The 29th South-East Asian Games was held in Kuala Lumpur between August 19 and 30. Although the host nation, Malaysia, bagged 323 medals, Team Singapore made its own mark at this multi-sports event with many unforgettable achievements, ranking 4th in the medal table.
Compared to the 2016 South-East Asian Games, the Singapore squad made their country proud, as various sports stars set milestones in different events.In 2016, the team failed to reach the list of top 8 countries in the medal tally, however, this year the table completely turned as the team created many historic moments and took home including their first gold medal in Men's Squash.
Not only this, Team Singapore was awarded an 'A-' grade by the country's chef de mission (CDM) Milan Kwee for the extraordinary performance in Kuala Lumpur. "While Team Singapore did well, there are improvements to be made. So I feel that A- is a grade befitting (of their performance), and I hope the results are indicative of bigger things to come," said Kwee, as reported by Today Online.
These achievers should be remembered for their contribution to the country's second-best medal haul of all time.
Joseph Isaac Schooling
The 22 year Singapore youngster, who beat Michael Phelps in the 100 meter-butterfly at 2016 Rio Olympics, continued his journey to the Kuala Lumpur Games, 2017. He bagged 6 Gold medals in 50 meters and 100-meter butterfly, and 100-meter freestyle event. Schooling clocked 23.06 seconds in 50-meter butterfly and 51.38 seconds in 100-meter freestyle, which set a new record in both events. In 4×100 meter freestyle, 4×200 meter freestyle and 4×100 meter medley relay, he won 3 gold medals along with his team mates Danny Yeo Kai Quan, Quah Zeng Wen, Pang Sheng Jun, Lionel Khoo Chien Yin, and Darren Lim Fang Yue.
Peter Edward Gilchrist
A world Billiards champion, Peter Edward Gilchrist won his 5th consecutive gold in English billiards singles. He knocked out the Myanmar player, Chi Ko Ko, by 3-0. The 48-year-old British-born player moved to Singapore in 2003. In the modern era, Gilchrist is known as the only player who scored more than 1000 break points in a tournament.
Martina Lindsay Veloso
Martina Lindsay Veloso, the 2014 International Shooting Sport Federation World Cup Winner, listed her name on the board of winners after bagging a gold medal in 10 meter Air Rifle even at 29th SEA Games.
The shooter from Singapore won a silver medal early in her career at the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics, where she was the youngest competitor.
Samuel Kang Shan Mu
The Singapore squash team won their first gold medal in men's squash event as well. Samuel Kang Shan Mu celebrated a historic victory over the Philippines along with his teammates: Vivian Rhamanan, Benedict Chan and Pang Ka Hoe. Additionally, Shan Mu has won a bronze in men's singles and a gold in men's jumbo doubles. He was also a part of the squash team which won a silver medal at the 2015 SEA Games.
Amanda Lim Xiang Qi
Singaporean freestyle swimmer, Amanda Lim earned a gold medal in women's 50-meter freestyle. She clocked 25.41 seconds, which was also a game record. The 24-year-old swimmer won 10 gold medals in South East Asian Games including freestyle and medley relay.
Feng Tianwei
Feng Tianwei, the Singaporean tennis player, has already won 14 gold medals in various world-class tennis events, including her 3 medals in Table Tennis event at the 29th SEA Games. The world rank No. 6, played against another Singaporean player, Zhou Yihan, to win the gold in women's singles. She won other 2 gold medals in Women's Doubles and Women's team.
Yu Shuran
The 17-year-old, Chinese-born figure skater made her presence felt at the 2017 SEA games. She won the gold medal in Women's Singles Figure skating against another Singaporean skater, Chloe Ing Xuanling. 29th SEA Games was the second event for which she won a gold medal, after the Singapore Figure Skating Championship. She is one of the brightest young sports personalities from Singapore, who represented the country at Kuala Lumpur.
