Singapore, February 25, 2023: The Singapore National Olympic Council used the stage of the Asian Games Fun Run to introduce their newly-appointed team leaders for the Hangzhou Asian Games this September.
Before the start of the race, the Chef de Mission and his two assistants were called to the podium to join the Singapore NOC President, Parliament Speaker Tan Chuan-Jin, as almost 1,000 runners looked on.
Team Singapore will be led in Hangzhou by Dr Koh Koon Teck, assisted by Olympians Tao Li and Koh Seng Leong.
Dr Koh is the President of the Basketball Association of Singapore and also serves as a member on the SNOC Executive Committee. The physical education and sports science educator was team manager to the men’s basketball team at the 2013 and 2015 Southeast Asian Games when they captured a bronze medal to end a 34-year drought.
Dr Koh said: “Since the Covid-19 pandemic, our athletes have been taking the challenges posed in good stride. Even with postponements of competitions and major Games, they continue to train and keep themselves in good shape physically and mentally.
“I am heartened to see such resolve and enthusiasm by our athletes as they put their best foot forward to represent Singapore at the Asian Games.
“I am confident that, with the support of Tao Li and Seng Leong, both of whom competed at the elite level as high-performance athletes, Team Singapore will have a fruitful outing in Hangzhou.”
Double Olympians – swimmer Tao Li and sailor Koh Seng Leong – will serve as assistant chefs de mission to Dr Koh.
The Asiad will be Tao Li’s second assignment as a contingent leader. In 2018, she led Team Singapore’s Youth Olympic Games contingent to Buenos Aires as chef de mission. The 33-year-old was also the champion in the women’s 50m butterfly event at the 2006 and 2010 Asian Games, and remains the only Singaporean woman to make an Olympic swimming final at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
At the 2006 Asian Games, sailor Koh Seng Leong nailed a silver medal in the Laser Radial Open event after returning to competitive sailing following a motorbike accident in 2005 which caused him to miss the year’s SEA Games. After retiring from competitive sailing in 2010, the 39-year-old returned to sports in 2021 when he was elected as vice-president to Olympians Singapore, an association representing Olympians in Singapore.
Some 150 Asian Games-bound athletes from 12 sports took part in the fun run.
Team Singapore sailor and double Asian Games bronze medalist (2010, 2018) Ryan Lo is currently training towards a successful outing in Hangzhou and has his sights on qualifying for his second Olympic Games.
He said: “My teammates and I are looking forward to compete in Hangzhou. The sailing conditions won’t be easy and the level of sailing will be very competitive. Nonetheless, we are all putting in our best efforts to prepare for a successful campaign, and I am certain that Hangzhou will present an impressive edition of the Asian Games.”
Singapore is set its largest contingent to the Asiad with 382 athletes selected in 29 sports by the SNOC at the selection meeting last year. More are expected to join the team as athletes who have yet to meet the qualifying mark have till May 2023 for the Appeals Committee to consider their nominations.