Winning Experience At Thailand Sports School Games

24th Thailand Sports School Games


17 student-athletes from the Swimming Academy and 33 student-athletes from the Track and Field Academy set off to Lampang, Chiangmai in a quest for medals at the Thailand Sports School Games (TSSG) which was held from 22 to 30 July 2023. However, it became an adventure of self-discovery and camaraderie for the student-athletes.

Our swimmers led the charge, earning an impressive medal haul of 11 gold, 15 silver and 10 bronze medals. Out of the 50 events that the team took part in, personal bests were unlocked in 60% of them. Swimmers ventured into unfamiliar events, which led to the revelation of hidden strengths and a valuable lesson on perseverance. Among the winners are double gold medallists Caleb Chong Jia Yao, Joy Neo Ning Suan, Julia Yeo Shu Ning and Reyes Loh Shao En who had the opportunity to stand at the top of the podium twice during the competition. Reyes Loh was named the Under-16 Most Valuable Player and coach Roderick Eng was recognised as the Under-16 Best Boys’ Coach among all participating schools.

Following suit, the Track and Field Academy showcased its prowess against tough competition from 35 Sports School including those from Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. Their efforts resulted in 3 gold, 8 silver and 6 bronze medals, and they set 46 personal bests in the 96 events they competed in.

Lucas Fun Le Cong and Audrey Koh Shun Yi stood out and won gold medals for 110m and 400m hurdles respectively among the Under-18s. Lucas’s win in the heats and finals of the 110m hurdles race with a personal best timing of 15.12s puts him in good stead for the upcoming Commonwealth Youth Games. Audrey's victory in the 400m hurdles showcased her unyielding perseverance as she secured a photo-finish win, defeating her competitors by a mere 0.03s. She also set a new personal best while winning a bronze medal in the 400m finals and played a crucial role in the 4x400m race, helping her team improve their timing significantly.

Also, the competition witnessed friendly rivalry between teammates Muhammad Aaryan Shah Azhar and Veroy Jia Hao Chua in the Under-14 Boys’ Long Jump event as they vied for the top position. Aaryan ultimately claimed victory with a 5.92m jump and Veroy secured 2nd after jumping 5.63m.

Wilson Tan Shen Kai also impressed even though he was the only Secondary 1 tracker on the trip. He rose to the occasion and won his first international medal – a bronze - and set a new personal best of 1.62m in high jump.

Out of the 35 Sports Schools that competed, the Under-18 Girls’ team and Under-14 Boys’ team ranked 4th overall at the end of the competition.

The event was particularly special for the two academies as they returned to the competition after a hiatus caused by the pandemic. The student-athletes eagerly anticipated this annual event, where they could showcase their talents against some of the finest young athletes from the region and experience the thrill of a complete sports games extravaganza, complete with grand opening and closing ceremonies.

Student-athletes cherished the competition experience, embracing newfound strengths, setting remarkable records, and forging unbreakable bonds of team spirit.