Revitalizing Athletics: A Call for Change

In a recent press conference, athletics advocate Mr. Chay called for a vital shift in the sport, urging the athletics community to “come to the party.” This statement arose from a comparison of medal counts; while athletics secured three golds, swimming dominated with 19. Mr. Chay emphasized the need for enhancement within athletics if Singapore aims to compete consistently at the top tier in Southeast Asia and deliver strong performances during home events.

The Need for Change

Mr. Chay articulated, “A considerable amount of work has to be done if we truly wish to chase medals and establish ourselves among the top competitors.” He underscored the importance of developing athletes in athletics to reach standards comparable to their regional counterparts.

Athletics is featured in every major sporting event, and Mr. Chay believes Singapore must elevate the number of athletes performing at a world-class level. This past year, Shanti Pereira successfully defended her titles in both the 200m and 100m races, while Calvin Quek achieved a remarkable milestone by winning Singapore’s first gold in the 400m hurdles at the SEA Games since 1965.

Voices from the Community

Following Mr. Chay’s remarks, Singapore Athletics president Lien Choong Luen shared insights during a discussion with SportSG that took place earlier this week. He acknowledged that while Mr. Chay’s observations were accurate, the structure of athletics differs significantly from swimming, particularly within the Singaporean context. Lien highlighted that athletics is often a “late-developing” sport, citing the example of Quek, who clinched gold at the age of 29.

“This inherent aspect of late development necessitates greater commitment, faith, belief, and investment,” he stated, noting that the many disciplines in athletics require specialized coaching, facilities, and equipment. To support young athletes, Singapore Athletics is working on bridging initiatives, with an emphasis on the upcoming 2029 SEA Games hosted in Singapore.

A Call to Athletes and Coaches

Mr. Lien extended an encouraging message to both athletes and coaches: “For those involved, continue the journey, and for those aspiring to participate, we invite you to join us. We are committed to supporting you towards 2029 and beyond.” He mentioned that establishing a solid pipeline is crucial, and fundraising efforts are a top priority to increase support for a larger pool of athletes.

Response from the Athlete Community

However, some members of the athletics community voiced concern over Mr. Chay’s comments. Marathon runner Soh Rui Yong pointed out that Singapore often sends full-time students and professionals to represent the nation, competing against well-funded, full-time athletes from other countries. He highlighted that many local athletes have to compete with sponsored professionals, making the landscape significantly more competitive.

“Singapore has the potential to establish a comprehensive high-performance athletics program, but these resources don’t appear to be allocated effectively,” Soh noted. He emphasized that without proper funding and support, a realistic expectation of winning gold medals is unattainable when competing against better-resourced rivals.

Soh, who placed seventh in the men’s 10,000m, reiterated that athletics isn’t an exclusive sport for the affluent and that the competition depth intensifies from various directions. He argued that focusing solely on medal counts is not a comprehensive measure of success at the Games.

Conclusion

The discussions surrounding athletics in Singapore reflect both the aspirations and challenges faced in this pivotal sport. As the community looks toward the future, fostering talent and securing resources will be essential for achieving excellence on both regional and international stages.