2025 Asean Para Games: Gold rush for Singapore athletes, who win seven on Jan 23

SINGAPORE – Thailand is proving to be a happy hunting ground for Team Singapore, who experienced a gold rush on day four of the Asean Para Games (APG) as they picked up seven golds – more than double the number won in the first two days of competition – on Jan 23.

Dominating the spotlight in Korat were boccia athlete Jovin Tan and shooter Theresa Goh, who won a gold each in their debuts in their new sports.

Tan, a four-time Paralympian who competed in sailing before the sport was dropped from the quadrennial Games,

picked up boccia in 2022 to prolong his athletic career

, while Goh is a Paralympic bronze medallist in swimming who retired from the sport in 2019.

Tan, who was born with cerebral palsy – a condition that affects the control of his limbs, said: “It’s really a good experience being a debutant (again).

“My past experience from para-sailing has actually taught me a lot of things in terms of handling pressure and also to think better...

“I am a very competitive person, be it in any sport, but comparing these two sports, they are very different. In sailing, you are battling with weather conditions that we are not able to control while boccia has its own challenges like the venue, the flooring and my opponent on the day.

“Definitely being able to represent Singapore in the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics is one of my dreams, so I will definitely work even harder to achieve that dream.”

Sharing his sentiments, Goh, who is also targeting a Paralympics return, said: “(Winning) was honestly super unexpected! I came into these Games with little to no expectations because it’s my first and considering I’m rather new in this sport.

“It is very joyful and very validating of the training I’ve been doing... It’s still such a new world to me that I’m just looking forward to learning more about myself in this sport.”

At the Korat Chatchai Hall on Jan 23, world No. 16 Tan scored 2-0, 1-0, 1-0, 0-1 in four periods of the men’s BC1 final to beat home favourite Witsanu Huadpradit 4-1 and claim his first APG boccia title.

Played by athletes in wheelchairs with motor-skill impairments, the aim of the sport is to bowl balls as close as possible to a white target ball known as the jack.

Tan first claimed a 2-0 lead in the first period after an error from 15th-ranked Witsanu with the last ball of the period.

In a tight second quarter, after using all six of his allotted balls, the Thai was unable to edge nearer to the jack and Tan, who had two balls left, decided against using them.

Tan then executed a perfect backspin on his final ball in the next period to snatch one more point from his opponent.

Despite his best efforts in the fourth and final period, Witsanu used all six of his balls and was unable to get more balls closer to the jack and the Singaporean, who was already assured of his win, decided to give up five of his remaining balls.

There were more golds reaped in boccia as Nurulasyiqah Taha beat Indonesia’s Suci Kirana Dewi 6-1 in the women’s BC3 final, and Aloysius Gan edged Thailand’s Withun Chanthakhat 3-1 to claim gold in the men’s BC3.

Nurulasyiqah had earlier lost to Suci 3-2 in the preliminary round on Jan 21, but a poor showing from the latter in the second period of the final allowed her to capitalise and clinch the title.

In the morning at the Nakhon Ratchasima Swimming Complex, Toh Wei Soong won gold in the men’s 100m freestyle S7 in 1min 5.28sec. Filipino Ernie Gawilan was second in 1:09.32 and Thailand’s Kaweewat Sittichaiphonniti was third (1:14.79).

The Singaporean had earlier picked up a silver in the 400m free S7 and a bronze in the 100m backstroke S7-S8.

In the men’s P1 10m air pistol SH1 final at the 80th Anniversary Stadium, Daniel Chan also claimed gold after shooting 229.1 to place ahead of Thais Pawaris Suksaard (223.9) and Saknarin Bunsukweerawat (202.8).

The 38-year-old: “It is definitely a great way to start 2026. This is my first gold medal at a major Games. I still need to work hard to produce more consistent results in higher level competitions.

“Our main focus leading up to the APG was training for the finals, because we were confident we could make it into the finals based on our past results.”

Competing in the women’s P2 10m air pistol SH1 finals, Goh shot 220.0 to top the podium ahead of Indonesians Jannah (216.8) and Triyanti (198.0).

Shooting coach Deanne Pheong said: “I’m very proud of the entire shooting team’s performance at this APG. It’s rewarding to see both Daniel and Theresa’s growth and how they handled the competition with confidence and composure.

“For an athlete with about a year in a new sport, Theresa showed remarkable determination and resilience, and her ability to stay calm and focused under pressure reflects strong mental discipline and speaks to her qualities as an athlete, regardless of the sport.”

Goh, who has 28 golds from swimming at the APG, will team up with Chan in the mixed team P6 10m air pistol SH1 event on Jan 24.

Singapore added the seventh gold of the day through para-bowler Matthew Chan, who knocked down 1,309 pinfalls over six games to claim the men’s singles TPB10 title at the Blu-O Rhythm & Bowl Ratchada in Bangkok.

Thais Raiwin Phitsitthanakul (1,175) and Preecha Wetchkama (1,169) were second and third respectively.

Team Singapore currently have 10 golds, two silvers and seven bronzes from the Jan 20-26 Games and are seventh among the 10 participating teams.