By Justin Kor

67 athletes, nine sports, and 11 action-packed days. As Team Singapore heads to the United Kingdom for the 22^nd Commonwealth Games, we reminisce past glories and eagerly anticipate the heat that our athletes will bring to Birmingham. Who’s ready for some summer fun?

Passing the baton paddle

They come, they compete, and they mostly conquer. Singapore’s paddlers have traditionally dominated at the Commonwealth Games, winning 22 out of the 40 golds on offer since 2002. While hunting medals is no doubt the priority, honing talent is equally important. That is why the Republic will be unleashing its young guns in Birmingham, with half of its eight-member team making their Games debut.

While all eyes are set to be on top seed and stalwart Feng Tianwei, starlets like Koen Pang, Izaac Quek, and Zhou Jingyi will be looking to sparkle as well. It’s time to pass the baton, or more specifically the paddle, to the next generation.

Shuttlers set to shine?

Singapore has not seen a Commonwealth Games badminton champion since 2002, when Li Li bagged the country’s first and only gold in the women’s singles. But there is hope that the drought can be broken this year. And it all boils down to one man: reigning world champion Loh Kean Yew. Can the current world no. 11 go all the way and end the country’s two decade wait for a badminton gold? It’d be an ideal birthday gift for Singapore.

A power couple will also be on the courts, with Terry Hee and his wife Jessica Tan looking to smash their way through the mixed doubles event. Hee, a bronze medallist at the 2014 Games in the mixed team event, is also aiming to bolster his medal haul.

A sprint queen on form

Confidence is coursing through Shanti Pereira’s legs, with the sprinter in the best form of her life this year. She blitzed through the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in May, defending her 200m title by rewriting the national record she had set in 2015. A silver in the 100m also meant that she had improved on her 2015 SEA Games showing when she clinched a bronze.

There’s no doubt about it – the 25-year-old is getting better and faster. Can the high-octane sprint queen find another gear in Birmingham? In sprint events, anything can happen – just look at Lamont Marcell Jacobs. We’ll be waiting to find out what Pereira has in store.

A trio not to be messed with

For the first time, Singapore wrestlers will be at the Commonwealth Games as Hong Yeow Lou, Gary Chow and Danielle Lim grapple for glory on the mats. For Lim, it will be a second major Games debut this year after also making her SEA Games bow in May.

Chow, a talented mixed-martial artist, is a multiple SEA Games medallist in Judo and Sambo, while compatriot Loh also won a bronze at the regional competition in 2019. Get set for a whole load of tosses, flips and pins with this trio as they prepare to tussle in Europe.

Competing as one

Also known as the Friendly Games, the Commonwealth Games is the epitome of sporting inclusivity, with both able-bodied and para athletes competing as one contingent since 2002. Indeed, this year’s Games will see the largest integrated Para sport programme in history with eight sports on offer. Singapore will compete in two: powerlifting and swimming.

Promising para power lifter Nur ‘Aini Mohamed Yasli, who placed 6^th in her Paralympics debut last year, will look to raise the bar even further as she makes her Commonwealth Games bow. As a flagbearer alongside Hee, she also will be flying our nation’s colours high at the opening parade. Keep a look out for the pair!

A shooting star mesmerises

At the 2010 Commonwealth Games in India’s capital of New Delhi, Team Singapore was on fire as its athletes raked in a record 31 medals. Shooter Gai Bin, who was making his Games debut, was arguably the breakout star.

In a stunning display of poise and proficiency, the hotshot swept an incredible seven medals. His three golds, two silvers and two bronzes contributed to nearly a quarter of the contingent’s tally! To date, it is still the most number of medals bagged by a Singaporean athlete at a single edition of the Games. While shooting has sadly been omitted from this year’s event, we eagerly await its return at the next edition.

A fantastic fourth

Former gymnast Lim Heem Wei is no stranger to the Commonwealth Games. The 2010 Games silver medalist has competed twice, was assistant chef de mission (CDM) once, and is now in charge as CDM at her fourth Games. Her message to the athletes she is leading? To do their best and have no regrets. This veteran definitely knows what she’s talking about.

Assisting her will be former national sprinter Amirudin Jamal, a two-time Commonwealth Games participant in 2010 and 2014. Our athletes will certainly be in the best hands with this dynamic duo leading the charge.