PEREIRA AND CUNHA BOND RUNS DEEP

Singapore sprinter and her coach say they see each other more than their own families

- Melvyn Teoh

Shanti Pereira training with coach Luis Cunha at the Home of Athletics in Kallang on Sept 9, 2025. She retained her titles at the SEA Games in December and they are now working towards the 2026 Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH

(ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH)

For three years in a row, coach Luis Cunha had been Shanti Pereira’s Valentine’s Day date.

Only on Feb 14, 2026 did Singapore’s sprint queen finally get to spend the occasion with her fiance, former national runner Tan Zong Yang. In previous years she was overseas at training camps or competitions with coach Cunha.

The 29-year-old said: “I see him more than I see any of my family members... But I think the important thing for us is that we've developed a friendship, we enjoy each other’s company, and training under coach Luis is a very pleasant experience.

“It has been that way since I joined him, I believe it’s going to be that way, just enjoyable for however long I’m with him... He has become a very important part of my life.”

Similarly, Pereira is also a key part of her coach’s life.

His phone’s camera roll is filled with photos of her — training, competing and during downtime. In a recent interview with The Straits Times, Cunha candidly shows this reporter that his device's artificial intelligence function has labelled her one of the top people in his albums.