SINGAPORE -- National sailors Kimberly Lim and Darren Choy, the former Optimist and Byte CII world champions respectively, have been included in Singapore’s 20-strong squad for next month’s South-east Asian (SEA) Games in Myanmar.

Speaking at the announcement at the National Sailing Centre on Saturday (Nov 16), Singapore Sailing Federation (SSF) President Ben Tan said the biennial regional event remains an important target meet, even though the Republic have successfully produced world champions at junior and youth level for over the past decade.

“The SEA Games is one of the major Games and has been a rite of passage for Singapore’s eminent sailors towards the Asian, World and Olympic stages,” said Tan, himself a former national sailor and gold medallist in the Laser at the 1994 Asian Games in Hiroshima.

“Our patron, Mr Ng Ser Miang was part of the historic team that competed in the then SEAP Games in 1969 in Myanmar (then known as Burma) and it is a significant occasion as Sailing returns to Myanmar once again as it was the country which first introduced sailing to the SEA Games programme in 1961.

“Singapore’s team for 2013 presents a good blend of youth and experience and I am sure our sailors will strive to do their best for Singapore and most importantly, uphold the values of friendship, respect and excellence at this SEA Games”.

The squad also includes the likes of Elizabeth Yin, who competed at last year’s London Olympics, and veteran Anthony Kiong, a gold medallist in the men’s 420 at the 1993 SEA Games in Singapore.

Singapore finished second in the sailing competition at the last SEA Games in Indonesia two years ago with four gold, one silver and three bronze medals, behind Thailand (4-3-1), and ahead of third-placed Indonesia (1-2-1).

Next month’s SEA Games will be held from Dec 11 to 22 and feature 460 events across 33 sports. The sailing competition is scheduled to take place at Ngwe Saung Beach from Dec 13 to 20.

Singapore’s SEA Games sailing squad:

Kimberly Lim and Savannah Siew (420 Women), Jonathan Yeo and Tan Jen-E (420 Men), Darren Choy and Joel Pang (470 Men), Priscilla Low and Cecilla Low (470 Women), Scott Glen Sydney (Laser Standard), Elizabeth Yin (Laser Radial Women), Anthony Kiong and Stanley Chan (Half Rater), Merrick Phang (RS:One Open), Ynez Lim (RS:One Girl), Wallace Gan (RS:One Boy), Raynn Kwok (Optimist Team Racing), Issac Tang (Optimist Team Racing), Bertha Han (Optimist Team Racing), Edward Tan (Optimist Boy and Team Racing), Fathin Rasyiqin Binte Mohamed Firdaus (Optimist Girl and Team Racing).