After a difficult season, Singapore sprinter Shanti Pereira is smiling again
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National sprinter Shanti Pereira poses for a photo with a fan, Jerome Ng, at Changi Airport Terminal 3, on Sept 5.
ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO
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SINGAPORE – Even though she had barely gotten any sleep on a 13-hour flight from Copenhagen, Shanti Pereira was all smiles when she arrived in Changi Airport on Sept 5, obliging requests for autographs and engaging in conversation with strangers who recognised her.
Her cheery demeanour was a stark contrast to August, when tears flowed freely after a difficult campaign at the Paris Olympics – the sprinter had missed out on her goal of qualifying for the 200m semi-finals.
Hampered by a stress injury to the fibula in her right leg, she finished 55th out of 72 in the 100m. In the 200m, she was 31st out of 45 runners in the heats, before eventually ending 18th among the field of 24 in the repechage.
But, as Pereira, who returned home on Sept 5 after four months of competing and training in Europe, reflected on her season, it was clear that time had given her perspective.
Conversations with her coach Luis Cunha revealed that 2024 was “really my second best season ever” in terms of her times, said the 27-year-old.
She added: “I would say this season probably wasn’t what I expected it to be, especially with the whole injury and all that.
“But honestly, looking back, I put up a pretty good season regardless of all the difficulties I’ve had to go through.”
Her season’s bests of 11.47 seconds and 23.17sec in the 100m and 200m may have been some way off her personal records – 11.20sec and 22.57sec – but they still ranked among the top in Asia in 2024.
Pereira’s 200m time was the fourth fastest and her 100m mark was ranked 15th in the region.
She had started the season with high hopes, especially after an impressive 2023 that saw her claim the 100m and 200m crowns at the SEA Games and Asian championships, as well as a gold and silver at the Asian Games.
She had hoped to build on that momentum, but was forced to change her plans after the fibula injury in April. It saw Pereira miss out on her debut in the Diamond League – one of the most elite competitions in athletics – but she is gearing up for a comeback.
She said: “Now I’m on a different level, I’ve reached a whole new level and I have last year to thank for that. I’m incredibly blessed to say that I’m in that kind of position.
“Going into every competition, knowing that you want to increase your level... it’s just a whole thing that you have to learn how to process and deal with every time you show up for a big meet, small meet, training.”
Although she did not achieve her goal in Paris, she was still grateful to compete in her second Olympic outing and is eyeing a spot at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
For now, the full-time athlete will enjoy a much-needed break till the end of September and spend time with her family, fiance Tan Zong Yang – who were at the airport to welcome her home – and friends.
As she emerged from Changi Airport’s arrival hall, Pereira received warm hugs from her parents Clarence and Jeet, her niece Shreya Kirshnan and Tan, a former national sprinter.
She said: “I don’t think I’ve missed home this much, I think also because it was a really tough season.”
National sprinter Shanti Pereira embracing her mother Jeet Pereira at Changi Airport on Sept 5.
ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO
After some rest and recovery, preparations will begin for a packed 2025 season: the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea in May and the Bangkok SEA Games in December sandwiching September’s World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, which Pereira hopes to qualify for.
Now back at “100 per cent” with no pain from her injury, she is looking forward to a fresh start, saying: “It’s time to reset, then focus on the new season with a lot more exciting things that are to come.”
Singapore Athletics general manager Shalindran Sathiyanesan lauded Pereira for her grit and hard work amid a tough season.
He said: “It’s (2025) a long season but she’s going to be prepared for it because the last two seasons have been long and her coach has worked hard to ensure she’s race fit.
“Peaking at the right times is something they’ll be working towards and the association will be more than happy to support their journey and see how best they can progress.”
