SINGAPORE — Only four days after the 28th SEA Games officially opened, host Singapore have won 52 gold medals, surpassing the Republic’s previous record haul of 50 at the 1993 Games and delivering an early present to the nation exactly two months before it celebrates its Golden Jubilee.

The next target is 60 gold medals, said Singapore’s co-chef de mission Tan Eng Liang, but with one week of competition to go before the closing ceremony on Tuesday, Team Singapore are expected to surpass that, with the likely sources being swimming, water polo, bowling and shooting. Thailand are currently second on the medal tally, trailing Singapore by 14 gold medals.

“I am extremely delighted that we have met our target of 50,” Mr Tan said. “Of course, the pressure was that we have our 50th anniversary, and we had to, at the minimum, hit this target.

“The credit, to a great extent, must go to those sports that over-performed. I think swimming is the best example ... the same with canoeing because their target to us was four and they (won) seven. Wushu gave us a target of three, and they gave six.

“Today, we ended with 52 golds, so our next target is towards 60. That would be a very reasonable target.”

Team Singapore’s other chef-de-mission Nicholas Fang echoed the sentiment, saying: “We have hit this threshold relatively early ... We need to keep pulling together and keep our momentum. Hopefully, the crowd will come and support us, and (we can) keep going further and further. Maybe 60 and maybe further, so we’ll see.”

At the 1993 SEA Games, which were also held in Singapore, the Republic finished fourth overall with 50 gold — including nine from swimmer Joscelin Yeo — 40 silver and 74 bronze medals.

This year’s Games from June 5 to 16 are part of SG50 celebrations.

Swimmer Quah Zheng Wen had the honour of nabbing the landmark 51st medal when he won the men’s 400m individual medley final at the OCBC Aquatic Centre last night in 4min 23.50secs, ahead of team-mate Pang Sheng Jun (4:24.81) and bronze medallist Tran Duy Khoi of Vietnam (4:26.29).

“I am definitely really proud to have the honour of making Singapore’s history,” said Quah.

“I am just really glad I could be a part of it, especially with these guys part of the Games. Some of these guys would be retiring and I think it is really memorable that I was able to compete with the team, making waves and history for Singapore.”

Minutes earlier, team-mate and two-time Asian Games champion Tao Li had won Singapore’s record-equalling 50th gold medal at the women’s 100m backstroke final in 1min 02.67secs. Singapore’s men’s 4x100m freestyle relay team won the 52nd.

Singapore started yesterday at the top of the 11-nation medal standings with 41 gold, 27 silver and 47 bronze medals, ahead of second-placed Vietnam (26-13-30) and third-placed Thailand (23-30-26).

By noon, that number had risen to 43 gold medals, after canoeists Sarah Chen and Mervyn Toh won the women’s K1 200m and men’s K1 200m finals, respectively.

Gold medals No 44, 45, 46 and 47 soon followed from sailors Colin Cheng; Bernie Chin; the trio of Anthony Kiong, Colin Ng and Stanley Chan; as well as the quartet of Jovina Choo, Terena Lam, Dawn Liu and Daniella Ng, respectively.

Singapore’s 48th and 49th golds then came from bowler Daphne Tan and swimmer Joseph Schooling.