Skip to main content

Advertisement

Advertisement

SEA Games: Twelve Singapore stars to watch in Kuala Lumpur

KUALA LUMPUR – Every two years, the region’s finest athletes converge to vie for supremacy and battle for national pride at the SEA Games. This year, they will come to the fore in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and the 29th edition of the biennial meet will get underway officially on Saturday (Aug 19).

Get ready to cheer on Singapore's athletes in action at the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games. All photos: TODAY, Reuters, AFP

Get ready to cheer on Singapore's athletes in action at the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games. All photos: TODAY, Reuters, AFP

KUALA LUMPUR – Every two years, the region’s finest athletes converge to vie for supremacy and battle for national pride at the SEA Games. This year, they will come to the fore in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and the 29th edition of the biennial meet will get underway officially on Saturday (Aug 19).

Ahead of the opening ceremony, TODAY takes a look at 12 members of Team Singapore’s largest ever away SEA Games contingent whose stars look set to shine the brightest and will be relied upon to spearhead the Republic’s hunt for glory in enemy territory.

 

JOSEPH SCHOOLING (SWIMMING)

All eyes will be on the 22-year-old swimmer, who is competing at the SEA Games for the first time after winning Olympic gold last year.

He is expected to win all three of his individual events and help the team win three more relays, while at the same time provide invaluable guidance to his younger compatriots.

 

QUAH ZHENG WEN (SWIMMING)

The Republic’s other genuinely world-class swimmer will look to bounce back from a disappointing world championships outing as the 20-year-old tackles four individual and three relay events.

This will be his first SEA Games since moving to Berkeley to train and study, and like Schooling, he will be a mentor figure to the younger swimmers.

 

SHANTI PEREIRA (ATHLETICS)

The poster girl of Singapore athletics is one of our best bets for gold on the track.

Diminutive but explosive, the 20-year-old sprint queen, who won the 200m and a bronze in the 100m at the 2015 SEA Games in Singapore, will look to soar to greater heights as she attempts the 100m-200m double in Kuala Lumpur.

 

FENG TIANWEI (TABLE TENNIS)

Cast out in the wild, the 31-year-old China-born paddler has proven she can flourish on her own.

The world No. 6 also has a point to prove after being unceremoniously dumped out in the group stages of the women’s singles two years ago when the SEA Games was held in Singapore.

 

JASMINE SER (SHOOTING)

Quiet and unassuming, the 27-year-old lets her rifles do the talking and they tell the story of a sharpshooter.

The two-time Olympian, who is our flag-bearer, has not publicly set any targets, but will be the favourite in both her events.

 

PETER GILCHRIST (BILLIARDS)

The balls dance to his magical tune whenever the 49-year-old takes to the English billiards table.

The England-born player is the reigning world champion and will be expected to notch a fifth consecutive gold, while he also eyes a first title in the doubles.

 

SASHA CHRISTIAN (WAKEBOARD)

Another of Singapore’s watersports darlings, the 24-year-old former Asian champion only returned from a long injury hiatus earlier this year and will defend her slalom and wakeboard golds, while aiming to better the team silver from 2015. 

 

MARK LEONG (WATERSKI)

A speed demon on the water, the 19-year-old is already an accomplished water skier at this young age and is the reigning Asian slalom champion.

This time, he will not only look to defend his gold, but also to improve his national record and blow the competition out of the water.

 

SHEIK FARHAN (SILAT)

He only turns 20 this December but this serious-looking silat exponent is already a two-time world champion.

Recently crowned the Sportsboy of the Year for 2016, he will be aiming to win his first SEA Games gold in his match class after winning bronze in 2015.

 

WOMEN’S BOWLING

Made up of sisters Daphne Tan and Cherie Tan, Jazreel Tan ((no relaton), Bernice Lim, Shayna Ng and newly-minted Sportswoman of the Year New Hui Fen, Singapore's accomplished women bowlers are out for revenge after failing to defend their team of five title two years ago on home soil when they lost to Malaysia.

This Games represents the perfect opportunity to inflict heartbreak on the hosts.

 

NETBALL

The defending champions sport a new look from the side that won gold two years ago, with only five remaining members, but are still confident of giving favourites Malaysia a run for their money. 

It won't be easy though - the Malaysians are reigning Asian champs and gave themselves apsychological boost by beating Singpaore 50-37 in a preliminary-round match earlier this week.

 

MEN’S WATERPOLO

There is not much to say about Singapore’s dominance at this level. They have won the gold medal every time this event has been held at the Games, and to date, the haul stands at 26. Despite the 4-4 scare that Indonesia gave them on Friday, they are expected to beat hosts Malaysia and deliver a 27th title on Sunday.

 

Related topics

SEA Games 2017

Read more of the latest in

Advertisement

Advertisement

Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.

Subscribe to get daily news updates, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.