Thailand 2025: Debutant Tan overcomes bee sting and crash to win Singapore’s first gold

Singapore's para cyclist Sebastian Tan in action on January 21 en route to winning the contingent's first gold medal at the 13th ASEAN Games. Photo: SportSG/Dejbordin Limsupanark

Para cyclist Sebastian Tan’s debut at the ASEAN Para Games looked like it was over before it even began. 

The 25-year-old was out on a training ride two days before competition when he got stung by a bee, crashed as a result, and damaged the bike that he was due to race in. 

Fortunately, Tan was largely unhurt from the crash. His bike, however, suffered damage. With the APG held in Korat, further from big-city resources available in locations like Bangkok, getting the bike fixed in time suddenly became the most pressing challenge of the moment.

All that meant his victory on January 21, when he won Team Singapore’s first gold of the 13th APG, felt sweeter than usual. 

Tan put aside the physical and mental setback of the last-minute hiccup to cross the finish line first in the road cycling mixed individual time trial T1-T2. His time of 31min 40.485sec put him ahead of two Thai athletes. 

Kittiyaporn Namakhan took silver (32:59.954), while Noppakorn Leso was third with bronze (33:31.516). 

He said: “(The crash) was unexpected, but the focus immediately shifted to making sure everyone was okay and getting the bike checked. We stayed calm as a team, handled the situation quickly, and refocused together on the race.” 

Tan's title is Team Singapore's first gold medal of the 13th Asean Para Games. Photo: SportSG/Dejbordin Limsupanark

The crash damaged his bike’s safety bar, without which he would not have been able to start the race. Tan credited his support staff for making it work in less-than-ideal circumstances. 
Said Tan: “We had to source an aluminium tube as a replacement at short notice. The coaches acted quickly, and their effort made it possible for us to compete.

“It really came down to teamwork. The coaches and the Singapore National Paralympic Council immediately worked together to find a solution, source the replacement part, and make sure everything was safe and race-ready. It showed how strong the team behind us really is.”

Tan credited the Team Singapore support staff for helping him and his bike be race-ready after an unexpected bee sting and crash two days before the race. Photo: SportSG/Dejbordin Limsupanark

It is little surprise that Tan never lost sight of the mission – putting in the best race he can. 

He said: “We came in with a clear goal, but the focus was always on executing the process rather than chasing the outcome. If we did the right things, we believed the result would take care of itself. I’m really grateful that everything came together today.

“I think what went right was staying disciplined and calm. I stuck to the race plan, managed my effort well, and didn’t panic when things got tough. It wasn’t about doing anything special, just executing what we trained for and trusting the process.”

The 13th ASEAN Para Games are held in Thailand from 20 to 26 January 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.