'I never thought I'd be here': Unbridled joy for Singapore's Shanti Pereira after 200m Asian Games triumph

SINGAPORE: "Give me five minutes," newly minted Asian Games gold medallist Shanti Pereira told volunteers in Mandarin.

"There are a lot of things I would like to say. I won!"

Minutes earlier, Singapore's sprint queen clocked 23.03s to win the women’s 200m final at the Asian Games. 

China's Li Yuting took the silver with 23.28s and Bahrain's Edidiong Ofonime Odiong came third at 23.48s. Odiong's compatriot, Salwa Eid Naser, was disqualified for a false start.

This was Singapore’s first athletics gold medal since 1974 when Chee Swee Lee won the women’s 400m.

Speaking to reporters in the mixed zone, Pereira fought back tears.

"What a season it's been. So crazy," she said. "I can't really describe how I am feeling right now. I just feel so much joy."

On Saturday, Pereira ended Singapore's nearly 50-year wait for an Asiad track and field medal, after she clinched a silver in the women’s 100m.

Pereira, whose 200m personal best stands at 22.57s, then topped all three heats for the event the next day, with a time of 23.14s. 

This was her first Asian Games 200m final. At the last edition in 2018, she did not advance past the semi-finals.

"I immediately teared up (after the race) because it means a lot, it really means a lot. I never thought I'd be here, but I am," she said.

The Singaporean has overcome much to get to where she is today.

She first burst into the nation's consciousness at the 2015 Southeast Asian Games when she took gold in the 200m, clocked a personal best and set a new national record. Her win also ended a 42-year gold medal drought for Singapore in a SEA Games sprint event.

But with it came the enormity of expectations. That coupled with injuries meant that some wrote Pereira off over the next few years.

The negativity ate