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Independent Singapore
3 days ago
- General
- Independent Singapore
Singapore's women's 4×100-m relay team breaks national record at Asian Championships
SOUTH KOREA: As the baton crossed the finish line at the Gumi Sports Complex, the Singapore women's 4×100-m relay team looked up at the scoreboard. The time read 44.66 seconds, a new national record. It wasn't enough for a medal at the Asian Athletics Championships, but it was enough to rewrite history. The team of Shannon Tan, Elizabeth-Ann Tan, Shanti Pereira, and Laavinia Jaiganth finished fifth overall, behind Asia's sprint powerhouses, but in the context of Singapore athletics, it marked a major breakthrough. The previous record of 44.96 seconds, set at the 2017 SEA Games, had stood for nearly eight years. That timing had only just been matched a month earlier at the Singapore Open, on home soil and with a different lead-off runner. This time, the first athlete out of the blocks was Shannon Tan, a Secondary 4 student from Cedar Girls' School. Making her debut for the national team at just 16, she became the youngest sprinter in recent memory to front a senior relay squad at a continental meet. She passed the baton cleanly to Elizabeth-Ann Tan, one of Singapore's two fastest female sprinters. Shanti Pereira, the other, ran the curve on the third leg. Having just returned from overseas competitions, she delivered one of the race's strongest splits, powering through the second bend to position the team well going into the final changeover. Laavinia Jaiganth, the national U20 400-m record holder, anchored the team. She held her ground in a stacked field to bring Singapore home in record time. Also travelling with the relay squad were Kerstin Ong and Sarah Poh, who had been part of the pool preparing for the event. Behind the scenes, the effort was supported by relay coaches Hamkah Afik, Khairyll Amri, Melvin Tan, and Remy Gan. Their respective personal coaches also train each of the four runners: Margaret Oh (Shannon), Hamkah and Khairyll (Elizabeth-Ann), Luis Cunha (Shanti), and Fabian William (Laavinia). The new national time of 44.66 s would have won medals at 30 out of 31 SEA Games editions where the women's 4×100 m relay was contested. Still, more than just the numbers, the race reflected a shift: the blend of experience and emerging talent, and a baton literally and figuratively being passed from one generation to the next. As the athletes left the track in Gumi, the message was clear — the standard has been raised.
Straits Times
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Singapore golfer Shannon Tan finishes second at Jabra Ladies Open in boost ahead of Evian C'ship
Singaporean golfer Shannon Tan placed second at the Jabra Ladies Open, two strokes behind champion Sara Kouskova. PHOTO: TRISTAN JONES/LET SINGAPORE – A second-placed finish at the Jabra Ladies Open in France on May 24 has given Singaporean golfer Shannon Tan a boost ahead of the July 10-13 Evian Championship, her first Major of the 2025 season. With both tournaments played at the Evian Resort Golf Club's The Champions Course in Evian-les-Bains, the 21-year-old is excited to return to the venue after a creditable showing this week. Her confidence stems from a remarkable comeback on the final day of the €300,000 (S$440,000) Jabra Ladies Open, as she carded a three-under 68 in the third round of the event for an eight-under 205 total, two strokes behind champion Sara Kouskova (67) of the Czech Republic. Pleased with how she handled herself mentally, the world No. 126 said: 'Overall I am proud of the way I played this week. 'It is always nice to be in contention and while I missed out on the win here, there are positives to take away. 'I struggled on this course in my rookie year last year and finished tied-54th, so to be where I am today feels like a massive improvement which I can be proud of.' Tan, a one-time Ladies European Tour (LET) winner, entered the final round in third after climbing from tied-17th with a second-round 67, following an opening 70. But her third round got off to a rough start after she opened with a double bogey, before dropping another shot in the second hole. She bounced back by firing six birdies from holes No. 3 to 16 to claim a share of the lead with Kouskova. However, it was the 25-year-old Czech who held firm to secure her maiden title as she closed out her round with two birdies to secure the €45,000 top prize, while Tan managed a birdie and a bogey, bagging €27,000 for finishing second. Competition was stiff throughout the tournament. England's Cara Gainer (67) and Morocco's Maha Haddioui (67) were one stroke behind Tan in joint third, with five others within five strokes of the lead. Reflecting on her round, Tan said: 'It definitely wasn't the start I was hoping for... I reminded myself that it was still early and there was a lot of golf left to be played. 'After the first two holes, I tried to reset and calm myself down, going back to my mantra of playing one shot at a time and making sure I stick to my routine.' Tan is looking forward to a return to the venue for the US$8 million (S$10.3 million) Evian Championship, where she made her Major debut in 2024. While she did not progress to the weekend after coming in tied-120th, she made history a month later at the Women's British Open in Scotland, where she became the first Singapore woman to make the cut at a Major. 'Playing well on this course gives me more confidence heading into the Evian Championship. It is a challenging layout and I didn't do well last year, so I really wanted to come back this year and change that,' said Tan, who earned a spot in the 2025 edition based on her sixth placing in the 2024 LET Order of Merit. 'I am excited to return for the Major and hopefully build on what I have achieved this week. The course will also likely be set up differently for a Major, so there is still work to be done.' This is Tan's best finish since she ended joint-second at the Hero Women's Indian Open in October 2024. She started the 2025 season by finishing third at the Lalla Meryem Cup in Morocco, then in the top 15 on two occasions in six other LET events this year before the Jabra Ladies Open. Tan said: 'It is always tough to come that close, but at the same time, it is a good thing that I am putting myself in the position to contend more often. 'Each time I learn a little bit more, and I know I just need to be patient and keep doing what I am doing.' Kimberly Kwek joined The Straits Times in 2019 as a sports journalist and has since covered a wide array of sports, including golf and sailing. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Singaporean golfer Shannon Tan finishes second at Jabra Ladies Open in boost ahead of Evian C'ship
Singaporean golfer Shannon Tan placed second at the Jabra Ladies Open, two strokes behind champion Sara Kouskova. PHOTO: TRISTAN JONES/LET SINGAPORE – A second-placed finish at the Jabra Ladies Open in France on May 24 has given Singaporean golfer Shannon Tan a boost ahead of the July 10-13 Evian Championship, her first Major of the 2025 season. With both tournaments played at the Evian Resort Golf Club's The Champions Course in Evian-les-Bains, the 21-year-old is excited to return to the venue after a creditable showing this week. Her confidence stems from a remarkable comeback on the final day of the €300,000 ($440,000) Jabra Ladies Open, as she carded a three-under 68 in the third round of the event for an eight-under 205 total, two strokes behind champion Sara Kouskova (67) of the Czech Republic. Pleased with how she handled herself mentally, the world No. 126 said: 'Overall I am proud of the way I played this week. 'It is always nice to be in contention and while I missed out on the win here, there are positives to take away. 'I struggled on this course in my rookie year last year and finished tied-54th, so to be where I am today feels like a massive improvement which I can be proud of.' Tan, a one-time Ladies European Tour (LET) winner, entered the final round in third after climbing from tied-17th with a second-round 67, following an opening 70. But her third round got off to a rough start after she opened with a double bogey, before dropping another shot in the second hole. She bounced back by firing six birdies from holes No. 3 to 16 to claim a share of the lead with Kouskova. However, it was the 25-year-old Czech who held firm to secure her maiden title as she closed out her round with two birdies to secure the €45,000 top prize, while Tan managed a birdie and a bogey, bagging €27,000 for finishing second. Competition was stiff throughout the tournament. England's Cara Gainer (67) and Morocco's Maha Haddioui (67) were one stroke behind Tan in joint third, with five others within five strokes of the lead. Reflecting on her round, Tan said: 'It definitely wasn't the start I was hoping for... I reminded myself that it was still early and there was a lot of golf left to be played. 'After the first two holes, I tried to reset and calm myself down, going back to my mantra of playing one shot at a time and making sure I stick to my routine.' Tan is looking forward to a return to the venue for the US$8 million (S$10.3 million) Evian Championship, where she made her Major debut in 2024. While she did not progress to the weekend after coming in tied-120th, she made history a month later at the Women's British Open in Scotland, where she became the first Singapore woman to make the cut at a Major. 'Playing well on this course gives me more confidence heading into the Evian Championship. It is a challenging layout and I didn't do well last year, so I really wanted to come back this year and change that,' said Tan, who earned a spot in the 2025 edition based on her sixth placing in the 2024 LET Order of Merit. 'I am excited to return for the Major and hopefully build on what I have achieved this week. The course will also likely be set up differently for a Major, so there is still work to be done.' This is Tan's best finish since she ended joint-second at the Hero Women's Indian Open in October 2024. She started the 2025 season by finishing third at the Lalla Meryem Cup in Morocco, then in the top 15 on two occasions in six other LET events this year before the Jabra Ladies Open. Tan said: 'It is always tough to come that close, but at the same time, it is a good thing that I am putting myself in the position to contend more often. 'Each time I learn a little bit more, and I know I just need to be patient and keep doing what I am doing.' Kimberly Kwek joined The Straits Times in 2019 as a sports journalist and has since covered a wide array of sports, including golf and sailing. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
