Singaporean Athlete Siti Khadijah Shahrem Makes History, Despite SEA Games Disappointment
Singapore’s Siti Khadijah Shahrem etched her name in the nation’s sporting history on December 14th, becoming the first female wushu exponent to win a sanda medal at the SEA Games. However, the achievement was tempered by a sense of disappointment following a narrow defeat in the semi-finals.
Despite falling short of a gold medal, Shahrem’s joint-bronze in the women’s 60kg sanda competition represents a significant milestone for Singapore wushu. The 24-year-old was visibly emotional after her 2-0 loss to Myanmar’s Hnin Nu Wah, a testament to her ambition and dedication.
“I was disappointed… I didn’t want to lose, especially because my parents travelled so far just to watch me fight, because I owe it to my coaches who’ve done so much for me and to the country – that’s one of the reasons I chose to go outside my comfort zone,” Shahrem stated.
Her journey to this point was particularly remarkable, having transitioned from silat only in August. Prior to the Games, she secured a quarter-final victory over Laos’ Bulisavong Sudalath, guaranteeing Singapore a historic medal in the discipline. This marked only the second wushu medal for Singapore at the SEA Games, following Ivan Lin’s bronze in 2015.
Wushu, a Chinese martial art, encompasses two distinct forms: Taolu, which emphasizes choreographed routines, and sanda, a full-contact combat sport. Ang Mong Seng, president of the Singapore Wushu Dragon & Lion Dance Federation, lauded Shahrem’s accomplishment as a “historic feat,” especially as it was the first time Singapore had sent a female sanda athlete to the Games.
Shahrem’s medal haul at the Games extends beyond wushu. She previously claimed a bronze in silat at the 2022 Hanoi edition. However, a setback in the Singapore Silat Federation’s internal selection trials in March led to her pursuing wushu through a new cross-combat sports strategy program spearheaded by Sport Singapore’s High Performance Sport Institute.
The transition wasn’t without its challenges. “Definitely getting punched in the face,” Shahrem admitted when asked about adapting to sanda. “Because the beating I get in sanda and wushu is definitely way more painful because it’s direct to the face, to your throat, you get kicked in the ribs… That is stepping out of my comfort zone because usually I used to wear guards all around in the fight.”
Despite the initial disappointment, Shahrem remains optimistic. “All this is a gift for me and a blessing in disguise for me to learn about this sport, to humble myself and gain more knowledge about this sport,” she said. “And hopefully with whatever I’ve learnt in time to come will allow me to become a better fighter, not just for me but for the country and the sport.”
Beyond Shahrem’s success, other Singaporean athletes also competed on December 14th. Ong Zi Meng finished fifth in the men’s taolu changquan, daoshu and gunshu final with a score of 29.133, while Jowen Lim placed seventh with 29.08 points. In the women’s taolu, taijiquan and taijijian final, Zeanne Law and Vera Tan secured fourth and sixth positions respectively, with scores of 19.506 and 19.476.
At the Impact Arena exhibition hall in Muang Thong Thani, Shahrem’s former silat teammates also contributed to Singapore’s medal count. Affiz Zakri, Nazrul Kamal, and Mustafar Isa won a silver medal in the men’s seni regu (artistic team) final, losing 9.965-9.935 to Indonesia. Nurin Insyirah, 21, added a joint-bronze in the women’s seni tunggal. The silat team shared a poignant moment after their performances, with Affiz and Mustafar overcome with emotion as Nazrul offered support.
The silver medal for the seni regu team was bittersweet, as it marked the end of an era for Affiz Zakri, who announced his retirement from the sport to focus on his career with the Singapore Police Force. “Honestly, it’s a mix of emotions,” he shared. “During our semi-final, when I was performing, my journey throughout silat flashed through my eyes. I’m so glad that we are able to end it off on a positive note, going up against the champions and giving them a good fight, especially making it into the final as well.”
These results underscore the growing strength of Team Singapore across multiple combat sports, and the impact of initiatives designed to foster athletic versatility and excellence.
