Khaw and Diyanah hope first gold will inspire

Singapore's first gold medal at the SEA Games in Thailand came in dramatic fashion on Dec 10, when taekwondo exponents Diyanah Aqidah Dian Khudhairi and Nicholas Khaw had to wait 90 minutes before the results of the mixed recognised poomsae pair final were confirmed.

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Singapore's Jedd Tan (left) and Thai Chanwit Aunjai sparring during the SEA Games ju-jitsu men's fighting 77kg final in Bangkok on Dec 10.

(ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO)

Though the scores in the exhibition hall at the Fashion Island shopping mall showed that the Singaporean pair had beaten Vietnam's Nguyen Thi Kim Ha and Nguyen Trong Phuc 8.67-8.44, the Vietnamese protested and asked for a review. They felt the Singaporeans should have had points deducted for "two big mistakes".

However, after a lengthy review, the result stood and Singapore could finally celebrate its first gold at the Games. This was also the nation's first taekwondo triumph at the biennial meet since 2015, and a first in this event.

Hosts Thailand and the Philippines shared the bronze.

Khaw, 20, who is competing in his second Games, said: "We feel really proud because we worked super hard to get here.