The 27th SEA Games in Myanmar ended with a flourish for Team Singapore. Besides strong performances in traditional strongholds such as table tennis, sailing and swimming, Singapore athletes in lesser-known events also contributed to a haul of 34 gold medals.

There were many courageous stories of athletes overcoming their own challenges as well as their opponents, such as young doctor Mok Ying Ren’s sterling triumph in the marathon, lone rower Saiyidah Aisyah’s win and 195kg man-mountain Ho Han Boon’s ascension to the top of the judo podium in the over-100kg category, the first of such results in 24 years.

Dinah Chan’s fight back from a serious injury to clinch gold in the women’s cycling individual time-trial was inspirational, as was equestrian rider Janine Khoo’s show jumping win.

Other athletes were also on target in archery and shooting. And outside of the winner’s circle, there were more performances worthy of praise.

The women’s dragon boaters brought home a bronze medal in the five-crew 500m race, the first of any colour since Singapore’s independence in 1965. While struggling to best the world-class Malaysians, our diving team delivered a brace of silvers and bronzes. The Young Lions also brought back a bronze after beating Malaysia 2-1 in the hard-fought play-off for third place in the football competition.

CHASING THAT DREAM, AGAINST THE ODDS

Besides helping Singapore maintain its traditional position of sixth in the final medal tally table, these and other performances are encouraging signs that a broader sports culture is developing here.

The fact that athletes — in some cases lone representatives of their sport — are blazing a trail to the top of the podium in little-known events, with much less support compared to established sports, shows that Singaporeans are willing to venture off the beaten path in pursuit of their passions.

Mok, a triathlon gold medallist at the 2007 SEA Games, had to balance the gruelling training of an elite marathoner with the pressures of medical school. He was only able to come to Myanmar a day before his event, as he is currently on a medical officer’s course as part of his National Service commitments.

Such stories of Singapore athletes having to balance sports with work or academic demands are not new. But the fact that we are seeing more of such athletes excel and even win at international events is inspiring.

One could be forgiven for expecting Chan to blame her September accident, in which she was hit by a car and ended up in hospital, for a loss of form during her build-up.

But she carried on training, often in the early hours of the morning when traffic is lighter, despite being bloodied and suffering a minor concussion in the accident — and delivered cycling’s first gold since 1997.

That athletes in sports that receive far less official funding compared to mainstay events are persevering and excelling is a good sign that Singaporeans are embracing sports not just to be part of a well-supported national team with all the perks. They are chasing their dreams even when the path is a bumpy one that requires much sacrifice, far removed from public adulation and glory.

ALL EYES ON 2015

Singapore sports officials who were in Myanmar were keen to keep the focus on the performances at this year’s Games, but the implications for 2015, when Singapore plays host for the first time in more than 20 years, are significant.

For a start, the next edition of the regional event will be held in June, which gives us only 18 months to prepare. Organisers will be working hard to ensure that the infrastructure is in place and national sports associations have to launch their preparation and training plans after barely getting off the plane from Myanmar.

The last time we hosted the Games, Singapore athletes delivered 50 golds and a total haul of 164 medals. The 34 golds won in Myanmar came without some of the sports and events that Singapore is traditionally strong at. Notwithstanding that fact, there is still much work to be done if we are to surpass the 1993 performance.

At the same time, having the Games at home presents a wonderful opportunity to continue building a true sporting culture and creating a legacy for future generations to come.

MOST CRUCIAL PERFORMANCE

Perhaps the most important gauge of Singapore as a sporting nation come 2015 will be how the whole country comes together behind our athletes.

Even before the torch was passed to the Singapore contingent at the closing ceremony in Myanmar’s capital of Naypyidaw, criticisms of Team Singapore’s performance this year have been surfacing, especially online.

Many are quick to pass judgment on how our athletes performed, from the relative comfort and anonymity of their proverbial armchairs.

What we must realise is that the journey to the top step of the medal podium is long and arduous, and most victories are built on numerous early failures. And support for our athletes can play an integral role in giving them the boost and motivation to sustain their efforts through the years.

Criticism, where justified, cannot be shied away from. But at the same time, the concept of Team Singapore extends beyond the athletes and the sporting sector to the families, employers, spectators and countrymen of the athletes in the arena.

When we play host in less than two years’ time, all eyes will be on how we perform as a sporting nation, with the added pressure of it being Singapore’s Golden Jubilee anniversary of its independence.

So, before we look at the medal tables to see if our athletes have delivered, perhaps we need to ask ourselves if all of us have performed our roles as members of Team Singapore, by supporting our sportsmen and women through all stages of their sporting journey.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Nicholas Fang is Associate Editor at Channel NewsAsia. He is a Nominated Member of Parliament and focuses on the sports sector in Singapore. He was at the Myanmar SEA Games in his capacity as a member of the Singapore National Olympic Council.