Fears, tears and now pride: Shanti Pereira’s parents celebrate her gold-medal success

Shanti Pereira’s parents cheering as she crosses the finish line in first place during the Asian Games women’s 200m final on Sept 27.

ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

Published Sep 27, 2026, 10:34 PM

Updated Sep 28, 2026, 02:38 AM

Shanti Pereira made history by winning back-to-back 200m titles at the 2026 Asian Games, making Singapore proud with her strong performance against tough rivals.

Her parents, Clarence and Jeet Pereira, expressed overwhelming pride and shared the emotional journey of supporting Shanti through pressure and competition.

Shanti’s family plays a crucial role in her success, providing emotional support and encouragement, helping her build resilience and maintain a positive mindset.

NAGOYA – In section 113 of the Paloma Mizuho Stadium on Sept 27, the 23 deg C chill is seeping into bodies but Clarence and Jeet Pereira hardly notice.

Clarence’s hands are tightly clasped while his wife clutches two Singapore flags to her chest.

Their youngest daughter Shanti, 30, is racing in the women’s 200m final and two floors up in the stands, their hearts are racing too.

Clarence, in his signature Panama hat, turns to this reporter and says: “It doesn’t get easier, you know. I still feel so nervous. Every second, my heart starts to pound faster and faster.”

Jeet can only smile because at this moment, the race cannot come soon enough.

Soon, it is 7.25pm. As the starter’s gun sounds its electronic crack, Jeet starts waving her flags while the couple, along with Jeet’s sister Belinda Cheong, bellow with all their might: “Go Shanti!”

And 22.78 seconds later, the couple are locked in an embrace. Relief and joy spill over after watching Shanti make history at the Asian Games by becoming the first woman to win back-to-back 200m titles.

Shanti spots her parents in the stands and Jeet stretches out her arms, mimicking a hug from afar. For a mother who has cheered, consoled and wiped away her daughter’s tears since Shanti was a young runner, the gesture shows just how much they both long to close the distance and share a real embrace.

Three minutes later, Jeet is on a video call with Shanti’s older sister Shobi and her children.

“Oh my god, she did it!” says Shobi as Shanti’s nieces shout: “Massi (auntie in Punjabi) go fast, fast!”

Clarence, 69, tells The Straits Times after the race: “We are very, very proud, really very proud. I feel overwhelmed. She worked so hard, and she got what she deserved.

“For this journey, we have to thank (coach) Luis Cunha. He was so patient, so committed. Her fiance (Tan Zong Yang) as well; he is so supportive, and the family and all Singaporeans.”

Shanti Pereira made history at the Asian Games on Sept 27 by becoming the first woman to win back-to-back 200m titles. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM

Shanti Pereira made history at the Asian Games on Sept 27 by becoming the first woman to win back-to-back 200m titles.

Jeet, 66, adds: “Whenever she runs, I’m always emotional. We believed in her. We believe that this was her goal, and she has been really going through so much: a lot of competition, a lot of training. And both she and her coach have achieved this success.”

“I’m so overwhelmed. I’m speechless too.”

The defending champion in the 200m, Pereira had entered this Asiad with a huge load of expectations.

The pressure can get to anyone, but Clarence, who works as an oil consultant, says Shanti told them, “don’t think about it”.

Jeet, a childcare educator, says: “She said to us, ‘Don’t read all the Instagram and Facebook messages; put it aside.’ She’s actually very cool. Over the years, she has grown, become so mature. So her mindset is completely different, very positive thinking, and that’s good for her.”

Her close-knit family has been cheering her on from the sidelines since she was a child competing in school meets.

Shanti Pereira after winning the women’s 200m final at the Asian Games on Sept 27. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

Shanti Pereira after winning the women’s 200m final at the Asian Games on Sept 27.

The sprint queen said after her win: “They’ve (parents) just been part of this amazing journey. They’re the ones who believed when I didn’t, and I really have them to thank for just growing that resilience in me.

“Every time I had a setback, my parents would say that it’s a part of my story and it’s how you come back from it – that will show how strong you are. And I really took that with me everywhere I went.”

After days of hand-wringing, flag-waving and screaming at the top of their lungs, the Pereiras can finally sit back and relax.

Home awaits the family – which includes Shanti’s older sister Valerie, who was at the stadium, and brother Anand.

Jeet is already planning to cook up a storm to welcome their two-time Asian Games gold medallist with her favourite dishes – prawn sambal and chicken curry – when she returns.

But first, sleep beckons.

“The stress, the pressure, the anguish, the anxiety. We feel it all in the stands when we watch her,” says Clarence.

“We both could not sleep last night. In fact, I have not slept well for a month. Now I go back to the hotel, sure sleep.”

Deepanraj Ganesan is a sports correspondent at The Straits Times focusing on football, athletics, combat sports and policy-related news.

9月27日，在亚运会女子200米决赛中，珊蒂·佩雷拉冲过终点线，获得第一名，她的父母在一旁欢呼。

《海峡时报》照片：张马克

发布于 2026 年 9 月 27 日晚上 10:34

更新于2026年9月28日凌晨2:38

珊蒂·佩雷拉在 2026 年亚运会上连续两次获得女子 200 米冠军，创造了历史，她战胜强劲对手的出色表现为新加坡赢得了荣誉。

她的父母克拉伦斯和吉特·佩雷拉表达了无比的自豪之情，并分享了在压力和竞争中支持珊蒂的感人历程。

Shanti 的家人在她的成功中扮演着至关重要的角色，他们给予她情感上的支持和鼓励，帮助她建立韧性并保持积极的心态。

名古屋——9月27日，在帕洛玛瑞穗体育场113区，23摄氏度的寒意渗入人体，但克拉伦斯和吉特·佩雷拉几乎没有感觉到。

克拉伦斯双手紧握，他的妻子则将两面新加坡国旗紧紧抱在胸前。

他们最小的女儿珊蒂今年 30 岁，正在参加女子 200 米决赛，而坐在看台上两层楼的他们，心跳也跟着加速。

克拉伦斯戴着他标志性的巴拿马草帽，转向记者说：“你知道，情况并没有好转。我仍然感到非常紧张。每一秒，我的心跳都越来越快。”

吉特只能微笑，因为此刻他多么希望比赛能尽快开始。

很快，就到了晚上7点25分。随着发令枪的电子声响起，吉特开始挥舞旗帜，而这对夫妇和吉特的妹妹贝琳达·张一起，用尽全力高喊：“加油，珊蒂！”

22.78秒后，这对情侣紧紧相拥。看到珊蒂在亚运会上创造历史，成为首位蝉联女子200米冠军的选手，喜悦和如释重负的心情溢于言表。

珊蒂在看台上看到了父母，吉特伸出双臂，远远地模仿着拥抱的动作。对于这位从珊蒂还是个小跑运动员起就一直为她加油、安慰、拭去女儿眼泪的母亲来说，这个举动充分展现了她们母女俩多么渴望能拉近距离，真正地拥抱彼此。

三分钟后，吉特与珊蒂的姐姐肖比和她的孩子们进行了视频通话。

“我的天哪，她做到了！”肖比说道，珊蒂的侄女们喊道：“玛西（旁遮普语中的阿姨）快点，快点！”

69岁的克拉伦斯在赛后告诉《海峡时报》：“我们非常非常自豪，真的非常自豪。我感到无比激动。她付出了那么多努力，她得到了应有的回报。”

“在这段旅程中，我们必须感谢（教练）路易斯·库尼亚。他非常有耐心，非常敬业。还有她的未婚夫（陈宗阳），他非常支持她，以及她的家人和所有新加坡人。”

9月27日，珊蒂·佩雷拉在亚运会上创造历史，成为首位蝉联女子200米冠军的选手。（海峡时报摄影：凯文·林）

9月27日，珊蒂·佩雷拉在亚运会上创造了历史，成为第一个连续两次获得女子200米冠军的选手。

66岁的吉特补充道：“每次看到她跑步，我都会很激动。我们一直都相信她。我们相信这是她的目标，她为此付出了很多：大量的比赛，大量的训练。她和她的教练共同取得了今天的成就。”

“我太激动了，都说不出话来了。”

作为200米卫冕冠军，佩雷拉带着巨大的期望参加了本届亚运会。

压力会让任何人都感到压力，但身为石油顾问的克拉伦斯说，珊蒂告诉他们“不要想太多”。

幼教老师吉特说：“她对我们说，‘别看Instagram和Facebook上的消息，先放在一边。’她真的很酷。这些年来，她成长了很多，变得非常成熟。所以她的心态完全不同了，非常积极乐观，这对她有好处。”

从她小时候参加学校运动会起，她关系亲密的家人就一直在场边为她加油助威。

9月27日，珊蒂·佩雷拉在亚运会女子200米决赛中夺冠。（海峡时报摄影：张马克）

9月27日，珊蒂·佩雷拉在亚运会女子200米决赛中夺冠。

短跑女王在获胜后说道：“他们（父母）一直是我这段奇妙旅程的一部分。在我自己都不相信我的时候，是他们相信我，我真的要感谢他们培养了我的韧性。”

“每次我遇到挫折，我的父母都会说，这是我人生故事的一部分，关键在于你如何从挫折中走出来——这才能展现你的坚强。我一直把这句话铭记于心。”

经过数日的焦虑不安、挥舞旗帜和声嘶力竭的呐喊之后，佩雷拉一家终于可以坐下来放松一下了。

家人正赶回家中——其中包括 Shanti 的姐姐 Valerie（当时在体育场）和哥哥 Anand。

吉特已经计划好要大显身手，用她最喜欢的菜肴——虾仁叁巴和咖喱鸡——来迎接这位两届亚运会金牌得主的归来。

但首先，睡眠在召唤。

克拉伦斯说：“压力、紧张、痛苦、焦虑，我们在看台上看她比赛时都能感受到这一切。”

“我们昨晚都没睡着。事实上，我已经一个月没睡好觉了。现在回酒店，肯定能睡个好觉。”

Deepanraj Ganesan 是《海峡时报》的体育记者，主要报道足球、田径、格斗运动和政策相关新闻。