Team Singapore’s most inspirational moments of 2024

Amita Berthier (Fencing)

One moment that left a lasting impact on me in 2024 was reading the book Abundance by Peter Diamandis and Steven Kotler. One quote that resonated deeply with me was:

“The day before something is a breakthrough, it’s a crazy idea.”

This quote inspired me to think differently about my own athletic pursuits. As an athlete, I often face challenges and setbacks that can seem insurmountable. But Diamandis’ quote reminded me that every breakthrough, no matter how small, starts with a single idea or action.

This quote encouraged me to be more open-minded and willing to take risks in my training and competition. It reminded me that even the smallest innovations or adjustments can lead to significant breakthroughs, and that embracing a mindset of abundance and possibility can be a powerful catalyst for success.

Choo Ling Er (Triathlon)

I challenged myself this year to do two challenging trail runs – one in Sabah and the other up in Genting.

There’s something about pushing your limits on rugged terrain that can reveal so much about your inner strength and resilience. The physical strain, the unpredictable trails, and the ever-changing weather conditions can all serve as metaphors for life’s challenges.

Every uphill struggle and every muddy path is an opportunity to dig deeper, push through self-doubt, and prove to yourself what you’re capable of. I never believed that I could do well outside of triathlon in my life as that’s all that I ever know.

The inspiration often comes from that sense of overcoming, not just the external challenges but also the mental barriers that I had to constantly convince myself, to move out of my comfort zone.

Soh Rui Yong (Athletics)

My biggest moment was an athletic feat by one of my athletes, Joshua Mitchell of Britain.

Josh trains with the Battersea Bandits, an amateur running team I set up in London. He left school to care for his mum when she had cancer, which she unfortunately succumbed to. This had a heavy impact on Josh.

The first team he joined had an overwhelmingly heavy training programme, which led to multiple injuries and triggered his anxiety to the point where he was unable to finish races. But I convinced him to work with me and gradually we built back his confidence.

His main goal was a good half-marathon (below 67min) and marathon (below 2hr 20min) and I made the trip to the Cambridge half-marathon to support him. He paced himself consistently and finished in 66min 53sec. It was an emotional moment.

He recently ran 2:17:11 at the Valencia Marathon and through running he’s overcome depression and found confidence. A personification of what sport is all about.

Loh Kean Yew (Badminton)

Watching Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen, Chinese Taipei’s Lee Yang and Wang Chi-lin, and China’s Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong, play in back-to-back Olympic finals and reflecting on their journey from Tokyo 2020 to Paris 2024.

They had different backgrounds – Viktor and the Taiwanese duo were defending champions but Viktor was the hot favourite, the men’s doubles were underdogs, and the mixed doubles wanted to make up for losing the previous final. Both the doubles pairs were also playing in their last Olympics together.

After three years, they managed to make the Olympic finals again, which showed how consistent they are. But despite the immense pressure they faced, they managed to withstand the pressure and win gold.

There is so much to learn from them in my own badminton journey, how to keep going through the ups and downs, and keep persevering and working hard against the odds to achieve what they set out to.

Aloysius Yapp (Cue sports)

I was feeling really down the whole season and struggled a lot mentally. Right before the Reyes Cup in October, I got knocked out of the Hanoi Open in the group stage. It was my first time not qualifying for the knockout stage in a few years.

As the Reyes Cup was approaching, I felt really demoralised and I wasn’t performing at all. I made a phone call to my girlfriend Silviana Lu and asked if she could accompany me during the Reyes Cup.

She was not sure at that moment because she also competes professionally and had a world championship coming up. But she managed to take time off from her practice to join me.

Because of her presence and support throughout the whole event, I performed to my best and won the event with Team Asia and also the Most Valuable Player award. She helped me deal with my negative emotions and gave me the confidence that I needed, and I’m really touched and grateful for everything she did for me during my darkest period in 2024.

Shawal Anuar (Football)

It wasn’t easy coming into 2024 because I was often on the bench in the second half of 2023. It was frustrating because I know my quality and what I can do in the attacking third.

But I kept putting in the hard work, believing in myself, and giving my best when I got the opportunities, and it has paid off, with my coach (Aleksandar Rankovic) saying that I’m now his MVP (Most Valuable Player).

The birth of my second son Shazayn Rizqi in June also gave me extra motivation, because I’m already 33 and I don’t know how much longer I can play at the top level. So, I just keep playing my best and trying to create as many memories for myself and my family.

Shannon Tan (Golf)

Lydia Ko has been a tremendous inspiration, especially after witnessing her incredible achievements this year at the Olympic Games and the Women’s British Open.

Her consistency, resilience and ability to excel on the biggest stages in golf, culminating in a Hall of Fame entry at just 27 years old, are truly remarkable.

Beyond her sporting accomplishments, Lydia is a wonderful person and professional, both on and off the course. It’s incredibly inspiring to see someone so young achieve so much while remaining humble and grounded.

Khor Ting Fang (Netball)

Four years ago when the bulk of this young Singapore squad was formed, we set the goal of being top of Asia with our then-coach, Annette Bishop. Since then, we’ve gone through a whole series of events together – the disruptions of Covid-19, injuries, a World Cup, even being stuck in a lift as a team (in Fiji for a training tour in 2022).

We came agonisingly close to achieving our goal two years ago. But at the Asian championship final in October, the team held on to our belief, teamwork and trust in one another to claw our way to a draw in the dying minutes to force overtime before finally emerging as the best in Asia. I think the tears of joy shows how much this win meant, not just to me but to the entire team as well.

It’s also a fitting tribute to Cyrus Medora, our chief executive officer, who recently announced his retirement after 19 years of service to the netball community. What better gift could we give him, than a thrilling final and a championship trophy.

Danelle Tan (Football)

Moving to a new country is always daunting – it’s a leap into the unknown, where familiar faces and comforts are replaced by change and uncertainties. The familiar rhythms of home fade, leaving you to navigate without the steady compass of family and friends. In November, when I learnt I needed to have knee surgery, that sense of uncertainty became sharper.

After the surgery, I needed a place to stay for two nights while the effects of the anaesthesia wore off. That’s when Xiu Myn, someone I’d only known for a few weeks, stepped in without hesitation. She made arrangements for me to stay at her place, cooked meals for me, and made sure I was as comfortable as possible. We chatted, laughed, and for a while, I forgot about the surgery and the frustrations of injury. We often underestimate the impact of our actions. What may seem like a small gesture to one person can mean the world to another. Xiu Myn’s generosity reminded me how powerful kindness can be.

Jonathan Tan (Swimming)

One personal moment that stood out for me was a trip during the Thanksgiving break to Utah and Arizona with my friends, a week before our final exams.

It was at Zion National Park’s famous Angels Landing that I did the most exhilarating yet dangerous hike in my life. The last 800m of the trail is a ridge only about a metre across with steep drop-offs on either side. Heavy chains are attached to the rock for hikers to hold on to as we made our way up the ridge. The summit is about 460m above the valley floor and has no guard rails. People have even fallen to their deaths, making this one of the most dangerous trails in the US.

It was during these few heart-racing hours that I felt free from life’s stresses, having a single goal to reach the summit. With every calculated step, the view got grander but scarier. Similar to life, the hike taught me patience, showing that progress is made step by step, and that perseverance often leads to breathtaking rewards. With every look down the cliff, I learnt to appreciate the journey rather than just the destination and to be in the present and live in the moment. Ultimately, the hike mirrors the idea of growth that comes by pushing out of our comfort zone, and that the greatest triumph often lies on the other side of struggle.

Shanti Pereira (Athletics)

It was something one of my best friends Gladys told me when I visited her in Amsterdam – I was disheartened going into the Olympics knowing I wasn’t in top shape after coming back from injury, so my dialogue was rather negative. But after my rant, she looked at me, frowned and went: “You do know you’re going to Olympics, right? Look at all these amazing things you have done already and the impact you have left. And look at your life! You’re travelling around the world racing in places you never thought you would. All that has got you here, now you get to run at the f***ing Olympics!”

She reminded me that in times like this, we might be feeling lost, but then we look back on our life and realise this is the life we dreamt of once upon a time. And that’s something to be grateful for.

Yip Pin Xiu (Para-swimming)

What was quite significant for me this year, was having a lot of people who followed me on this journey, cheering me on from the stands at the Paralympics. Compared to the Paris Games, the Tokyo one (in 2021) was very quiet due to the pandemic, it didn’t have anyone creating an atmosphere. In Paris, everyone who watched me along the way were also there at the Games. I’ve been to the Games five times but this is my brother’s very first time watching me, and I think that was an incredible experience for me, which I think inspired me to achieve this two-gold record.

Siddharth Jagadeesh (Chess)

The biggest sporting achievement I witnessed this year was Gukesh Dommaraju winning the world chess championship. He is the youngest world champion to date, as he won it at the age of 18. The previous record was 22 (Garry Kasparov in 1985) and hadn’t been broken for almost 40 years.

This achievement was extra inspiring for me as it happened in Singapore, the first time the championship was held in the country.

Daniel Chan (Para-shooting)

One moment I’ll never forget is a scene in the Paris Paralympics dining hall. I saw an athlete (Chinese swimmer Guo Jinchang) with no upper limbs, eating his meal with his feet, and scrolling through his phone with his nose. Alone, yet unbothered, he was simply living his life and competing on the grandest stage. If he can live his life with such dignity and strength, then what excuse do any of us have to complain?