SEA Games 2025: Like father, like child – Team Singapore athletes following their parents’ footsteps

Softball player Jeron Tan's father Jeffeury also represented Singapore in the same sport at the SEA Games. Photo: SNOC/ Eugene Goh Wei Hao

Jeron Tan’s first inclination towards picking up softball was in 2007, the last time Thailand hosted the SEA Games. Back then, he was a nine-year-old in the spectator stands watching his father Jeffeury play in his final Games appearance. 

Thailand are once again hosting the biennial Games, but the roles of father and son are reversed this time, with Jeron competing in his third SEA Games and his father cheering him on from the stands.

Recalling the first time he watched his father compete overseas, Jeron said: “I thought it was very cool and I wanted to try it out, so I asked my dad to teach me. Back then, I was very bad at this sport, so I just kept training with him.”

For Jeffeury, who also played in the 1993 and 1997 editions of the biennial Games, watching his son represent Singapore brings immense pride. Jeron and his older brother Jerel both competed in the 2015 SEA Games on home ground and it is a milestone Jeffeury describes as his “happiest moment”. 

“I always feel very happy when I see him put on the glove and the jersey,” said the 57-year-old. “I’m happiest that he can continue the sport and continue the legacy. I haven’t touched a gold medal yet, but he’s already got one.”

Softball player Jeron Tan (centre) with his parents Jeffeury and Juanna. Photo: SportSG/ Wongwarit Meelarp

Jeron, part of the gold-winning squad at the 2019 SEA Games, was candid when asked if he feels any pressure following his father onto the softball mound. “No lah, I’m better,” quipped the 26-year-old, who clinched a silver here in Thailand. 

Not that there is any pressure from Jeffeury, who said: “I will always want him to enjoy the game. The lifespan (of a competitive softball player) is short, and in another five or 10 years he may no longer play at this level. So, treasure whatever that he can enjoy right now, even he doesn’t win, it doesn’t matter. This is a priceless experience, and he should just enjoy it.” 

Former national paddler Dave Lai, whose daughter Chloe is competing in table tennis at the 33rd SEA Games, echoed these sentiments. 

“I have no expectations except for her to enjoy the experience,” said the 52-year-old, who featured in the 1989, 1991 and 1993 SEA Games. “You can’t force your kid to do something they don’t like; if they enjoy it, they will put in the effort on their own. I can see that Chloe is putting in a lot of effort and training hard, and I’m very proud of her taking part in her first SEA Games.”

Table tennis player Chloe Lai (second from left) with her family at the 33rd SEA Games. Photo: Courtesy of Patsy Ng

For Chloe, who was part of the women’s doubles and team events in Thailand, having a parent who once represented Singapore in the same sport means receiving guidance that comes from a place of love and personal experience. 

Recalling a period last year when she felt “quite negative” as she wasn’t performing up to her own standards, the 18-year-old said: “I talked to my father, and we watched videos together to analyse what went wrong and how to improve. He kept supporting me and slowly, it got better, and here I am at my first SEA Games."

Chloe Lai (left) with her teammates. The women's team won silver at the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand. Photo: SportSG/ Yodsawat Ratanapitaktep

“Throughout my journey, he has given me a lot of advice and I don’t remember most of it, but the one that has made the biggest impact is him telling me to just try my best and never give up. It’s a really simple piece of advice, but it’s the biggest one to me because it’s from my dad, and this reduces any additional stress before I go on court.

“He doesn’t put pressure on me. I want to follow in his footsteps, so this is my motivation to strive for more.”

Advice from a parent who understands the demands of high-level competition is not only timeless, but also relevant even in a different sport. Sailor Jania Ang is the daughter of former national water polo player Ang Kiat Wee, who was part of the bronze-winning team at the 1986 Asian Games. 

Jania, who won gold in the women’s ILCA 6 event here at the Thailand Games, felt it was only recently that her father’s experience as a former national athlete made a significant impact on her own sporting journey. 

“At points where I was really feeling the pressure and sharing things like that with him, he would tell me how he used to cope with it, for example to visualise certain situations around the pool and that would give him more certainty,” said the 21-year-old. 

Sailor Jania Ang said advice from her father, former national water polo player Ang Kiat Wee, has helped with coping with the pressure of major Games. Photo: SportSG/ Peeradon Saha-Ariyapat

“It can translate to sailing as well. One of the things that has really stuck with me is that he would always tell me to make sure I enjoy the competition. I’ve always been someone who is stressed out by the pressure of major Games and him knowing that has also made him emphasise to me the importance of celebrating small things. That’s something that has helped ease the pressure off me.”

Her father’s feat at the Asiad remains Singapore’s only water polo medal at the Asiad to date. It is an admirable achievement in itself. But what Jania admires more is the humility with which her father carries himself, and it is a trait she seeks to emulate as she continues her sporting pursuits.

 Sailor Jania Ang (centre) with her parents at the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand. Photo: Courtesy of Jania Ang

She said: “My dad is quite a quiet person and he doesn’t like to go on and on about what it’s like in his day. He’s not very vocal about the things he’s achieved. I’d like to maintain that same humility even as I aim for other Games. I don’t ever want to become someone who is equated to my achievements, or whose worth is only found in that.

“As athletes, we are so much more than the sport we do or the result we achieve. My dad, in the way that he speaks to me and values me as a person, has always reflected that. Even more so because he knows sport has its ups and downs – sometimes you get it, and sometimes you don’t.”

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.