“FROM ONE “GOLDEN GIRL” TO ANOTHER – CONGRATULATIONS ON A JOB WELL DONE.”
Singapore’s gold medalist in the 400m at the 1974 Asian Games Chee Swee Lee has shared her thoughts about 2023 golden girl Shanti Pereira’s winning feat with TMSG.
QUICK RECAP
When Pereira crossed the line at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Stadium on 2 October and earned the gold for Singapore at the ongoing Asian Games, she broke a 49-year-old hoodoo.
Her gold medal winning feat was Singapore’s first in athletics at the Asiad since Chee earned hers at the 1974 Asian Games in Teheran, Iran.
Back in 1974, Chee clocked 55.08s to break through the glass ceiling and become the first Singaporean woman to win a gold at the Asian Games in the 400m.
Her 400m national record stood from the Teheran Games all the way to 2017, when Dipna-Lim Prasad erased the mark on 24 August at the Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asian Games.
And since 1974, Singapore’s track and field fraternity, and Singaporeans in general, had been waiting for another gold medal in track and field, but in vain.
WHAT CHEE SWEE LEE SAYS AFTER SHANTI PEREIRA’S GOLD
Now based in Las Vegas in the United States, Chee told TMSG that she wanted to extend her “sincere congratulations” to Pereira on her victory.
“I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to Shanti on her magnificent performance at the Hangzhou Asian Games,” Chee said.
“Winning the gold medal in the 200 metres fills all Singaporeans worldwide with a renewed sense of pride in our wonderful country.”
Chee also recognised the roles played multiple parties over the years which had brought Pereira to the number one position on the podium.
“Kudos also to her coach, family, and the government support systems which facilitated the achievement of this momentous athletic achievement,” said Chee, who was coached by legendary Singaporean athletics coach Patrick Zehnder when she was competing.
Pereira is currently being mentored by Luis Cunha, a partnership which has reaped a golden dividend for track and field in Singapore.
Chee ended her message to TMSG by wishing Pereira “continued success to you in all of your future endeavors.”
MAIN PHOTOS: NATIONAL ARCHIVES/SNOC