BANGKOK – History beckons for Team Singapore in Thailand, where its largest-ever contingent of 930 athletes battles for gold medals across 48 sports at the Dec 9-20 SEA Games.

In a year when the nation celebrates its SG60 milestone, The Straits Times believes that Singapore’s representatives can win 60 golds for its biggest overseas haul at the Games.

In 2017, Singapore’s 568-strong contingent won 57 golds, 58 silvers and 73 bronzes across 35 sports – its best for an away Games.

Once again, the Republic’s athletes are expected to dominate in aquatics, fencing and table tennis, which would help bring in more than half of the 60-gold target, while mounting a strong challenge in bowling, sailing and shooting.

Since 2005, Singapore have been the best swimming nation at the SEA Games. At the last edition, they claimed 22 golds and this time the squad boasts a blend of experience and youth led by sprint king Teong Tzen Wei and the Quah siblings Ting Wen, Zheng Wen and Jing Wen, who have won 134 medals in total.

Despite the retirement of Olympic champion Joseph Schooling in 2024, there is no doubt they will continue to reign supreme at the Asean level, although they will face a challenge courtesy of Kayla Sanchez, an Olympic and world championship medallist with Canada who now competes for the Philippines.

Despite setting a modest target of 20 golds across five disciplines, Singapore Aquatics can bank on the men’s water polo team to retain their title, while challenging for top honours in the women’s event. They will also be aided by the return of the artistic swimming competition (three events) for the first time since 2017.

Former SEA Games water polo champion Yip Ren Kai is confident that Singapore can hit 60 golds, adding: “We should always look to improve on our personal bests to move forward as we build towards the 2026 Asian Games and 2028 Olympics.

“I’m looking forward to aquatics, fencing and table tennis contributing the bulk of the tally and hoping our top athletes from athletics, b...