Singapore’s Stephenie Chen Wins Silver in Women’s K1 500m Canoeing/Kayaking Event at Asian Games

Veteran Stephenie Chen secures Singapore’s second-ever Asian Games medal in canoeing/kayaking

Singaporean veteran Stephenie Chen made history on Tuesday morning by clinching Singapore’s second-ever Asian Games medal in canoeing/kayaking. The 31-year-old finished second in the women’s K1 500m final, clocking 2 minutes and 0.074 seconds. Despite leading for the first 250m, Chen was overtaken by China’s Li Dongyin, who claimed the gold medal.

Chen, a five-time SEA Games gold medallist, becomes the second Singaporean to earn a medal in canoeing/kayaking, following Mervyn Toh’s bronze in 2018. This achievement adds to Chen’s impressive resume, which includes previous fourth-place finishes in the women’s K2 500m and women’s K1 200m events.

In contrast, former world champion Loh Kean Yew faced disappointment in his Asian Games singles debut, crashing out in the round of 32 to Malaysia’s Ng Tze Yong. Despite teammate Jason Teh advancing to the last-16, Loh’s early exit marked a forgettable Games debut.

Meanwhile, sprinter Shanti Pereira completed her Hangzhou campaign with a fifth-place finish in the 4x100m relay race. Pereira had earlier secured gold in the women’s 200m final and silver in the 100m sprint, contributing to Singapore’s overall tally of three golds, six silvers, and four bronzes at the Games.

The Asian Games continue to showcase the talent and determination of Singaporean athletes across various disciplines, with notable achievements and setbacks shaping their competitive journey.