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Pereira's two season-best performances and historic appearance in the Commonwealth Games 200m final will stand her in good stead heading into the Asian Games. Photo: SpexSG/ Andy Chua
Sprint queen Shanti Pereira has emerged from her individual sprint campaign at her second Commonwealth appearance with confidence, satisfied with her progress as she turns her focus to the relays and a tantalising title defence in the half-lap sprint at the upcoming Asian Games.
The 29-year-old carved another chapter into Singapore athletics folklore by becoming the first Singaporean individual sprinter to reach a Commonwealth Games final on Thursday (Jul 30). She went on to finish eighth in Friday’s (Jul 31, Glasgow time) decider, clocking 23.21 seconds against a field featuring some of the world’s top sprinters.
“(The Commonwealth Games) was definitely one of the competitions we were trying to do well in and compete for, but it was also a building block towards the Asian Games because of the timing. I think we reached our goals and this was a very good step towards the Asian Games,” said Pereira after her race.
Her timings at the Scotstoun Stadium will certainly send a warning shot to her rivals as she hits her stride ahead of the Sep 19 to Oct 4 Aichi-Nagoya Games.
After clocking encouraging timings across a series of meets in Belgium before heading to Glasgow, Pereira made a flying start in the Scottish city, winning her 100m heat on Monday (Jul 27) in a season-best 11.24s.
“Every race I come to the line wanting to do better than I did last time. I’ve been able to do that by constantly learning from each race and trying to improve on whatever I can.”
But her breakthrough came in her pet event, the 200m, when she clocked 22.81 seconds in the semi-finals to qualify as the eighth and final athlete for Friday’s decider. Finishing third in her semi-final, Pereira endured a nervous wait before leaping in elation after getting official confirmation from the jumbotron of her qualification.
Pereira after realising she made the final in the 200m. Photo: SpexSG/ Andy Chua
Her time also made her the fastest woman in Asia this season over the distance, edging China’s Chen Yujie by three hundredths of a second, after Chen had clocked 22.84 seconds at the Shanghai Diamond League in May. No other Asian woman has broken the 23-second barrier this season.
In the 100m dash, reigning Asian Games silver medallist Pereira’s season best puts her fourth in this year’s rankings, behind the Philippines’ Zion Corrales-Nelson (11.19s), Bahrain’s Edidiong Odiong (11.15s) and Chen (11.12s).
Racing against the likes of eventual gold medallist Adaejah Hodge (22.07s) of the British Virgin Islands, the second-fastest woman in the world over 200m this season, and World U20 Championships bronze medallist Alana Reid (22.56s) in the final, Pereira gained another valuable litmus test at the highest level as she builds towards a landmark charge at September’s Games.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Junior Pan American Games champion Shaniqua Bascombe clinched silver in 22.35s.
Pereira (left) walking to the start line alongside Hodge (centre) and England's European U23 champion Success Eduan. Photo: SpexSG/ Andy Chua
“The Commonwealth Games is such a competitive Games. It's next to the Olympics or World Championships. It means so much to get to run with all these amazing girls from all these countries that are known for their world-class athletes,” she said. “I am really grateful that I got to run in the finals today. It felt great lining up against such strong girls.”
“I think overall, it has been a great Games for my individual races. We still have the relays tomorrow, and there’s a whole other goal we would like to achieve.”
The quartet of Elizabeth-Ann Tan, Laavinia Jaiganth, Kerstin Ong and Pereira set a national record of 44.41s in the women's 4x100m relay en route to a fourth-place finish at last December’s SEA Games.
Amanda Loo will join Tan, Ong and Pereira as they look to lower that national record when they take to the track on Saturday (Aug 1).
The 23rd Commonwealth Games are held in Glasgow from 23 July to 2 August 2026. For the latest Team Singapore coverage and news, follow Team Singapore on their social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok) or visit the official Team Singapore website.
