Cambodia 2023: Team Singapore signs off with 51-gold haul

Timothy Loh (in blue) emerged tops in the men's freestyle 125kg category to win wrestling's first gold at the SEA Games. Photo: SNOC/Lim Wei Xiang

Team Singapore’s last day of competition in Cambodia started off with promise, and ended with the athletes delivering a strong final push. 

One after another, gold medals came through across a variety of sports, including a historic first SEA Games title from wrestling. 

There was also an emphatic and emotional return to the top of the podium for the men’s water polo team, who went undefeated as they reclaimed the regional crown with style.

Overall, the contingent rang in another six golds, three silvers and three bronzes. This brings the Republic’s total at the 32nd SEA Games to 51 golds, 43 silvers and 64 bronzes. 

Of these podium finishes, debutants contributed 57 medals. 

The showing at the 32nd edition of the Games included 8 Games records, 17 national records and 40 personal best performances. 

Apart from the notable achievement of breaching the 50-gold mark at an overseas Games, the tally is also an improvement over the Hanoi Games last year, when Singapore brought home 47 golds. 

It has led Team Singapore chef de mission Dr Hing Siong Chen to laud the contingent's time in Cambodia as "awe-inspiring". 

He said: "Team Singapore did not only embrace the challenges and work as a team to make the best of the conditions here, they also stunned us with their impressive performances."

Singapore National Olympic Council secretary-general Chris Chan, lauding a showing that included the country's 1,000th gold medal at the Games, said some standout performances are "positive indicators" of athletes' progress. 

"It took us 64 years to win 1,000 gold medals and we hope this milestone will spur future generations of Singapore athletes to continue the winning streak and do better to achieve sporting glory for the nation," he said. 

Timothy Loh wrestles his way to the sport’s first SEA Games gold

After three sports and five medals at four SEA Games, Timothy Loh finally has a gold medal. 

The 31-year-old’s win in the men’s freestyle 125kg wrestling event is also a significant one for the sport, as its first title at the biennial Games. 

He has taken the long road to the top of the SEA Games podium, having competed in judo at the 2013 and 2015 editions, before sambo at the 2019 Games. He also competed in wrestling at the Hanoi Games last year. Each time, however, Loh has returned only with bronze. 

In Phnom Penh, Loh beat Cambodia’s Dorn Sao and Laotian Lerdxai Khamtama in the round-robin matches to finish top of the category. 

He told the media after his win: “I just follow the opportunities (to win medals). You miss all the shots you don’t take. This is one of them.”

Gary Chow won a silver in the men's freestyle 79kg event to add to wrestling's haul on the final day of competition. Photo: SNOC/Lim Wei Xiang

His teammates added another silver and two bronzes in other weight classes. 

Gary Chow finished second place in the men’s freestyle 79kg category, while Lim Zi Xyan and Lou Hong Yeow took bronze in the men’s freestyle 65kg and 74kg respectively. 

Men's Cricket bowls out its campaign with hat-trick of medals

Abdul Rahman Bhadelia in action earlier in the SEA Games in a men's T20 match. Photo: SNOC/Eng Chin An 

A day after clinching gold in the Sixes format, Singapore’s cricketers took the field to win bronze in the T10 event. 

The team returns home with three medals, having also taken bronze in the T20 format. 

Sepak Takraw kicked up a notch on final day with bronze

Muhammad Danish Irfan in action during the men's regu event on Tuesday. Photo: SNOC/Danny Toh

Sepak Takraw’s lone medal of the 32nd SEA Games came on the final day of competition, with a bronze in the men’s regu event.

Men's Field Hockey sweeps the silver medal

Less than a week after losing 3-4 to regional kingpins Malaysia in the pool stage, the Men's Field Hockey team met their Causeway rivals once again in the final for the Gold. The Republic put up a tremendous fight against the Malaysians, but it wasn't enough as TeamSG had to settle for the silver medal with a 0-3 loss. Meanwhile, Singapore's Team Captain Nur Ashriq Ferdaus said, his team gave it their all in Cambodia (see below)

TeamSG's Nur Ashriq Ferdaus' post-match interview after their 0-3 loss to Malaysia. Photo Credit : SportSG/Dawn Chua. Video Credit : Singapore Hockey Federation and Sport Singapore

Women's Beach Volleyball ends brave battle in 4th position 

Team Singapore faced off against Vietnam in the Women's team bronze medal playoff. Despite their resilient performance, the Republic succumbed to a 0-2 loss and finished 4th overall out of 7 competing nations. Meanwhile, TeamSG's Cecilia Soh says, the experience gained against the full-time pros, will prove extremely useful in their overall development (see below).

TeamSG's Cecilia Soh's post-match interview after their 0-2 defeat to Vietnam. Photo Credit : SNOC/Eng Chin An. Video Credit : Volleyball Association of Singapore and Sport Singapore

Floorball maintains regional prowess 

Singapore's Men's team was in action against Malaysia for the bronze medal playoff. At the end of the showdown, it was the Republic finishing in 3rd place after a 3-1 win. Check out the post-match analysis by TeamSG's Vice-Captain, Thaddeus Tan (see below)

TeamSG's Thaddeus Tan's post-match interview after their 3-1 victory over Malaysia. Photo Credit : SportSG/Alfie Lee. Video Credit : Singapore Floorball Association and Sport Singapore

As for the Singapore's Women's squad, they met Thailand in the grand finale. TeamSG showed why they are the reigning 2-time defending champion, displaying their regional prowess with a 4-2 win. Goalkeeper Shermaine Goh, appearing in her first SEA Games, was delighted with the team's overall performance. (see below)

TeamSG Goalkeeper Shermaine Goh's post-match interview after their 4-2 win victory over Thailand. Photo Credit : SportSG/Alfie Lee. Video Credit : Singapore Floorball Association and Sport Singapore

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