Valentine’s Day with Team S’pore: Meet 4 couples who share more than a love for sport
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In a Valentine’s Day special, The Straits Times’ sports desk talks to four athlete couples about their relationship, lovey-dovey moments and shared love for sport. The pairs are Pang Sheng Jun (swimming) and Yeo Jia Min (badminton), Jowen Lim and Vera Tan (wushu), Eric Yee and Michelle Sng (athletics), Delvin Goh (basketball) and Chelsea Sim (taekwondo).
Pang Sheng Jun (swimming) and Yeo Jia Min (badminton)
Q: How did you two meet?
Pang: We first crossed paths at the 2015 SEA Games send-off ceremony at the Singapore Sports School.
Years later, during the circuit breaker in 2020, we reconnected again when she was tagged in one of my Instagram live workout videos, and there were times we worked out together.
I had no idea it was one of the rare times in her career when she had the most free time. Everything aligned perfectly, and I thank God for bringing both of us together.
Jowen Lim and Vera Tan (wushu)
Q: When did you know he/she was the one?
Lim: It was when I realised that things became more boring and I get this feeling like something/someone was missing when she wasn’t around. Back then we used to have dinner together every day before training, but when she skipped training, dinner and training just didn’t feel the same without her.
Tan: When I feel comfortable, and can be completely myself when I’m with him. I find myself trusting him more and more every day, and started to become more secure about myself and our relationship.
Eric Yee and Michelle Sng (athletics)
Q: What is the most romantic thing he has done for you?
Sng: We’re not really into grand, over-the-top gestures, so it’s hard to pinpoint just one thing. But what I appreciate most is how he wholeheartedly supports me in pursuing what makes me happy even when my choices aren’t the most conventional or logical. To me, that kind of unwavering belief and encouragement is the ultimate romance.
Delvin Goh (basketball) and Chelsea Sim (taekwondo)
Q: What do you like about each other’s sport?
Goh: It’s really cool for one person to be standing out there, executing their routine. This requires a lot of focus!
Sim: I’m in an individual sport while Delvin is in a team sport, so it’s very interesting to witness the differences in training styles and methods, as well as the competition vibes too.
