SEA Games 2025: Fair winds for sailors as Ryan Lo wins fourth straight gold

Singapore's team of dinghy sailors had a strong showing at the 33rd SEA Games, taking a medal in every event they contested. Photo: SportSG/ Peeradon Saha-Ariyapat

Team Singapore’s dinghy sailors wrapped up their campaign at the 33rd SEA Games on a high, taking a medal in every event they contested. 

The haul of three golds, two silvers and a bronze medal included another title for 2024 Olympian Ryan Lo, who clinched his fourth straight individual gold in the Men’s ILCA7 class. 

Singapore’s two other gold medals were secured even before the final day of racing at the Thailand National Sailing Club in Chonburi. Ethan Chia, competing in the Optimist Boys’ event, and Jania Ang in the ILCA6, posted good enough scores throughout the regatta to ensure they could cruise on Dec 14. 

Ethan Chia secured gold in the Boy's Optimist event even before the final day of racing, making a strong recovery after a case of appendicitis just three weeks ago. Photo: SportSG/ Peeradon Saha-Ariyapat

For Ethan, it was the perfect way to race his final event as an Optimist sailor and close this chapter of his career. Yet, competing in Thailand almost did not pan out. The 15-year-old had to undergo emergency surgery in Cyprus just three weeks ago after a case of appendicitis. 

That means weeks out of the water, along with a lot of doubt and uncertainty. 

He said: “I was definitely a bit sceptical about whether I'll be sailing at my full force during the SEA Games, but I decided to just go with what I had, use as much of the training I could to do the best and plan forward.”

His dominance surprised even himself, especially given that as one of the oldest and heaviest in the fleet, it did not exactly play to his advantage in Thailand’s lighter winds. 

“I was a bit surprised, because I was coming into the tournament thinking that Thais were really strong and Malaysians were really stron,” added Chia. “I just really wanted to put out my best effort out there. I really tried a lot to prepare for the SEA Games, and I think the results showed.” 

In the Women’s ILCA6, Jania Ang made up for the disappointment of settling for silver at the last SEA Games. 

After settling for silver at the last Games in 2023, Jania Ang said she took the lessons learnt from that campaign for a strongershowing in Thailand. Photo: SportSG/ Peeradon Saha-Ariyapat

“It's a good comeback,” said Ang. “The last Games obviously wasn't as successful as this one, and I came away with a lot of hard lessons to learn. I’m glad to say I built quite well on that and managed to really improve in the last few years to beat some really good girls here.

“This year was my first year on the senior circuit. So I did a lot of training and competing in Europe, as well as working with different training partners and coaches to make sure things like my speed and my strategy, everything is a bit more fine-tuned. The big guns in sailing are usually in Europe, so having a chance to go against that definitely sharpens my own skills as well.” 

For someone with a firm eye on making the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, the strong showing in Thailand is a shot in the arm. 

Said Ang: “LA2028 is the main goal, and the major Games along the way are stepping stones to put me on the map for LA. (This) shows that it's possible and that I'm not where I was two years ago. I will keep working towards not just beating others, but improving my standards on myself.” 

In other dinghy classes, 12-year-old Anya Alyessia Zahedi defied the odds of being the youngest in the fleet, capping a dream debut with silver in the Girl’s Optimist event. 

Anya Alyessia Zahedi had a dream debut, clinching a silver despite being the youngest in the Girl's Optimist fleet. Photo: SportSG/ Peeradon Saha-Ariyapat

Her older sister, Nia Mehry Zahedi, took bronze in the Girl’s ILCA4 event. 

Nia Mehry Zahedi in action in the Girl's ILCA4. Photo: SportSG/ Peeradon Saha-Ariyapat

Said Anya: “It’s very hard, because all the sailors are very good. The winds are quite shifty and you have to be very aware. I had to try super hard, and I still messed up a lot of times.

“I learnt that when I'm getting targeted… or when someone's blocking my wind, I can block someone else at the same time. I also need to learn to know when to attack at the correct time. I'm lighter, so I can be faster, but my tactics aren’t that good so I have to improve a lot.” 

Austin Yeo, buoyed by a strong contingent of 16 family members cheering him on from shore, clinched silver in the Boy’s ILCA4 class. 

Austin Yeo was cheered on by a boisterous clan of 16 family members on shore. He took silver in the Boy's ILCA4. Photo: SportSG/ Peeradon Saha-Ariyapat

For Ryan Lo, the team’s strong showing is validation for the toil and effort put in, as well as the investment poured into the athletes. 

He acknowledged that sailing is traditionally a high performing sport at the SEA Games for Team Singapore and that means athletes carry heavier expectations on their shoulders. 

Paris 2024 Olympian Ryan Lo, who won a fourth straight individual gold in the ILCA7, said the strong campaign will put the sailors in good stead for the 2026 Asian Games. Photo: SportSG/ Dumrongsak Angsuworapruek

Said Lo, who now has five SEA Games titles that includes a team gold from 2017: “More than half the team are debutants, so it's a very young team. They can only get better from here. 

“This is definitely a big stepping stone for us as a whole sailing team, to make the next step forward for the Asian Games next year. It’s definitely a good learning experience for a lot of these young ones.” 

The 33rd SEA Games are held in Thailand from 9 to 20 December 2025. 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.