Singapore sprint queen Shanti Pereira takes 100m silver at Asian Athletics Championships

SINGAPORE: Singapore sprint queen Shanti Pereira clinched a 100m silver at the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea, on Wednesday (May 28).

Pereira, the defending champion in the event as well as the 200m, clocked a time of 11.41s to finish behind China's Liang Xiaojing, who had a time of 11.37s. Vietnam's Tran Thi Nhi Yen took bronze with a time of 11.54s.

Despite a somewhat slower start, the Singaporean showed her mettle as she powered through in the final stretch to cross just behind Liang.

The 28-year-old had qualified for Wednesday's finals by finishing second overall in the heats behind Liangwith a season's best time of 11.40s. Liang led the field with a time of 11.22s.

At the 2023 edition of the championships, Pereira clinched a historic sprint double.

In the 100m, she clocked a time of 11.20s to take gold and set a new national record, which still stands today. Iran's Farzaneh Fasihi took second place in Bangkok in 11.39s, and China's Ge Manqi rounded off the podium with a time of 11.40s.

Days later, the Singaporean obliterated the field in the 200m with a time of 22.70s – a meet record – with India's Jyothi Yarraji taking the silver in 23.13s and China's Li Yuting taking the bronze in 23.25s.

But after a splendid 2023, which also saw her win the 200m and take silver in the 100m at the Hangzhou Asian Games, Pereira endured a difficult 2024 after injury struck.

At the start of last year, she spent two months training in Florida. But a stress injury inher fibula would result in her missing her debut in the Diamond Leaguecompetition in Xiamen and Shanghai, as well as two major meets in Japan, among other competitions.

It would also set her back on preparations for the Paris Olympics. 

In her second Games