SEA Games 2025: Pereira retains 100m gold to remain region’s fastest woman

Singapore sprint queen Shanti Pereira clocked a season's best of 11.37 seconds in the 100m event, successfully defending her title from the previous Games. Photo: SportSG/ Dejbordin Limsupanark

All season, Shanti Pereira has been running down straights, chasing a timing that has eluded her race after race. 

On Dec 11, on her final 100m of a gruelling and trying year, Singapore’s sprint queen achieved it – clocking a season’s best of 11.36 seconds to retain her title as Southeast Asia’s fastest woman.

Her elation with the result was less about winning back-to-back 100m gold medals at the biennial Games, and more about the manner in which she defended her title.

“I've been chasing 11.3 for the entire season, maybe even from last year,” she said shortly after her win at the Suphachalasai National Stadium. 

“I did a start yesterday and I told coach that I didn't feel too good. And he said, well, you just need to come in first, even if you don't feel good.” 

The Singaporean certainly did that, as she finished ahead of Thailand’s Jirapat Khanonta (11.54s) and Vietnam’s Ha Thi Thu (11.58s).  

Pereira is set to compete again in her pet 200m on Dec 13, before featuring in the women's 4x100m relay on Dec 15. Photo: SportSG/Jeremy Lee

Pereira, competing at her seventh SEA Games, is by now used to being the hunted. But even a veteran like the Asian Games 200m champion gets a case of the dark clouds and doubts every now and then. 

She said: “Journeys are just like that. There are always ups and downs, and that's why I always try to focus on gratitude and just being able to compete here, being healthy and just getting the chance to even defend my title.

“When there is doubt, I feel my feelings, and then I move on and focus on the good in my journey. I wanted to do a good one, but it was really just about showing up and trying to attain my goal of defending my title, no matter the time.” 

Pereira was not the only Singaporean to finish on the podium on the opening day of athletics competition. 

In the men’s triple jump, Gabriel Lee earned a significant bronze when he leapt 16.09m, breaking a 16-year-old national record along the way. It improves on Stefan Tseng’s 2009 mark of 16.04m. 

It is Singapore's first SEA Games medal in the event in more than 50 years, coming after Leslie Shepherdson's silver medal at the 1971 Games. 

Gabriel Lee's bronze medal in the men's triple jump is Singapore's first SEA Games medal in the event since 1971. Photo: SportSG/Jeremy Lee

He said: “I feel very happy that I was able to medal. I’ve wanted to break this record for a long time and the best place to do it is at the SEA Games. It feels amazing.

“I felt pretty ready for this competition. Everything was going well, training well, and it was just up to whether I could perform on the day itself and I did that today.”

In the women’s 100m heats, Elizabeth-Ann Tan clocked 11.75sec and did not progress to the final. 

In the men’s 100m dash, national record holder Marc Brian Louis missed out on a medal after taking fourth with a 10.32sec effort. 

He said: “This year is even tougher than the previous SEA Games. I did my best, as good as I can and I came in fourth. The others did very well and I’m very happy for them. 

“My execution was good and I think I panicked a bit halfway through. I almost caught up towards the end. Going into a competition, you always hope for PBs, medals, go out there and perform and bring back a medal for Singapore. There are things to improve on - I’ll go back and see what we can do.” 

Pereira will compete again in her pet event 200m on Dec 13, before featuring in the women’s 4x100m quartet on Dec 15.

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.