Over S$2 million awarded to Team Singapore medallists at SEA and Asian Games; Shanti Pereira the biggest winner

SINGAPORE: Close to S$2.3 million (US$1.7 million) was awarded to 121 Asian and SEA Games medallists at the Major Games Award Programme (MAP) presentation at Timbre+ One-North on Wednesday (Nov 29).

Singapore’s sprint queen Shanti Pereirawas the biggest winner, receiving S$315,000 for her Asian Games gold and silver medals in Hangzhou, China, as well as her two SEA Games golds in Cambodia.

Pereira was Singapore’s standout performer at the Hangzhou Games, where she won the women’s 200m final on Oct 2. This was Singapore’s first athletics gold medal since 1974, when Chee Swee Lee won the women’s 400m title.

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. 

She also became the first Singaporean woman to win both the 100m and 200m events at the same edition of the SEA Games in May. 

“It’s an amazing amount of money,” she told reporters at the event. 

“It’s a great bonus for all the hard work I’ve put in, not just this year but the years leading up to it. For now, I’m going to save it, and just keep it for future use.”

At the Hangzhou Games, Singapore returned with three gold, six silver and seven bronze medals. There were also six national records and 14 personal best milestones. 

Singapore’s other two Asiad gold medallists were sailor Ryan Lo and kitefoiler Maximilian Maeder. Lo also clinched a SEA Games gold in May, bringing his total award to S$210,000.

A 554-strong contingent represented Singapore over 30 sports in Cambodia. They brought home with a haul of 51 gold, 43 silver and 64 bronze medals. Eight SEA Games records, 17 national records and 40 personal bests were also set in May. 

“Having this additional prize,