Singapore’s Lena Tan has one eye firmly set on the Southeast Asian Games to be held in the Philippines in 2019.
After battling to a gold medal at the International Federation of Muaythai Amateur Asian Muaythai Championships in Macau on 11 December, the 32-year old marketing manager is already looking forward towards the SEA Games in 2019.
She beat India’s Vaishali Shiv by referee stoppage in the senior female bantamweight (54kg) final of the IFMA Asian Muaythai Championships in Macau, the first time she got on the podium in her career.
Muaythai will be a medal sport at the Games.
She told the Straits Times: “I got more involved with strength and conditioning and am blessed to have found The Pit Singapore. I used to dead lift 80kg but now I have a best of 120kg.
“This helps me to be more stable during fights while my punches and kicks are more powerful.
“I have also learnt a lot more about nutrition and started to eat cleaner as I cut down on fried food and dessert. That helps in more effective training.”
Lee Dejun picked up a senior male lightweight (60kg) silver and Cheryl Gwa nicked a bronze in the senior female light flyweight (48kg) at the event.
Main photo: Amateur Muaythai Association of Singapore