PADDLING AGAINST TIDES

Former pentathlete Tung aims for honours after switch to kayaking in tail end of career

- Melvyn Teoh

Over the course of her 18-year sporting journey, Shermaine Tung has trained and competed in shooting, kayaking and pentathlon, which comprises five events: fencing, swimming, shooting, running and equestrian show jumping.

With the clock ticking as she enters the twilight of her career, the 30-year-old former national pentathlete is aiming for one last shot at sporting glory as she returns to the kayak.

The unexpected move happened in 2022, after she broke her back from falling off a horse. Feeling restless as she recovered from surgery, the break gave her room to rediscover her aptitude and love for kayaking.

She said: "I had to undergo back surgery and because of that, I actually had to stop horse riding entirely. It was quite a bad fall.

When I was resting, I tried to give canoeing a go again, purely just for leisure. Then the current head coach told me to give it a shot, at competitive canoeing (kayaking). So I decided, why not?

I came back purely because I love the sport."

Tung's sporting career began at the Singapore Sports School in 2007, when she trained and competed in shooting.