Swimmer Joseph Schooling's prize money for performance in Hanoi SEA Games put on hold

SINGAPORE: Sixty-eight athletes who won medals during the SEA Games and Commonwealth Games were awarded up to S$860,000 for their achievements at an event on Wednesday (Sep 14), the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) said in a news release.

However, CNA understands that the prize money for Singapore swimmer Joseph Schooling’s performance at the 2021 Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi has been put on hold. SNOC declined to elaborate when asked by CNA.

Schooling, who won two golds and one bronze in Hanoi, was absent from the Major Games Award Programme (MAP) awards presentation and Team Singapore appreciation dinner on Wednesday. 

Last month, the swimmer confessed to consuming cannabis overseas in May when he was on short-term disruption from full-time National Service (NS) to train and participate in the SEA Games.

Given his abuse of disruption privileges, MINDEF had said Schooling will no longer be eligible for leave or disruption to train or compete while in NS.

Schooling issued an apology, saying that he “gave in to a moment of weakness” after going through a very tough period in his life. 

During the award presentation on Wednesday, the reward for Team Singapore medallists split into S$495,000 for the SEA Games and S$365,000 for the Commonwealth Games.

A 424-member contingent represented Singapore in 33 sports during May’s SEA Games in Hanoi and had won 47 gold, 46 silver and 71 bronze medals.

There were also five Games records, 16 national records and 41 personal best milestones set during the Games, said SNOC.

The contingent, led by chef de mission S Sinnathurai, had 245 debutants who contributed 62 medals out of the 164 won by Team Singapore.

Swimmer Quah Jing Wen was recognised as the Most Valuable Player (female),