SEA Games 2025: 3-time champs S’pore rue missed chances in women’s floorball final defeat

BANGKOK – One goal made all the difference in the SEA Games women’s floorball final on Dec 19, as Singapore’s proud record of three consecutive crowns came to an end.

While hosts Thailand celebrated their maiden title, the dethroned champions were left to rue their profligacy in front of goal as they lost 2-1 at the National Sports University in Chonburi.

Singapore coach Tan Yi Ru said: “The team have already done their very best. The only thing that we didn’t take today was the chances that were given to us.”

Tan felt that there was not much difference between the final and the sides’ 2-2 draw in their preliminary-round encounter on Dec 15.

“The only thing that differs is that the Thais capitalised on the opportunity that was given to them, like, one shot and one goal,” he added.

“These were the kind of chances that we gave to them.”

Singapore, who had also beaten Malaysia 9-1 and the Philippines 8-0 in the group stage, earned their place in the final after topping the four-team standings, with the Thais second.

The hosts, who boast several Europe-based players, started strongly in the decider as Rungnapa Kebsamrong opened the scoring within seven minutes.

Nasha Jeffri restored parity for the Republic just 25 seconds after the start of the second period, but Praphaphon Bunsuk sent the Thai fans wild with her winner in the 43rd minute.

With the clock ticking down, Thailand’s Alexandra Carlbom and Aliisa Syrjaenen were sent to the sin bin.

But Singapore were unable to capitalise on their numerical advantage as the hosts saw out the match and loosened the Republic’s grip on the crown.

Singapore captain and goalkeeper Shermaine Goh said: “We definitely wanted to keep the gold because we have won it three times.

“It was quite a big task to retain it as well and we really wanted to win.”

Floorball was introduced to the biennial Games in 2015 in Singapore, with the Republic’s women also winning it in the Philippines in 2019 and Cambodia in 2023.

Singapore Floorball Association (SFA) president Ben Ow said they will be looking at the rebuilding process, as they eye a golden double in the men and women’s category at the 2029 home Games.

Due to conflicting schedules between the Dec 9-20 SEA Games and the Dec 6-14 Women’s World Floorball Championships in the Czech Republic, the SFA had prioritised retaining their regional title and sent the senior side to Thailand.

Ow said they will be conducting a review, adding: “The key road map that we are doing is rebuilding for the 2029 SEA Games in Singapore.

“This is just the starting blocks of the change. There will be a few more changes that we’ll roll out next year, so I don’t think that the end goal will be moved just because of this result.

“It is an ongoing project that we have already started, to rebuild the team.

“But more effort and focusing on high performance will definitely be key for the teams.”

In the men’s tournament, Singapore collected a joint-bronze after losing 6-4 in the final game of the round-robin group stage to the Philippines on Dec 16.

Thailand retained the title after a 6-2 win over the Philippines in the final on Dec 19.