SINGAPORE – Over 660 athletes will be flying the Singapore flag in Kuala Lumpur at the SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games (APG), making up the Republic’s largest ever away contingents for both.

There will be 569 Team Singapore athletes doing battle in 35 sports at the SEA Games next month, while 94 will of their APG compatriots will contest 11 sports in September.

Shooter Jasmine Ser and long jumper Suhairi Suhani were named flagbearers for the SEA Games and APG contingents at the official flag presentation ceremony on Saturday (July 22).

Slated to compete at her sixth Games, Ser, who is taking part in the women's 10m air rifle and 50m air rifle three positions, described the appointment as a “great honour”.

“I have always watched the opening ceremonies and even attended some, but I have never thought that I would be chosen as a flag bearer,” the 26-year-old two-time Olympian said. “I am excited and I hope Singaporeans will support us at the Games.”

Suhairi, who made his Paralympics debut last year in Rio, was equally thrilled.

“The honour and glory of being the flag bearer for Singapore’s largest ASEAN Para Games away contingent is remarkable, and being given the opportunity to push myself to do better each time when facing some of the best athletes in the region is priceless,” the 20-year-old said.

The duo were handed the Singapore flags by their respective chefs de mission, Milan Kwee for the SEA Games and Shirley Low for the APG. The latter pair had in turn been presented the flags by guests of honour Tan Chuan-Jin, Minister for Social and Family Development and President of the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC), and Grace Fu, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth.

Kwee said that the SEA Games contingent is “excited” for their mission in Malaysia, having worked hard to earn qualification. 

“With the largest away Team Singapore contingent, we are aiming for an outstanding performance,” he declared. “We are confident that crowd favourites like swimming, water polo, shooting, table tennis and water-ski & wakeboard will do their best to perform. More importantly, we hope Team Singapore has a safe and enjoyable Games.”

His APG compatriot, Low, added: “The Singapore team is excited and looking forward to participating in the upcoming Games. We had the advantage of the home crowd during the last ASEAN Para Games, and we hope to see all of our Singapore supporters again in KL in September.”

Minister Fu also gave her backing to the 663 athletes and urged the nation to do likewise.

“Our athletes and the team behind them have been training very hard to be ready,” she said.

“The journey to KL carries their dreams of wearing Singapore's colours and ascending the podium for our country, along with the sacrifices they have made for the sports they love.

"I’m confident that they will make us proud in KL. Let us back them up and give them our fullest support as One Team Singapore!”

The previous largest Singapore contingent for an away SEA Games was 442 in 1997 in Jakarta, Indonesia while it was 57 for the APG in 2008 in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.

Singaporeans planning to travel up to KL to support the athletes can also sign up for the ActiveSG Experience Tours. More information on the tours can be found at www.myactivesg.com/exptour.