silver and four bronzes but failed to win a shooting gold for the first time since 1991. It is the contingent's fourth medal at these Games. Earlier on Wednesday, Fernel Tan and Gai Tianrui clinched a silver in the 10m air rifle mixed team event. The Singaporeans were defeated 16-10 by Indonesia's Resti Citra Dewi and Gustafian Fathur in the final. On Tuesday, on his debut at the SEA Games, 17-year-old Lionel Wong bagged a silver in the men's 10m air rifle with a score of 246.5 points . Sisters Adele Tan and Fernel and teammate Natanya Tan claimed a bronze in the 10m air rifle women's team event before drawing blank in the women's 10m air rifle individual event on Monday. MORE ON THIS TOPIC SEA Games: All in the family for these Singapore shooters SEA Games: Lionel Wong, 17, bags 10m air rifle silver on Games debut
Yahoo News SEA Games: Teong Tzen Wei obliterates 50m free mark in spectacular swim Chia Han Keong - 1h ago SEA Games: Teong Tzen Wei obliterates 50m free mark in spectacular swim SINGAPORE — On an evening when Singapore's next generation of top swimmers excelled, it was Teong Tzen Wei who shone the brightest, as he obliterated the SEA Games record en route to winning the men's 50m freestyle on Thursday (19 May). The 24-year-old regained the gold medal he last won in 2017 in a stunning 21.93sec - the second-fastest time recorded by an Asian swimmer this year after Japan's Shinri Shioura (21.91sec) and the first Southeast Asian swimmer to dip under 22 seconds. Compatriot Jonathan Tan, the 2019 Games winner and owner of the previous Games mark of 22.25sec, came in second despite also breaking his record in 22.24sec. Vietnam's Jeremie Luong was third in 22.85sec. "Miracles do happen," Teong told reporters in between huge gasps for air after his scintillating swim. "I'd like to thank everyone who had been me through this journey to go under 22 seconds. It's a big moment for me, I'll soak it in and then move on, so that I can achieve better things." While Teong's feat was the highlight on the final day of the swimming competition, Singapore's up-and-coming swimmers showed that the city-state's dominance in the pool is unlikely to wane, even as the likes of Joseph Schooling, Quah Zheng Wen and Quah Ting Wen are reaching the tail end of their illustrious careers. Breaststroke specialist Letitia Sim began the gold rush by clinching her second gold medal in her debut Games, the 18-year-old clocking 1min 8.79sec to win the women's 100m breaststroke to add to her 50m breaststroke victory. Malaysia's Phee Jinq En claimed the silver in 1:09.60, while Singapore's Christie Chue was third in 1:10.29. Following Teong's winning swim, it was the youngest of the Quah siblings to shine, as Jing Wen pipped her elder sister Ting Wen to the women's 100m butterfly gold. The 21-year-old clocked 59.15sec to edge out her 29-year-old sister (59.34sec), with the Philippines' Jasmine Alkhaldi coming in third (1:01.15). The Quah sisters also teamed up with Chue and Gan Ching Hwee to land the final gold medal of the competition, the women's 4x200m freestyle relay. The Singapore quartet clocked 8:10.75 to finish comfortably ahead of Thailand (8:18.67) and Indonesia (8:26.24). After six days of competition, Singapore swimmers have won 21 golds, 11 silvers and 12 bronzes to maintain their iron grip as Southeast Asia's top swimming nation.
SEA Games: Cherie Tan claims third gold in Hanoi as S'pore women bowlers win team event Singapore's women's bowling team retained their SEA Games gold medal on Thursday (May 19) in Hanoi. SNOC Laura Chia UPDATED 4 HOURS AGO HANOI - Singapore's women's bowling team have retained their SEA Games title with Cherie Tan winning her third gold in Vietnam on Thursday (May 19). The quartet of Tan, New Hui Fen, Daphne Tan and Bernice Lim scored 5,049 pinfalls at the Vincom Megamall Royal City's Heroworld Bowling Centre. Malaysia (4,951) clinched the silver while Indonesia (4,843) was third. The Republic had been second behind the Malaysians after Wednesday's first block of three games but surged ahead thanks to a strong score of 965 pinfalls to start the second block on Thursday and never relinquished that lead. MORE ON THIS TOPIC SEA Games: Singapore's bowlers bag silver and bronze in men's doubles event SEA Games: Team Singapore can win 45 golds in Hanoi for third-best away showing The Singapore men's bowling team earlier settled for bronze after Jaris Goh, Timothy Tham, Cheah Ray Han and Darren Ong racked up 4,963 pinfalls, finishing behind champions Philippines (5,275) and runners-up Malaysia (5,162). While Ong was disappointed they did not achieve their goal of winning the event, he said they were still satisfied to have won a medal. The 26-year-old said: "Disappointment comes with any sport... but the good thing when you don't succeed is you learn from your mistakes. "It's only through competitions that we know what mistakes we make under pressure, which is something training can't simulate." Cheah, 22, added: "This is a sign of growth for the men's team. We're not just satisfied with a bronze. A few years ago, we would have been really happy. "This time we are happy but we also recognise that we didn't perform to the best of our standards and this will spur us on to go for more gold medals (in the future)." Tham, 23, was happy to come home with a team medal in his second SEA Games outing after Singapore missed out on a medal in 2019. "One thing is about coming home together with a medal. You can win the individual events but if your teammates didn't win, you will feel a bit sian. "But when you come together, the energy is all positive and it feels good. That's one of the reasons we really like the team event. During the game, we build off the energy of each other and encourage each other. If one person is down, we pick each other up." Earlier, Tham and Goh had won a silver medal while Cheah and Ong took the bronze in the doubles, which was won by Indonesia's Hardy Rachmadian and Ryan Leonard Lalisang.
SEA Games: Archer Contessa Loh breaks Singapore's 9-year gold drought Contessa Loh won gold in the women's individual compound event on May 19, 2022. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR Deepanraj Ganesan PUBLISHED 6 HOURS AGO HANOI - After an almost nine-year wait, a national archer is on top of a SEA Games podium once again after Contessa Loh won gold in the women's individual compound event on Thursday (May 19). Loh, 27, bagged Team Singapore's 39th gold medal of the Hanoi Games after a 144-140 win over home favourite Phuong Thao Le of Vietnam in the final. It is Singapore's first archery gold since Chan Jing Ru won the individual women's recurve event at the 2013 Games. The last time a Singaporean archer claimed a medal in the women's compound event was in 2005, when Maryanne Gul won bronze. Since 1983, when the Republic hosted the Games, only Chan and Tan Pek Hoon, who won two golds in the women's individual 70m competition as well as the women's overall title, have reached the top of the podium. Another Singaporean, Madeleine Ong, claimed the bronze after a 146-140 win in the play-off against Vietnam's Nguyen Thi Hai Chau. At the last edition of the Games in 2019, Singapore did not have any medals to show for while it had one silver in 2017. MORE ON THIS TOPIC SEA Games: Second gold medal for Singapore's kayakers SEA Games: Gan Ching Hwee is 1st winner of women's 1,500m race, her 4th gold
SEA Games: Lawyer Tan Zong Yang wins Singapore's first men's 400m medal in 47 years 1 of 2 Tan Zong Yang clocked 47.46sec to win the 400m bronze medal in Hanoi on May 15, 2022. PHOTO: EPA-EFE Sazali Abdul Aziz Correspondent PUBLISHED MAY 15, 2022, 6:22 PM SGT HANOI - Put Tan Zong Yang in front of a judge at a pre-trial conference, and the young lawyer will sweat bullets. But on the track in front of thousands of spectators, the 27-year-old is far more relaxed. Enough, in fact, to run the race of his life and pull off a milestone for Singapore track and field. On a blustery evening on Sunday (May 15) at the My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi, Tan burst out of the starting blocks and clocked 47.46sec in the men’s 400m to finish third at the SEA Games, behind Thailand’s Joshua Atkinson (46.44sec) and Vietnam’s Phuc Le Ngoc (47.27sec). Another Singaporean, Thiruben Thana Rajan, was seventh in 48.22sec. Tan’s bronze medal was the Republic’s first in the event for 47 years. Only Ho Mun Cheong, in 1969, and Cheah Kim Teck, in 1975, had been on the podium before, with both winning silvers. While he was not aware of the almost half-century long drought and pleased he ended it, Tan had no intention on dwelling on the past, and instead looked forward. “It feels great, but I’m not the youngest any more,” he said. “There’s a good batch of talent coming up with people like Thiruben (21) and Reuben Rainer Lee (19), who will be running with me in the relays too... I’m hoping they can go one or even two steps further than me in the future.” Tan had taken five months’ no-pay leave from work – he is an associate at Niru & Co LLC – to focus on preparing for the SEA Games and said this paid dividends. “I am still in work group chats but my company has been very understanding, so I have an ease of mind to train,” he said. “I don’t think many people get this opportunity, so I’m very grateful to my firm.” He added that “the learning curve for a lawyer is steep” and planned to return to work soon after returning from Hanoi. He admitted that, for now, he still feels more at ease on the track than working on cases. “I haven’t really attended major trials, but even at pre-trial conferences I get nervous... and I find myself perspiring in front of the judge, even on Zoom,” he said, with an embarrassed laugh. “It is a different kind of nervousness, I would say.” Tan is the second athlete under the charge of Portuguese coach Luis Cunha to win a medal at the Hanoi Games. A day earlier, Shanti Pereira had pulled off a spectacular win in the women’s 200m to win a second title, seven years after she won her first. But Cunha brushed aside his impact on his athletes, instead saying: “It’s always a rewarding feeling when you help athletes achieve their goals. As a coach, you are in the business of helping others. Coaches are good only if the athletes are good.” Meanwhile, in the women’s high jump also on Sunday, Michelle Sng leapt 1.75m to become the first Singaporean woman to win three SEA Games medals in the discipline with a second-place finish. She had claimed a bronze in 2015 and won the gold in 2017. The gold went to Vietnam’s Pham Thi Diem (1.78m), with the bronze also going to a home jumper, Pham Quynh Giang (1.70m). While she admitted she was disappointed she was not able to clear a higher mark – her national record is 1.86m – Sng noted that strong winds had affected the entire field and she was still satisfied at making the podium again after missing out two years ago. “If you look at the overall results, it’s quite a poor showing this year compared to previous years... So in general everyone underperformed today and it’s just too bad for me. But I’ll take the medal. “At least I have the full medal collection now,” she quipped. MORE ON THIS TOPIC SEA Games: Silver for Jowen Lim as Singapore wrap up wushu event with best away showing SEA Games: End of an era as S'pore women's team surrender table tennis crown
SEA Games: Second gold medal for Singapore's kayakers Lucas Teo (right) teamed up with Brandon Ooi for Singapore's kayakers second gold at the Hanoi Games on May 19, 2022. PHOTO: SINGAPORE NATIONAL OLYMPIC COUNCIL/FACEBOOK Deepanraj Ganesan PUBLISHED 7 HOURS AGO HANOI - A day after winning the Singapore canoeing team's first gold medal at the SEA Games in seven years, Lucas Teo teamed up with Brandon Ooi for the Republic's second gold in the sport at the Hanoi Games on Thursday (May 19). The Singaporean duo was fastest out of six teams in the men's kayak K2 1,000m final with a timing of 3min 40.779sec at the Thuy Nguyen Hai Phong Aquatics Centre. Indonesia's Irwan Irwan and Indra Hidayat took silver with 3:45.266 while Htet Wai Lwin and Myint Ko Ko from Myanmar settled for bronze with a timing of 3:45.499. Teo won his first gold medal since 2015 in the men's kayak single (K1) 1,000m race on Wednesday. The latest triumph takes Teo to his fifth medal of his 12-year career after the 2015 title, a silver (men's K1 1,000m), a bronze in the men's K4 1,000m team at the 2011 edition and the double gold in Hanoi. This is also Ooi and Singapore's second gold medal in the same event. In 2015, Ooi teamed up Bill Lee to win the event on home soil. The sport was dropped from the 2017 Games while Singapore did not win any medals in the 2019 edition. At the 2015 Games, Singapore captured seven gold and five silver medals. MORE ON THIS TOPIC SEA Games: Singapore kayaker Lucas Teo claims first gold in Hanoi SEA Games: Cherie Tan claims third gold in Hanoi as S'pore women bowlers win team event
SEA Games: Team Singapore can win 45 golds in Hanoi for third-best away showing Expectations are high for Team Singapore, following strong showings in 2019 in the Philippines. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH Sazali Abdul Aziz Correspondent PUBLISHED MAY 11, 2022, 8:54 PM SGT HANOI - Former national swimmer Mark Chay returned from his first SEA Games in Jakarta in 1997 without a medal, but with a memory that still cracks him up even 25 years later. "The fondest memory I had out of the pool was how Gary (Tan, now swimming's national head coach) and I were roommates with a bodybuilder," he said of their burly companion. "There we were, two scrawny 15-year-olds at our first open (age) event, and our roommate was this muscular bodybuilder in his 30s. "But that sets the tone for the Games. It's not just about you as an individual or your sport, it's about you learning how to represent the country and fly the flag along with athletes from other sports and events." Chay, now 40, said the SEA Games was the perfect stepping stone for him to progress to bigger sporting stages. He went on to compete at the Sydney and Athens Olympics and was also Sportsman of the Year in 2001. Many of the 427 athletes who will represent Singapore at the Hanoi SEA Games - 243 of them debutants - will no doubt be hoping for a similar trajectory. Expectations are high for Team Singapore, following strong showings in 2019 in the Philippines (53 gold, 46 silver, 68 bronze) and 2017 (58-58-72) in Kuala Lumpur, which remains their best performance at an away Games. That mark is likely to remain, given the significantly leaner contingent (compared to 569 in 2017 and 666 in 2019) in the Vietnamese capital this year. While sports administrators declined to set a medal target for athletes in Hanoi, The Straits Times believes Singapore's athletes have the potential to garner 45 gold medals. This would surpass the current third-best away showing of 43 golds won at the Korat Games in 2007. Led by Olympians Joseph Schooling and Quah Zheng Wen, Singapore's swimmers are likely to dominate in the pool once more and mine almost half of that total target. While the sailors, who typically deliver a good haul of golds at the Games, will not be in Hanoi as sailing is not contested, others sports like table tennis, bowling and shooting should contribute multiple medals, as could sports where the Republic has enjoyed recent success in such as fencing and cue sports. Combat sports, which account for a record 32.5 per cent of the 40 sports contested in Hanoi, are also likely to chip in with medals in silat, jiu jitsu and wushu, with silat exponent Iqbal Abdul Rahman notching the first gold for Singapore on Wednesday in the men's artistic singles (Tunggal). Former national hurdler Dipna Lim-Prasad, however, noted that the athletes' journey to Hanoi has been tough given challenges posed by the pandemic such as a lack of overseas training and competition opportunities - the Games were also postponed from December 2021 owing to Covid-19. MORE ON THIS TOPIC SEA Games: Singapore's Goh Chui Ling aiming for four medals on the track SEA Games: S'pore footballers down but not ready to go out in Cambodia clash Lim-Prasad, 30, added: "It can definitely be overwhelming for anyone as a first-timer, let alone when you have this (less than ideal) lead-up. "It's a tricky balance to try and observe and learn, get used to environment, and find your footing." For Lim-Prasad, her SEA Games debut in Palembang in 2011 was one to forget as she did not make the final of the women's 100m hurdles. But she learnt from that failure and exposure gained at the London Olympics a year later helped set her up to medal at the 2013 and 2015 SEA Games, setting a national record in the former. "I think doing poorly (in 2011) was a jolt to my system," she said. "By the time I got to the 2013 SEA Games, had more experience, more determination. I felt like I knew why I was there." Sports psychologist Edgar Tham from SportPsych Consulting, said the pandemic meant a loss of control for athletes over their training, which may affect their motivation and perception of the improvements they are aiming to make. As the SEA Games dates were only confirmed last October, the shorter preparation period could also mean they may not be as prepared physically or technically. "Having said that I'm sure our athletes are all set to go," stressed Tham. "As athletes, this is what they've always wanted: A chance to compete. It's exciting, it's a wonderful change (for them)." In April, Singapore Sport Institute chief Su Chun Wei had echoed the same sentiment. He said: "The pandemic has taught Team Singapore (athletes) to exhibit and personify... resilience, perseverance and excellence. "I'm very confident the ambition and desire for Team Singapore athletes to do their best at this upcoming SEA Games is without a doubt... I believe they will put out a very strong and good show in Vietnam." Ultimately, the young sportsmen and sportswomen should focus on what they do best, said Chay. "Enjoy the moment, you're a rookie only once," he said, when asked what advice he had to offer. "You've qualified on your own merit, so we know you can do us proud. It's just about settling your nerves and enjoying yourself... You never do well when you're not having fun." MORE ON THIS TOPIC SEA Games: No targets set, but medals for Team Singapore will come with personal bests, say officials SEA Games: From Olympic champions to trailblazers, five athletes to watch in Hanoi
SEA Games: More work ahead, even as athletics deliver best haul for S'pore since 1993 Singapore's 100m hurdler Ang Chen Xiang (second from left) won his first medal, a silver, in his fourth SEA Games outing. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR Sazali Abdul Aziz Correspondent PUBLISHED 12 MINS AGO HANOI - Patience and perseverance have paid off for Singapore's athletics contingent at the SEA Games who will return to the Republic on Friday (May 20) with their best total return for almost 30 years, but more work is to be done if they are to build on this promise. They picked up 11 medals - one gold, three silvers and seven bronzes - in Hanoi, marking a significant improvement from the last edition of the biennial event three years ago in the Philippines, where they picked up just three bronze medals. Hosts Vietnam continued their dominance of the athletics programme, topping the table with 22 golds, well clear of Thailand (12) and the Philippines (five). For Singapore, the last time they yielded a double-digit return was the 1993 edition on home soil, with 12 (1-3-8). Singapore Athletics (SA) president Lien Choong Luen was "elated" with the team's showing and said it was the result of a concerted effort from the track and field fraternity. "I'm very proud, first and foremost, of the athletes," he said. "But also of the coaches for keeping the faith in them through the pandemic. "A big shoutout must also go to the technical officials and events team (in SA), as well as the broader athletics community for their role in this performance." This is the first Game since Lien and his team were elected as SA leadership in September 2020, and they had sought to run the association, previously plagued by infighting and politicking, with a more athlete-centric approach. Former national sprinter and men's 100m record holder U.K. Shyam said that the marked improvement was also the result of athletes staying true to their course. "The medals go to show we are not short of talent, and that it's about being consistent," said Shyam, 45. "Some of them have been at a few SEA Games so now they're more mature, have composure and consistency from the years of training and competing. At this level is about staying in the sport and improving over time." He gave the example of 100m hurdler Ang Chen Xiang, 28, who won his first medal, a silver, in his fourth SEA Games outing. Other athletes, like 27-year-old Tan Zong Yang (400m), 26-year-old Calvin Quek (400m hurdles) and 29-year-old Goh Chui Ling (800m, 1,500m and 10,000m) also won breakthrough medals here despite years of falling short at previous Games. Said Shyam: "At the Asian Games, it is rare that you get a medal in your first outing because you need a couple of cycles of training and competing to get there. "It's now the same at the SEA Games. The standards in the region are improving from 20 years ago, and the lines are all blurring, be it from the (top of) South-east Asia to the Asian level, or from the (top) Asian level to the world level." Achieving this consistency, however, is challenging said national relays head coach Luis Cunha. "The problem is the system in Singapore does not allow athletes to have a long 'normal' career," said the Portuguese. "After they finish university, they start working (instead of continuing to train). And if you have a nine-to-five job it's hard to train well. "It's possible, but it still will not be easy to compete against at the international level, many of whom are full-time athletes. And this is a problem that affects athletes sports in many sports, not just in athletics." Cunha warned that unless this is remedied, the success in Hanoi may prove to be a false dawn. "Some people will be happy because we have many debutants and so there's potential (to go further)," he said. But the truth is some are going to quit in the next two or three years, so in the end we are always in the building stage." While he is aware of these challenges, Lien chooses to remain bullish. "As I told the team in Hanoi, this is only the start," he said. "We can use the excitement this team has delivered and I want to see more... participants from other events like racewalking, more throwers, more female representatives and even more younger athletes." The athletes are equally optimistic. Thiruben Thana Rajan, 22, who won a bronze medal as part of the 4x400m relay team, said: "I think this shows... we can have a good next generation of athletes for Singapore. I really think we can do it."
SEA Games: Singapore's Teong Tzen Wei is Asean's first sub-22sec swimmer Teong Tzen Wei celebrates winning the mens 50m freestyle. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH Kimberly Kwek PUBLISHED 11 HOURS AGO HANOI - As Teong Tzen Wei walked away from the mixed zone after completing his post-swim interviews at the Aquatic Sports Palace on Thursday (May 19), a loud bellow could be heard from the locker room. Inside was the familiar figure of national head coach Gary Tan, waiting to embrace Teong, who had just won the 50m freestyle in a SEA Games and national record of 21.93 seconds, ahead of defending champion and compatriot Jonathan Tan (22.24sec) and Vietnamese Jeremie Loic Nino Luong (22.85). Not only was Teong the first South-east Asian to go under 22sec, his effort was faster than the 2018 Asian Games winning time of 22.11sec. Furthermore, only four men in Asia have ever swam the event faster than the Singaporean. Teong, who also broke the Games record to win the 50m butterfly, said: "It feels like miracles do happen. I'd like to thank all the people who've helped me in the past, in my journey to reach this goal. It's a big moment for me, I'll soak it in, move on so I can achieve better things in the future." Tan added: "When we saw 21.9 it was crazy and amazing to see him get that mark. It's something we were working towards and hoping that Jonathan would get there, but I'm glad someone dipped below that 22... I cannot ask for more." Teong's win was one of the four golds Singapore bagged on the final day of the competition as the Republic topped the medal table once again with 21 swimming titles. The best showing had come in 2015 and 2019 with 23 golds. Tan felt the team had exceeded their expectations: "We were quietly working through some numbers and we can either hit 25 or 12, we didn't know what to expectations. We've come on the middle ground of 21, it's a nice number to have so I'm happy with the result." He also praised the performances of Maximillian Ang, 21, and Letitia Sim, 19. Ang won two golds, including his first individual title in the men's 200m breaststroke, a silver and two bronze. Sim won the women's 100m breaststroke on Thursday to finish her first Games outing with three gold, a silver and a bronze. Quah Jing Wen also ended on a high, winning the women's 100m butterfly just ahead of her sister Ting Wen. The siblings then combined with Christie Chue and Gan Ching Hwee to capture the 4x200m free relay, the meet's final event. Jing Wen, 21, who is Singapore's most bemedalled swimmer at this year's Games with six golds, said: "I personally feel like I'm on the up and up and like the past four years I feel like I've been stagnant and not making any progress. "I feel like at this meet, I've shown just a little bit of what I am capable of and it's comforting to know that I'm still improving and on my way to achieving my goals." MORE ON THIS TOPIC Sports fraternity backs Schooling's call for dialogue on athletes serving NS SEA Games: More work ahead, even as athletics delivers best haul for S'pore since 1993
If NS rightly comes first, should we complain if a swimmer comes second? Rohit Brijnath Assistant Sports Editor Swimmer Joseph Schooling has called for a "national dialogue" on NS. PHOTO: ST FILE PUBLISHED MAY 19, 2022, 5:41 PM SGT Joseph Schooling is a flash in the pan and doesn't really understand greatness. It's what a stranger insisted in his e-mails to my colleagues and me. I used to grin. Maybe this man was expecting the reincarnation of Michael Phelps. People adore athletes and they expect from them. They watch and they cheer. They invest emotionally and feel let down by failure. They pray on Twitter, praise on Instagram and are sarcastic on Facebook. Heroes one day are over-rated stars the next. This is a game within a sport. Still, expectation is intrinsic to sport and athletes mostly shrug it off. Many don't read newspapers or switch off social media, but expectation does not allow for escape. On walks in the city, people will politely ask Schooling: "Bring back a medal, OK?" This isn't unfair because nations have an appetite for victory only because the athlete has created one. Greatness begets hope. A fast time makes us anticipate a faster one. Athletes are ambitious, unsatisfied and demanding of themselves and we are only following their lead in a way. But expectation - gleeful, mad, emotional as it is - also requires a base of reason. The best discussions in sport are also the most informed ones. With Loh Kean Yew, for instance, I already hear: Why isn't he winning more? But most athletes never win an Olympic gold or a world championship and one itself is extraordinary. In the past 20 years, 14 different women have won a single Grand Slam title and 35 different men have won a single golf Major. All are great. Others win more but take a few summers to flower. With Schooling, expectation naturally stalked him to last year's Olympics where he swam below his best. The Joseph of Tokyo never quite found the Joseph of Rio. Maybe he got lost, perhaps he did not commit adequately, either way he was average. But what I liked about Schooling was that he did not wave away defeat or reach for excuses in Tokyo. He owned his performance. "Damn, like come on, that sucks" he told us about his race then. The best athletes need courage, to win but also to honestly wear defeat. But what should we expect of Schooling now? How much speed is left in him? How many medals and at which Games? He can't run away from his form and times, but we - fans, media, officials - can't run away from one truth: The road to greatness allows for little compromise. Schooling must do national service, and he is gladly doing it, but the question really is this: Can top-class, competitive sport and NS co-exist? From Australia this week came a story on Kyle Chalmers, who won 100m freestyle gold in Rio and silver in Tokyo. Chalmers has chronic pain and feels he may not be able to lift his shoulders above his head when he's finished. Still, he said: "I think I will push through to Paris and see where the mind and the body are at." It speaks to a certain madness among professional athletes, but then a 24-hour chase of excellence always hurts. Phelps practised every day for years and said that before the 2008 Olympics his routine was as follows: "Eat. Swim. Do other workouts like weightlifting. Sleep." His entire life was committed to the split second. So if you want to compete with these people, you must give 100 per cent. The mathematics is simple. There is no 88 per cent champion. If that's as much as you can give, it will reflect in the place you finish and the times you set. Even at the Asian Games, or the SEA Games, you can't show your best unless you're coming from a system which allows you to find it. MORE ON THIS TOPIC Joseph Schooling calls for 'national dialogue' on expectations of athletes serving NS Sports fraternity backs Schooling's call for dialogue on athletes serving NS And so we return to the question: Can you find your best self as an athlete during NS? Can you train and recover and see a psychologist and biomechanist and tune yourself into an athletic machine? And if it's not possible because that's not really the purpose of it, then that's perfectly fine. But should we, then, at least adjust our expectations of these men? Is it fair to ask for the best times from those who are not full time? If NS rightly comes first, should we really get worked up if a swimmer comes second or third? This isn't about Schooling for he's too old to reap the benefit of any potential change. But his suggestion of a national conversation is interesting. Millions are spent on sport in this nation in the hope that investment will spawn heroes. Champions are what we're chasing. But what we do with them, and what we want from them, is worth a discussion. MORE ON THIS TOPIC National athletes and NS: Not 'game over' for all Sporting excellence and NS: Abiding principles for rite of passage for Singaporean sons
SEA Games: Meet Siti Mastura Rahim, the Singapore doctor who's also a sharpshooter Siti Mastura Rahim fulfilled her dream of a medal when she bagged a bronze on her debut at the Hanoi Games. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR Deepanraj Ganesan PUBLISHED MAY 19, 2022, 11:10 PM SGT HANOI - Siti Mastura Rahim once had ambitions of winning medals for Singapore in badminton at the SEA Games. On Thursday (May 19), the 33-year-old fulfilled her dream of a medal when she bagged a bronze on her debut at the Games in Hanoi. But instead of a racket, she was wielding a shotgun which cost her around $11,000. Her reward for scoring 25 in the final? The bronze in the individual women’s trap, behind Vietnam’s Hoang Thi Tuat (39) and Indonesia’s Adylia Safitri (36). So how did Siti – an Under-18 girls’ doubles champion for Raffles Junior College in badminton who had also represented the country in the sport – move from the swift swishes of a racket to the thundering booms of a shotgun? She picked up shooting while at university. The Singapore Shooting Association had been to the National University of Singapore, where she was studying medicine, on a recruitment drive. She tried the sport and it was love at first sight. She said: “I liked the fact that it was dynamic, reflexive and instinctive. I loved how the clay target exploded in the air when I shot it.” In trap events, shooters use the shotgun to take down a clay target as it moves away from the shooter at varying angles. Siti had been in top form yesterday. She finished first among 11 competitors with a score of 102 during the first round and advanced to the final before finishing third out of six. She was pleased with her medal given that she has had to juggle work, education and training all at once. She is a senior resident at the Changi General Hospital and in the final year of a six-year orthopaedic surgery residency programme. Siti, who competed at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, said: “Today’s medal is a recognition of all the hard work I have had to put in. “I dedicate my weekends to training. It’s not been easy but what has kept me going is my drive and desire to represent the country at the SEA Games and win a medal. “I’m so glad that I have done it but I want more. Next year, I’m going for the gold.” MORE ON THIS TOPIC SEA Games: Teh Xiu Hong bags Singapore's first shooting gold since 2017 SEA Games: All in the family for these Singapore shooters
SEA Games: All in the family for these Singapore shooters (Clockwise from left) Sisters Fernel and Adele Tan, father and son, Gai Bin and Tianrui, and siblings Martina and Marat Veloso. ST PHOTOS: SAMUEL ANG, ESMOND FOO Kimberly Kwek PUBLISHED MAY 18, 2022, 1:15 PM SGT HANOI - The SEA Games are a family affair for some among the 424-strong Singapore contingent competing at the Hanoi SEA Games. Dancesport has siblings Gary and Chelsy Tsan, as well as Jerome and Rachel Teo, silat the brothers Sheik Farhan Sheik Alau'ddin and Sheik Ferdous while the diving team has the Ong twins, Sze En and Rei En. The Straits Times looks at the familial ties in shooting: father and son Gai Bin and Tianrui, sisters Adele and Fernel Tan, as well as siblings Martina and Marat Veloso. Gai Bin and Tianrui Father and son duo Gai Bin (left) and Tianrui are representing Singapore in shooting at the SEA Games in Hanoi. ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO When your parents are national shooters Gai Bin and Fan Xiaoping, who share 16 SEA Games pistol medals between them, it is almost inevitable that your second home is the shooting range. That was indeed the case for Tianrui, but the teenager did not take to the sport at first. He began shooting at 10 as part of the Ministry of Education's Junior Sports Academy programme, but preferred to play basketball with his friends while also dabbling in hockey and badminton in primary school. The 18-year-old said: "At the start, I felt it was very boring but bo bian (no choice), they (his parents) forced me so I just continued." It took him about three years to really take an interest in shooting when "I saw my scores going up, it motivated me and slowly I picked up interest". Even then, the teenager opted for the air rifle instead of following in the footsteps of his parents as he wanted to do something different. But four-time SEA Games champion Gai Bin does not mind as he only wanted his children - Tianrui and daughter Tianyue, 26 - to try the sport. As coaches, the couple firmly believe that the sport can play a significant role in building one's character and developing traits such as self-control. He explained: "During training and competitions, you need to concentrate and you have to control every part of your body. If you can't do that, or if one small part of your body moves, then you can end up shooting badly." MORE ON THIS TOPIC SEA Games: Calvin Quek is 1st S'pore man to win 400m hurdles medal since 1969 SEA Games: Team Singapore can win 45 golds in Hanoi for third-best away showing The 53-year-old, who also won three golds at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, noted that his son has mellowed since he picked up the sport. The once playful and impatient boy used to be triggered by incidents such as an accidental bump by strangers but he now shrugs them off. "When I took up shooting, I calmed myself down, I can control myself better," said the Institute of Technical Education College Central student, who is proud of his father's achievements. "During my studies, I also focus better in class and in school; I've changed a lot. I'm more patient with my friends, I can tolerate more things." After rising steadily through the ranks in the national team, Tianrui earned the nod for a debut at the Hanoi SEA Games, where he will be competing with his father for the first time. It will be Gai Bin's eighth appearance at the regional event. Tianrui finished sixth in the men's 10m air rifle on Tuesday (May 17) while Gai Sr was seventh in the 50m pistol. Both have other events on the programme. Tianrui and Fernel also captured a silver in the 10m air rifle mixed team event on Wednesday. But the duo said the Games will not be any different from other overseas competitions as they view each other as teammates rather than family when they are competing. "At home sometimes we will share some of our experiences with each other but we won't talk too much because he has his own coach," said Gai Bin. "It's his first time at the SEA Games so he will slowly learn from the experience." Adele and Fernel Tan Sisters Fernel (left) and Adele Tan at Yishun Safra, on April 12, 2022. ST PHOTO: SAMUEL ANG Sisters Adele and Fernel Tan share the same fashion sense, enjoy sushi and pasta, and even have matching charms on their shooting tripods. Such is the bond between the duo, who also have the same birthday, but that ends at the shooting range. Adele, 23, and Fernel, 20, who both compete in the 10m air rifle, have gone head-to-head countless times in competitions and selection trials, but they do not hold back despite how close they are. "When there is a need to, we will be competitive, especially in competitions. It's our responsibility as athletes to do our best," said Adele, a second-year undergraduate at the National University of Singapore. "We don't let go of our own abilities (just because we're sisters) but we also don't hate each other." There is no animosity when one beats the other in a competition - they joke that they will beat the other in the next one. They credit the support of the community around them, including their family members, coaches and schools, for encouraging healthy competition instead of pitting them against each other. The biggest challenge of being siblings in the sport? Finding enough space in the car for their luggage when they travel for overseas competitions. MORE ON THIS TOPIC SEA Games: 4x200m freestyle team beaten to gold; breakthroughs from swimmers Ang and Gan SEA Games: Double delight as S'pore bag historic men's epee gold, retain women's foil team title
Adele, who won two bronze medals at the 2019 SEA Games, said: "Everyone thinks that our friends and family will compare and there's only one gold medallist but since we were young, our parents weren't like that. "If she wins, it probably just means that she was better on the day and I probably have some stuff to improve on." The sisters may share similar interests, but their shooting styles are quite different - Adele tends to be more intuitive, while Fernel prefers taking more time to shoot. Last year, as Adele was preparing for the Tokyo Olympics, Fernel agreed to be her companion during practice for a month-long training camp that saw them housed at the Singapore Sports School. The only time they could leave the school was on the weekends, when they would go to Safra Yishun to compete. When boredom crept in, they kept themselves entertained with online shopping and watching Hong Kong period drama series. Fernel made her Games debut in Hanoi, where she partnered Adele and Natanya Tan to win a bronze but finished seventh in the individual event. She had said earlier: "Handling the pressure is one of my top goals; I feel like if I'm able to handle it, it can bring me far in other competitions." Martina and Marat Veloso Siblings Martina (left) and Marat Veloso at Yishun Safra, on April 12, 2022. ST PHOTO: SAMUEL ANG Marat remembers the moment that inspired him to pursue the sport of shooting. It was 2014 and the then-11-year-old was on the edge of his seat as he watched his older sister Martina competing in the final of the ISSF World Cup in Munich. On that fateful day, Martina's final shot saw her beating the Czech Republic's 2008 Olympic champion Katerina Emmons for the gold - a milestone for the 14-year-old. Recalling that moment, Marat, 19, said: "I was feeling nervous and anxious because I really wanted her to win a competition so I was emotionally involved even though I wasn't actually there. "The fact that she was a World Cup champion at the age of 14 sparked my interest because shooting is a sport where age does not matter. I was kind of interested in shooting because of how competitive it is and that even shooters who are still young and in their teens could still be world champions and win many international competitions." Eight years on, Marat and Martina are competing at the Hanoi SEA Games, where Marat will be making his debut while Martina is featuring in her third Games. Growing up in a sports-mad household - all five Veloso children are named after tennis players - the duo dabbled in a variety of sports from a young age. Both siblings hold junior black belts in taekwondo, while Marat was also a competitive swimmer and Martina tried synchronised swimming for a while. But shooting won out in the end. Having been in the sport for about a decade, Martina, a first-year communications undergraduate at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, often shares lessons she has picked up over the course of her career with her brother, like dealing with competing in high-level competitions as a newer shooter. She is also the first person Marat, a third-year engineering student at Nanyang Polytechnic, goes to if he needs any advice. "It's nice to have a sibling in the same sport and at a high level - I'm able to teach him some things that I learned along the way and he's also able to relate to some of them," said Martina, a two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist. With both of them having the same pet event, the 22-year-old mainly shares advice on the mental aspect of the sport, such as how to manage expectations. She is also aware of the pressure Marat feels to live up to her achievements and frequently reminds him that the most important thing is for him to enjoy the sport. MORE ON THIS TOPIC Shooting: Marat Veloso steps out of older sister Martina's shadow SEA Games: Silver for Jowen Lim as Singapore wrap up wushu event with best away showing Marat, who has been working with his coach and sports psychologist, said: "I really want to do well so both of us can have good performances and everyone can think that these Veloso siblings are really good. Ever since I started shooting, everyone already has had high expectations of me because I am Martina's brother. "It's hard dealing with this pressure because it's always there, I just have to deal with it, just focus on the things that I can focus on and are in my control." One of their memorable moments from being in the same sport was at last September's Singapore Cup, where they rewrote their national men's and women's 50m rifle three positions records. Their friendly competition extends to the family too, with Marat determined to beat Martina at being the favourite among their three younger siblings - Monica, Michaella and Mikhael, who are 10, eight and four respectively. Martina said: "He is very domesticated - he knows how to change diapers and stuff because my mum couldn't do everything. I'm surprised they do not like him more than they like me... I think it's more for him like he wants to beat me but I'm like, 'No, you cannot', but I'm looking forward to the day he does. It'll be a good thing to celebrate." MORE ON THIS TOPIC SEA Games: Teh Xiu Hong bags Singapore's first shooting gold since 2017
Singapore's Alvin Woo wins historic xiangqi gold at 31st SEA Games Dyan Tjhia/SportSG Alvin Woo participating in the rapid team event earlier in the 31st SEA Games. Published May 20, 2022 HANOI — Singapore's Alvin Woo clinched a historic gold medal for Singapore on Friday (May 20) as he won the xiangqi (Chinese chess) men's standard singles event. This is Singapore's first gold in the sport and the first time xiangqi has featured at the Games. Woo, who is Singapore's eight-time national xiangqi champion, beat Cambodia's Hok Kung in round 7 of the event to confirm his gold. He did not lose a game in the seven rounds of the competition. Singapore's Ngo Lan Huong also clinched bronze in the women's standard singles event on Friday. READ ALSO Chinese chess checks in with hushed SEA Games debut Earlier in the Games, Woo and Low Yi Hao also clinched a bronze medal in the rapid team event after Singapore beat Thailand 2-0. Speaking to CNA, Woo said he hopes his win will help to raise the profile of xiangqi in Singapore and encourage more people to pick it up. "I would say it’s not totally unexpected and I’m very happy that I did get gold, especially when it’s the first time Xiangqi is being featured in the Games," he added. "So it plays a very special meaning in my heart." CNA
After smashing SEA Games records, swimmer Teong Tzen Wei wants to 'stay the path' Teong Tzen Wei reacts during the men's 50m freestyle victory ceremony at the 31st SEA Games. (Photo: SportSG/Andy Chua) Matthew Mohan @MatthewMohanCNA 21 May 2022 06:00AM(Updated: 21 May 2022 06:00AM) HANOI: Teong Tzen Wei swims like a force of nature but speaks with the wisdom of a philosopher. Throughout our 25-minute conversation, Teong discusses mental barriers, stressors and the psychology of sport. He's 24. This is an athlete cognisant of the fact that as much as his battle is won in the pool, it is one that has been also fought outside it. On Thursday, Teong became the first Southeast Asian swimmer to go under 22 seconds for the first time when he smashed the SEA Games 50m freestyle record Based on swimming governing body FINA's rankings, Teong's time of 21.93 is the second fastest recorded by an Asian swimmer this year. But ask him a day later on whether the achievement has sunk in and Teong’s answer is simple. He’s moved on. “I’ve kind of moved on already. We are going to a training camp now and then off to the World Championships. So can't really think too much about the past,” he told CNA before flying with some members of the Singapore swim team to a training camp in Croatia. “Bad races, good races. Honestly, you just learn from it and then you try to get better.” Related: Singapore’s swimmers conclude SEA Games campaign with 21 golds Based on previously published qualifying standards for the 2024 Olympic Games, Teong’s timing is under the mark needed to qualify for Paris 2024. However, FINA later clarified that these standards were not confirmed and will be updated in due course. The Olympic qualification window is slated to open next year. “It’s a good showing of the training (I've been doing). So I need to just stay the path,” added Teong. A PSYCHOLOGICAL BATTLE As a child, Teong would dream of making it to the Olympics. But somewhere along the way, that dream dimmed. “As you grow older, with ... school and Singapore culture, the dream gets a bit harder and further away. So it left my mind for a very long time. It just became too far out of reach,” he explained. While serving National Service, Teong had the opportunity to continue with training where possible. But things changed when he won his first SEA Games gold in 2017. In his debut Games, Teong would clock a time of 22.55 in the 50m freestyle. Teong Tzen Wei celebrates winning the men's 50m butterfly. (Photo: SportSG/Andy Chua) “It just reminded me that … I had some ability to just give it a shot,” he explained. “Many people try, not many people succeed, so why not give it a shot and see where this road takes me?” But while he was the underdog at the 2017 Games, the win meant that that was no longer the case. “I started to make goals for myself, trying to take things to the next level,” Teong said. But in so doing he was compounding the pressure on himself. At the following year's Asian Games, Teong recalls how he would set alarm at the same time every morning. This small action was aimed at reminding him of his goal to win gold. But eventually, just before his race, Teong would cramp up from the stress of it all. “When I raced my finals in the 50m freestyle in the Asian Games, I was so nervous my legs were cramping even before I jumped into the pool,” he said. “That was purely psychological.” Teong would finish fifth in the event. It took him about three to four years of struggle - reading books, speaking to close friends, honing his mental skills - to learn how to master nerves and swim composed races. “When a stressor keeps coming at you. You have two options - you can either try to cut it out, most people try to cut it out by distracting themselves. Which is not actually solving the actual problem,” he said. “You have to learn how to handle it instead of distracting yourself.” Teong realized that routine he used to keep, which included habits such as staying out late, eating unhealthy food were “distractors” as he coped with stress of swimming, competitions and expectations. And if he were to break away from this routine, he would have to kick these bad habits. “If you continue the same routine, you get the same results. It's simple as that. If you want everyone like different results. You have to change your routine,” he said. And this change has reaped results. At this edition of the Games, Teong set two meet records and won two golds And while these hog the headlines, people don’t know how much work goes on behind the scenes to get there, said Teong. “I really think if people understood how much work and effort and planning and everything that goes into 21 seconds, they would be like: ‘This guy is insane, this guy is crazy!'” he said. “I prefer it if people were to see the work behind it. But that’s just not how it is. All they see is … the result.” THE HARD WORK AND THE RESULTS Doing well brings with it pressure. But now, Teong has grown better at handling it. “Honestly, last time I think it would have put a lot expectations on me,” he noted. “Now (I feel) I'm just another dude. In 100 years, nobody's gonna give a **** you know? I’m just passing through time, I'm just doing my own thing." While Teong’s goal was at first to get to the Olympics, his new philosophy now mirrors the one which one of his coaches, Gustavo Schirru, has. Not just be satisfied with qualifying for the Olympics but to compete with the best there. Teong's goal in each race has always been to execute the swim the way he wants to, and that has not changed. “My goals are always just to swim the race how I want to do so - in terms of maintaining my composure before races, just executing what has been discussed with my coaches,” he said. “There is always ups and downs … It’s easier to just focus on the processes instead. If the times comes, it comes. If it doesn’t come, then it is just another learning lesson for you to move on.” And just because one gets the processes right, that in itself does not guarantee results, he added. “Sometimes you can get the processes all right and the results still don’t come. That just teaches you that life isn't fair," he said. "But when things just align … (it is) a bit of magic.” And if Teong stays the course as he intends to, we could see more magic in the years to come. Source: CNA/mt(rw)
SEA Games: Ching Hwee Gan Finishes Distance Quad; Singapore Dominates Medal Table Photo Courtesy: Gan Ching Hwee by MATTHEW DE GEORGE - SENIOR WRITER 20 May 2022, 11:27am SEA Games: Ching Hwee Gan Finishes Distance Quad; Singapore Dominates Medal Table Ching Hwee Gan completed a sweep of the four longest women’s freestyle races at the 2021 Southeast Asian Games, winning the 1,500 free on the penultimate day of the meet Wednesday. The mile was the only target left for the 18-year-old Indiana University freshman, who had made quick work of the 400 and 800 free after a battle in the 200. There was no drama in the 1,500, Ching Hwee pulling away in 16:36.73 to win by 18 seconds over Tien Vo Thi My of Vietnam, also the runner-up in the 800. Joseph Schooling, Quah Siblings Have Singapore Sailing at SEA Games SEA Games Results Page Ching Hwee grabbed a fifth gold in the concluding 800 free relay, teaming with Christie Chue, Jing Wen Quah and Ting Wen Quah to win in 8:10.75. That made a clean sweep of the women’s relays, with the Singaporean women winning 13 events. The squad finished atop the swimming medal table at the My Dihn Water Sports Palace in Hanoi, with 21 gold medals out of 40 events. That accounts for nearly half of the nation’s 47 total medals through Friday at the multi-sport festival. Singapore swimmers brought home 44 total medals. Vietnam was second with 11 golds and 25 medals. The Quah siblings predictably finished in dominant fashion, a 1-2 in the women’s 100 butterfly on the final day. Jing Wen Quah got to the wall first in 59.15 seconds, with Ting Wen second. She was also third in the 50 free, behind Amanda Lim. Letitia Sim added her second breaststroke gold in the 100 with a time of 1:08.79, Chue finishing third. The only meet record of the final two days belonged to a Singaporean swimmer in Tzen Wei Teong, who set a national record with a time of 21.93. Countryman Jonathan Tan earned silver. It complements Teong’s meet record in the 50 fly. Singapore had to settle for silver and bronze in the race of the meet, the men’s 50 breast. Thanh Bao Pham of Vietnam got to the wall first in 28.28, just .03 up on Nathaniel Gagarin and .04 ahead of Maximillian Wei Ang, who earned his third breaststroke medal of the week to go with bronze in the 200 IM. Vietnam’s performance on the men’s side was akin to Singapore on the women’s: 11 golds, including two of the three relays. Huy Hoang Nguyen completed a daunting double on the meet’s final day, first winning the 800 free in 7:57.65, the only man under eight minutes, then turning around to win the 200 fly in 1:58.81. That gave him five gold medals (four individual) on the week. The 800 free was a 1-2 finish with Huu Kim Son Nguyen. Hung Nguyen Tran also completed the IM double on the penultimate day, though his time of 2:01.22 didn’t duplicate the meet and national record feat of the 400. All six swimming nations left with a gold medal. The last holdout was Malaysia, but Hoe Yean Kwih rectified that on the next-to-last day by winning the 200 free in 1:47.81. He would add silver in the 800 free. Thailand picked up a pair of wins on Day 5 of the meet, with Jenjira Srisaard picking up her sixth medal and second gold in the 50 free with a time of 25.12. Kamonchanok Kwanmuang won the 400 IM in 4:49.98, a 1-2 with countrywoman Jingutha Pholjamjumrus. Dulyawat Kaewsriyong was second in the men’s 400 IM, and Navaphat Wongcharoen claimed silver in the men’s 200 fly.
TEONG TZEN WEI BECOMES SINGAPORE’S FIRST-EVER SUB-22 SECOND 50 FREESTYLER Comments: 1 Read up on how the 2021 (2022) Southeast Asian Games concluded, with a historic national record coming in the men's 50m freestyle. Stock photo via stock The swimming competition at the 2021 (2022) Southeast Asian (SEA) Games concluded last night in Hanoi, Vietnam with the nation of Singapore clinching its reign atop the overall medal table. Singapore ultimately concluded with a total of 44 medals, comprised of 21 gold, 11 silver and 12 bronze. Behind the consecutive champions was Vietnam who amassed 25 medals in all, while Thailand rounded out the top 3 with 22 medals on the meet. To close out the multi-day elite affair, Singapore’s Gan Ching Hwee completed her impressive sweep of the women’s freestyle distance events taking the 800m free title. Stopping the clock in a time of 8:42.60, the 18-year-old captured her 5th gold medal, adding this event to her previous wins this week in the 200m free, 400m free, and 1500m free. Her results this week are a carryover from a successful freshman season at Indiana University in the United States, where she placed 3rd in the Big Ten in the 1650 yard freestyle after making her debut for the team in January. She raced at the NCAA Championships, earning Honorable Mention All-America honors in the same event, and shortly thereafter rolled into a best time in long course in the 400 IM at the Pro Swim Series meet in San Antonio. Letitia Sim also got on the board for Singapore on the last night, taking the women’s 100m breast in a time of 1:08.79. She adds that to her 50m breast gold and 200m breast bronze, as well as her 200m IM silver and 400m medley relay gold. Finally, for Singapore, standout Teong Tzen Wei notched a national record en route to topping the men’s 50m free podium. 24-year-old Teong touched in a time of 21.93 to become his nation’s first-ever sub-22 50m freestyle, adding this Singaporean standard to the 50m fly Games Record he already notched earlier in the meet. Entering this meet, Teong’s personal best in this splash n’ dash rested at the 22.39 he notched just this past March. The national record stood at the 22.12 Jonathan Tan clocked last year. With one swim, Teong crushed both en route to making Singaporean history. Post-race Teong said, “It feels like miracles do happen. I’d like to thank all the people who’ve helped me in the past, in my journey to reach this goal. It’s a big moment for me, I’ll soak it in, move on so I can achieve better things in the future.” Singapore’s national team coach Gary Tan added, “When we saw 21.9 it was crazy and amazing to see him get that mark. It’s something we were working towards and hoping that Jonathan would get there, but I’m glad someone dipped below that 22… I cannot ask for more.” Additional Winners: Nguyễn Huy Hoàn of Vietnam came out on top of the men’s 800m free, touching in 7:57.65 for a 1-2 punch with teammate Nguyễn Hữu Kim Sơn who secured silver in 8:04.23. Nguyễn was also the men’s 200m fly winner, clocking 1:58.81 to grab his second gold of the final night of competition. All told, Nguyễn captured 4 individual golds, including the 400m free, 800m free, 1500m free and 200 fly. Singaporean siblings Quah Jing Wen and Quah Ting Wen went 1-2 in the women’s 100m fly, with the former grabbing gold in 59.15 to the latter’s 59.34. The pair represented the only swimmers of the field to notch times under the 1:00 barrier. Final 2021 (2022) SEA Games Overall Swimming Medal Table
I overcame myself: Loh Kean Yew in SEA Games badminton singles final after tough fight HANOI - Amid the chants of “Vietnam! Vietnam!” and the booming of drums and blasting of air horns, Loh Kean Yew found himself trailing for much of the deciding game in the SEA Games badminton singles semi-final on Saturday (May 21). Laura Chia PUBLISHED MAY 21, 2022, 6:49 PM SGT HANOI - Amid the chants of “Vietnam! Vietnam!” and the booming of drums and blasting of air horns, Loh Kean Yew found himself trailing for much of the deciding game in the SEA Games badminton singles semi-final on Saturday (May 21). Several line calls had not gone his way as he sought to tame wily Vietnamese veteran Nguyen Tien Minh, 39, and the 24-year-old Singaporean cut a frustrated figure at the Bac Giang Gymnasium. But he brushed the negativity aside and focused on each lob, smash, drop shot and eventually survived the full throttle of the home crowd to reach his second consecutive SEA Games final. After his 21-15, 10-21, 23-21 win over world No. 69 Minh, the world champion said all he could think of was to keep hanging on. “I’m very tired for sure but I’m happy to be in the final,” he said. “Today, I overcame myself. I was definitely affected by the crowd but I managed my feelings and focused on playing my game. “Post-Covid, I haven’t been playing in such a loud atmosphere, so the environment was definitely a good one.” He will meet Thai world No. 18 Kunlavut Vitidsarn, who beat another Singaporean, world No. 88 Jason Teh, 21-11, 21-12. “Tomorrow will be a tough match so I will have to do my best,” added Loh. “Both of us will go all out... but it’s more of the process, so I will focus more on that.” The 2019 Games silver medallist was in fine form with his powerful smashes and quick movement early on, allowing him to dominate proceedings against former world No. 5 Minh in the first game. But the home favourite then captured the second game courtesy of several unforced errors from Loh and his own improved showing. The decider was a tight affair with several calls going against Loh but he managed to pull through. On whether this was tougher than his World Championships final win over India’s Kidambi Srikanth, he said: “Every match has its own toughness and I’m glad I broke through today in terms of my own performance and progress. "I think I can work on (my consistency) more but I’m happy I broke through fitness-wise.” World No. 10 Loh’s quest to become the first Singaporean to win the men’s singles title at the biennial Games since Wong Shoon Keat in 1983 has been aided by the absence of defending champion and world No. 6 Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia, and Indonesia’s fifth-ranked Anthony Ginting and world No. 8 and 2017 Games champion Jonatan Christie, who were not in their countries’ SEA Games squads. Singapore were involved in two other semi-finals yesterday, but like Teh, the doubles pairs had to settle for joint-bronzes. In the women’s doubles, Nur Insyirah Khan and Bernice Lim lost to Indonesia’s Apriyani Rahayu and Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti 21-10, 21-7. World No. 50 men’s doubles duo Loh Kean Hean and Terry Hee fell to Indonesian top seeds Pramudya Kusumawardana and Yeremia Erich Yoche Yacob Rambitan 15-21, 21-17, 21-19. Hee, 26, said it was a pity they lost the second game and was disappointed not to reach the final. He said: “We put up a good fight... They just won the Asian Championships so to play such a close match with them, I’m quite satisfied.” With five bronzes and at least a silver, the badminton team have surpassed their previous haul of one silver and two bronzes in 2019. Kean Yew said: “It’s good progress compared to the last time and I think we’re going in the right direction. I hope to see this (happening more).” Besides the women’s doubles showpiece which will see Indonesians Apriyani and Siti Fadia face Thai sisters Nuntakarn and Benyapa Aimsaard, the remaining finals will be contested by players from the same nations. The women’s singles is an all-Thai affair between Pornpawee Chochuwong and Phittayaporn Chaiwan while the men’s doubles will be contested by Indonesians Pramudya/ Yeremia Erich and Leo Rolly Carnando/Daniel Marthin. Malaysians round up the gold-medal matches with their mixed doubles pairs Chen Tang Jie/Peck Yen Wei and Hoo Pang Ron/Cheah Yee See facing off. MORE ON THIS TOPIC SEA Games: Shuttlers settle for sixth straight team bronze Loh Kean Yew wins, but S'pore lose 4-1 to defending champs Indonesia in Thomas Cup opener
