MORE SUPPORT NEEDED

Long-term funding for athletics vital in grooming talent, says the fraternity

- Kimberly Kwek Sports Correspondent

Singapore distance runner Soh Rui Yong, who is a two-time SEA Games marathon champion, noted that resources do not seem to be flowing into athletics, adding 'don't expect to win many gold medals bringing knives to a gun fight'. He finished seventh in the men's 10,000m final at the Thailand Games.

(PHOTO: KONG CHONG YEW/SNOC)

The athletics fraternity has fired back at a comment by Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) secretary-general Mark Chay, who said the sport has to “come to the party” at the SEA Games if the Republic hopes to finish among the top three nations at the 2029 edition on home soil.

Chay’s remark was made at the Team Singapore review on Dec 20, the last day of the Thailand SEA Games, with the former national swimmer calling on athletics to contribute more towards Singapore’s gold medal count.

Pointing to aquatics and athletics being two compulsory sports at the biennial meet, Chay drew a comparison between their returns in Bangkok, saying that swimming delivered “50 per cent of the gold medals” (19 from 38 events), while athletics produced three golds from 47 events.

In Thailand, Singapore's largest-ever athletics away contingent of 39 won a total of three golds, three silvers and three bronzes, alongside three national records.

The haul matched the Republic’s best showing at the regional meet in a decade, equalling the 3-3-3 tally achieved at the 2015 SEA Games in Singapore.