Commentary: Shanti Pereira’s Asian Games success offers lessons for all Singaporeans

HANGZHOU: Where were you when Shanti Pereira stormed to gold at the Asian Games on a cool Hangzhou night?

On the sofa? In the train? At the dinner table?

Glued to the television? Staring at your phone?

Were you not inspired? Were you not moved? Oh, what a night it was.

At the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium on Monday (Oct 2), Pereira clocked 23.03s to win the women’s 200m final at the Asian Games. This was Singapore’s first athletics gold medal since 1974, when Chee Swee Lee won the women’s 400m.

Days before, Pereira ended Singapore’s nearly 50-year wait for a track and field medal at the Asian Games, after she clinched a silver in the women’s 100m.

After a feat like this, it is time to take stock. For as we look back on Pereira’s success, there are takeaways for us as well.

An athlete stands on the podium alone, but it is never just an individual endeavour but the collective effort of a support system.

As I am often told by athletes and officials alike - it takes a village.

In Pereira’s case - it was her family, her coach, and her boyfriend among others.

“These have been the people that have stuck with me through it all, and just never stopped believing in me, even though I might have stopped believing in myself maybe at certain periods of time,” Pereira told me in Hangzhou.

The need for parental support cannot be emphasised enough. 

Take, for example, Singapore's first-ever Olympic gold medallist Joseph Schooling and the unwavering commitment of his parents Colin and May, who spared no effort and resources supporting their son as he chased his big dream.

Take, for example, 2021 badminton world champion Loh Kean Yew’s parents Grace and Pin Keat, who backed their son’s decision to pursue his passion full-time.

Another big