Despite unprecedented global circumstances, the previously postponed 2020 Summer Olympics have finally been given the green light. Throughout, Team Singapore’s would-be Olympians have kept a brave face and never wavered — their tenacity will be rewarded when they compete on sports’ grandest stage, starting Jul. 23 2021.
Ministers Edwin Tong and Eric Chua also recently visited some of our badminton players, fencers and divers during their training sessions at the Singapore Sports Hub OCBC Arena and OCBC Aquatic Centre. The Olympic qualifiers are still ongoing and are set to end on Jun. 29. Till then, we’re shining the spotlight on a few Team Singapore athletes who have secured a spot in the Olympics so far.
Sailing
Representing the country in the women’s 49erFX event are Kimberly Lim and Cecilia Low. The duo earned a spot in the 2019 Hyundai 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 World Championships in Auckland. Ryan Lo and Amanda Ng are also headed to the Games after winning their laser sailing and windsurfing events respectively at the Mussanah Open Championship in Oman.
Fencing
20-year-olds Kiria Tikanah Abdul Rahman and Amita Berthier are some of the youngest to qualify for the Olympics, after winning the epee and foil events respectively at Asia-Oceania Olympic qualification tournament in Uzbekistan.
Gymnastics
Having conquered Singapore’s national championships at the age of 19, Tan Sze En is well on her way to becoming a household name in gymnastics. Three years after a shoulder surgery, the now-20-year-old gymnast is on her way to the Games after qualifying for a spot at the 2019 World Gymnastics Championships in Germany.
Shooting
21-year-old Tessa Neo has earned Singapore a shot at the Olympics after clinching silver at the Asian Shooting Championships in Doha back in 2019, though the jury is still out on who will eventually represent Singapore in the sport.
Swimming
Here’s a swimmer that needs no introduction. Who can forget when Joseph Schooling dethroned Michael Phelps in the men’s 100m butterfly at the 2016 Rio Games? Fellow teammate Quah Zhang Wen will also join Schooling in Tokyo after earning a spot in the 100m butterfly and backstroke events.
Diving
Jonathan Chan is the first Singaporean diver to qualify for the Olympics after securing a spot at the 8th Asian Diving Cup in Malaysia, while Freida Lim has become the first female Singaporean diver and the second diver in Singapore’s history to qualify for the Games. Her participation however, will still need to be confirmed by FINA.
Table tennis
At the age of 25, Clarence Chew is already making waves in the sporting world. He recently made history as the first Singapore-born table tennis player to qualify for the men’s singles event. He defeated teammate Koen Pang, Southeast Asia Games Champion, in the Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament in Qatar back in March, and is now on his way to represent Singapore at the Summer Games. The Singapore women’s table tennis team of Feng Tianwei, Yu Mengyu and Lin Ye are also set to compete this year.
Feeling inspired yet? Even if you’re not training for the Olympics, the Singapore Sports Hub is an eclectic venue where you can enjoy a wide array of fun and challenging experiences. Check out what Singapore Sports Hub has to offer here.
