KF Seetoh urges politicians not to capitalize on Shanti Pereira’s historic win and to support all athletes for their efforts

SINGAPORE: Singapore’s sprint sensation, Shanti Pereira, achieved a triumphant victory in the women’s 200m final at the Asian Games on Monday (2 Oct), clocking an impressive 23.03s at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium.

This victory ended Singapore’s nearly half-century wait for an athletics gold at the Asian Games, marking the first gold in the sport since 1974 when Chee Swee Lee won the women’s 400m.

Ms Pereira’s remarkable success delighted the entire city-state, with Singaporeans proud of her achievement. It is a testament to her years of hard work and dedication that produced this remarkable result.

The Singaporean community poured in their congratulations for Ms Pereira, and even KF Seetoh, the esteemed Singaporean food critic and Makansutra founder, extended his best wishes to her latest achievement.

In his recent Facebook post, KF Seetoh emphasized the importance of supporting athletes not just when they win medals, but also when they give their best effort.

“Nobody loves a loser. But if you are somebody, you will support Shanti because you champion her aspiration and determination, even if she brings no medal home.”

While it’s natural to hope for more Olympic gold from various sports, he said what truly energizes and motivates athletes is knowing they have the support and belief of their fellow countrymen, regardless of the outcome.

KF Seetoh also emphasized the importance of not seeking to bask in an athlete’s limelight and claim credit after their victory.

“And please, don’t do your selfies with her and glow in her limelight and claim credit..after her win. It’s all her and her coach Luis Cunha. ”

He reminded people that even Singapore’s founding father, the late Lee Kuan Yew, never took pictures with Chee Swee Lee after her win.

“Go do so with the other upcoming athletes. It encourages the nation and that’s the true spirit of support for sports or any culture you believe in. ”

He emphasized that it’s essential to be the wind beneath their wings rather than adding pressure to their backs.

KF Seetoh extends words of encouragement to Quah Ting Wen

In a show of support, Kf Seetoh extended his words of encouragement to Singaporean athlete Quah Ting Wen, whose team faced disqualification at the Asian Games on September 29th.

Initially securing third place at the Asian Games, Singapore’s women’s 4x100m medley relay team experienced disqualification due to an early jump during the handover, leading to the loss of their anticipated bronze medal, with Hong Kong taking the third-place position.

Ting Wen expressed her profound regret for the mistake in a heartfelt Instagram post on Sep. 30, where she apologized to her teammates and supporters.

She shared the emotional turmoil of watching her team’s elation turn into disappointment as she recognized her error.

Kf Seetoh reassured Ting Wen that she should not harbor any remorse for the minor mistake, emphasizing that everyone makes such errors daily.

He highlighted Ting Wen’s considerable dedication and journey, making it clear that no one should blame her for what happened, “It was not Intentional, keep up the amazing work.”

Expressing a similar sentiment, Bertha Henson, former Associate Editor of The Straits Times, emphasized the importance of supporting Singaporean sportsmen for their efforts, not solely based on their medal achievements.

Meanwhile, Raymond Huang, a social entrepreneur, jokingly mentioned his intention to take selfies with the Singapore football team.

In response to Mr. Huang’s comment, Kf Seetoh advised that the football team leaders should focus on allowing their players to play football, rather than attending numerous meetings and worrying about future plans.

The performance of the football team has come into question, especially after the Young Lions’ disappointing 0-7 defeat to Malaysia at the SEA Games in May.

Although Bernard Tan, the newly elected president of the Football Association of Singapore (FAS), has pledged to improve the team’s performance, supporters remain sceptical about the team’s future.

Shanti Pereira: Defying expectations and overcoming doubt on her path to Asian Games gold

Pereira, no stranger to defying expectations, had previously topped all three heats for the 200m event with a time of 23.14s.

Remarkably, this was her debut 200m Games final; she had not advanced beyond the semi-finals in the 2018 edition.

Pereira’s gold marked Singapore’s first track and field triumph at the quadrennial Games since Chee Swee Lee clinched the women’s 400m title at the 1974 Teheran Games.

Beyond her achievements at the Asiad, 2023 saw Pereira collecting gold medals in both the 100m and 200m events at the Cambodia SEA Games and the Asian Athletics Championships.

n the World Athletics Championships held in August, she made history by becoming the first Singaporean to advance to the semi-finals, clocking an impressive 22.57sec in the 200m heats, subsequently meeting the qualifying standard for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Pereira’s journey to this pinnacle wasn’t without its challenges. The nation first celebrated her talent at the 2015 Southeast Asian Games where she not only won gold in the 200m but also established a new national record.

Her success then ended a 42-year gold medal drought for Singapore in SEA Games sprints.

However, the weight of expectations and subsequent injuries saw her face skepticism and doubt.

“Slowly, people just kind of lost faith in me… I really did let it get to me,” Pereira had earlier admitted.

These challenges brought about seasons of self-doubt, magnified with each year she didn’t set a new personal best.

The pressure was so overwhelming that at times, she dreaded competing or even training. Yet, she persisted.

Under the expert guidance of coach Luis Cunha and bolstered by her family’s unwavering support, Pereira made a remarkable comeback.

She won gold in the 200m and silver in the 100m at the 2022 SEA Games.

By May, she became the first Singaporean woman to clinch both the 100m and 200m titles at the same SEA Games edition.

Following that, she secured a sprint double at the Asian Athletics Championships in July.

Furthermore, in a testament to her relentless spirit, Pereira made history again in August by becoming the first Singaporean to reach the World Championships semi-finals in the 200m. She also secured her spot for the 200m event at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

With her eyes set on medals for both the 100m and 200m, Pereira’s journey at this year’s Asian Games was not just a pursuit of victory but a testament to her unwavering resilience and spirit.