Runner Soh Rui Yong to represent Singapore in SEA Games after more than five-year absence

SINGAPORE: Singapore’s top runner Soh Rui Yong is back in the national fold after a successful appeal for his inclusion in the 2023 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games squad. This marks the end of a more than five-year absence from major games for Soh, following several clashes with the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC). SNOC confirmed Soh’s participation in the 2023 SEA Games in a statement on Saturday (Mar 25). He is slated to take part in 5,000m and 10,000m events in Cambodia. 

In January, Soh was not named in SNOC’s initial list of 517 athletes for the SEA Games in May.

In the statement, an SNOC spokesperson said that the 31-year-old's non-selection at the 2019 and 2021 SEA Games was due to his behaviour over the last few years, which SNOC found to be "unacceptable and unbecoming of a national athlete".

Then in April 2022, the council and Singapore Athletics began discussion on a path for Soh to resume his participation in the major games, added the spokesperson.

"Earlier this week, the SNOC Appeals Committee for SEA Games 2023 (chaired by Mr Michael Palmer) met with Soh Rui Yong and is satisfied with the progress he has made so far, and has as such allowed Singapore Athletics’ appeal for Soh Rui Yong’s selection for the 2023 SEA Games, subject to any conditions which may be imposed on his participation by SNOC as SNOC may consider reasonable and appropriate.

"The SNOC hopes he continues to make further progress to repair the damage caused in the past."

CNA has reached out to Soh for comment.

Among the high-profile incidents Soh was involved in was a dispute with team mate Ashley Liew after the 2015 SEA Games marathon event, over the latter's account of events relating to his act of sportsmanship.

This led to