SINGAPORE — Team Singapore set a new ASEAN Para Games (APG) record haul of 20 gold medals yesterday, with five gold medals harvested from the OCBC Aquatics Centre.

Swimmer Theresa Goh equalled the feat set at the Kuala Lumpur APG in 2001 by delivering the Republic’s 16th gold yesterday morning in a time of 49.41s in the women’s 50m freestyle, S5. It was the 28-year-old’s fifth win in as many events at this APG, with two events left to go.

Moments later, in front of a watching Singapore President Tony Tan and the First Lady, teammate Toh Wei Soong breached the mark by splashing home first (1min 21.02s) in the men’s 100m backstroke, S8 event.

Benson Tan then bagged gold No 18 in style, with a new Games record (1min 12.30s) in the same event in the S14 class. Toh and Tan added two more gold in the evening session, in the men’s 50m freestyle S8 (30.27s) and 50m freestyle S14 (28.26s) respectively.

Hosts Singapore now boast a total tally of 20 golds, 10 silvers and 14 bronzes from this APG.

Team Singapore’s chef-de-mission Raja Singh was delighted with the record showing, but was happy to just take things a step at a time and not place undue pressure on his athletes. “We have set a benchmark for the future,” said Raja, who is also the vice-president of the Singapore Disability Sports Council. “We have broken the past records: The number of gold medals, and the medal haul (16 golds, 10 silvers, 11 bronzes in the 2001 APG). Let’s not set targets. Let’s go for 21 (gold medals) first. And when we hit 21, we will talk about it again. I don’t want to put pressure on the athletes. I just want to push them to their limit, and let them go and perform. There are 92 debutants and, if I am going to keep talking about medals, it might affect their performances.”

While a record medal haul by Team Singapore makes for great reason to celebrate, the more meaningful thing the athletes have earned is respect. Swimming sensation Goh and teammate Yip Pin Xiu have made huge waves through their exploits in the pool, and they were swarmed by excited Games volunteers asking for their autographs yesterday.

While Goh admitted she is still not quite used to getting the attention, she relished the rockstar treatment and hoped the support would last.

“I am really happy that Singaporeans acknowledge our hard work, and I hope they will continue supporting disability sports even after the APG,” she said.

Added Yip: “Eleven years ago when I started, the only para-athlete people knew was Theresa. They didn’t know her as a champion, but somebody having a disability doing sports. But now, people’s impression is different. They actually view us as athletes.”