She blazed a trail for Singapore athletics last year when she became the nation’s first sprinter in 42 years to win a South-east Asia (SEA) Games gold medal.
Yesterday, Shanti Pereira – who won the women’s 200m SEA Games title on home soil last June- broke new ground for her sport once again.
She became track and field’s first recipient of the Sports Excellence Scholarship (spexScholarship), which is aimed at developing athletes with potential to win medals at the Asian, world and Olympic level.
The 19-year-old Republic Polytechnic student said: “I am deeply honoured. I applied because I want to make it to the Asian Games in 2018 and the Olympic Games in 2020.
“I will definitely be increasing my training hours, using all the technology available at the SSI (Singapore Sports Institute)… as well as to bulk up,” said the Singapore Sports School graduate, who will continue training under coach Margaret Oh, but could further her studies and training in the United States from next year.
“Once I do all those (things), I will be able to go faster.”
MADE HISTORY
In addition to Shanti, Saiyidah Aisyah also made history when she became the first rower to receive the scholarship, which was launched in 2014 with a $40 million war chest over five years.
The two are among 17 new athletes to be admitted into the group of elite sportsmen and sportswomen who are given greater support in areas like sports science and medicine, stipends and career planning.
They received their certificates from Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu yesterday at the Sports Hub’s Black Box Auditorium.
There are 72 spexScholars this year.
The scholarships for the cohort will start on April 1, and in the group are 21 athletes who have had their scholarships renewed, while 34 are already existing spexScholars.
Eleven athletes from last year’s cohort – including swimmer Tao Li – have completed their term and left the scheme, while four, including paddler Isabelle Li, have withdrawn.
SSI’s head of high performance Richard Gordon explained: “Isabelle is a special case; she was awarded a PSC (Public Service Commission) scholarship and wasn’t allowed to hold both awards.
“She’s also just returned from injury and not having a full-time training load.
“She’s trying to balance her studies and sports.”
Sixteen sports are represented in the group, but athletes in team sports were conspicuously absent from this year’s list.
Footballers Hariss Harun and Izwan Mahbud were named as athletes with future potential in 2014, and received targeted support then.
Said Gordon: “We had the Final Push Programme in the year leading up to the SEA Games (in 2015) and that proved to be a useful vehicle for supporting teams around specific campaigns.
TEAM SPORTS
“Is the spexScholarship the right vehicle to support team sports?
“I am not convinced.
“I think campaign-based support is (the right avenue) and I think there will be more of that coming up (for team sports).”
In her speech, Minister Fu urged the elite athletes not to forget to give back. She said: “As spexScholars, other aspiring athletes will be looking to you as role models.
“I hope that you will remember to give back, by encouraging and inspiring others and helping develop your respective sports.”
sayheng@sph.com.sg
This article was first published on March 12, 2016.
Get The New Paper for more stories.
