Soon siblings strike gold at 2023 Asean Para Games

SINGAPORE – It was double joy for the Soon family as siblings Colin and Sophie both clinched gold in the pool at the Asean Para Games (APG) on Sunday, with the Republic garnering three gold, three silver and five bronze medals.

Colin, 18, bagged Singapore’s first gold at the 2023 competition after winning the men’s SB13 100m breaststroke in 1min 13.71sec at the Morodok Techo Aquatic Centre in Cambodia, eclipsing the previous mark of 1:14.57 set by Indonesia’s Marinus Melianus Yowei in 2017.

Teammate Wong Zhi Wei (1:17.14) earned a bronze in the same event, while Marinus finished second in 1:16.60.

Colin’s older sister Sophie also struck gold on Sunday as she claimed the women’s SB13 100m breast title. The 25-year-old clocked 1:29.78 to finish ahead of her only competitor, Indonesia’s Firstania Kayla Amir (1:55.01).

This was not the first time that the Soon siblings had won golds on the same day at the APG, having also done it in the SB12 100m breaststroke in the 2022 edition in Indonesia, where Colin made his Games debut.

“This gold medal means very much to me as it is my second gold medal in a row for this same event,” said Colin.

“I definitely felt a bit more confident this time as I roughly knew what was coming. But so far, it has also been an eye-opening experience and is still very different from the last APG in Indonesia. I feel like since then, I have developed as a swimmer in many ways, and I have learnt lots since.”

Heading into the meet, the Singapore Polytechnic student was not going for the Games record, but was pleased to have hit the mark.

With three more events to go, Colin said: “There might be some significance to us (Colin and Sophie) winning on the same day, but it’s definitely a good omen for what’s to come. However the battle is far from won.”

For Sophie, it was a special moment to win on the same day as her brother. She said: “I love watching my brother race, and even more so, having him in the team with me. For us to both have won gold for our country today is something really special to me.

“I’m so proud and overjoyed to have been able to do this alongside him.”

Also getting a Games record on Sunday was fellow swimmer Toh Wei Soong, who clocked 1:04.97 to win the men’s S7 100m freestyle and eclipse his mark of 1:07.53 set in 2017, the last time he competed at the Games.

Coming in second was the Philippines’ Ernie Agat Gawilan (1:07.42), ahead of Thoai Han Quang (1:11.82) of Vietnam.

Toh, who also won a silver in the S7 400m free on Sunday, was glad to be back at the regional meet.

He said: “It’s the start of a great week of racing to come. Some things worked, some didn’t; we’ll keep working on them since sport is constantly a game of self-improvement.”

There were more medals in the pool on Sunday, with Janelle Tong bagging a silver and a bronze in the women’s S10 400m free and 100m free respectively.

Danielle Moi also won a silver in the women’s S14 50m back, in which she set a national record with her 36.20sec effort.

In addition to Wong’s bronze in the men’s SB13 100m breast, Darren Chan also earned a bronze in the men’s SB14 100m breast, while powerlifter Nur Aini Yasli took home two bronzes in the women’s up to 50kg.