A Repeat Podium Finish in Nagoya
Singapore’s veteran sprinter Shanti Pereira secured a silver medal in the women’s 100m final at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya on Friday, September 25. The 30-year-old athlete clocked a season’s best time of 11.21 seconds, finishing just 0.01 seconds off her own national record, according to Channel News Asia.
The race saw a dominant performance from China’s Chen Yujie, who claimed gold with an Asian Games record time of 11.06 seconds, eclipsing the previous mark of 11.15 seconds set by Sri Lanka’s Susanthika Jayasinghe in 2002. Bahrain’s Edidiong Odiong rounded out the podium, taking bronze with a time of 11.33 seconds.
This achievement marks Pereira’s second consecutive silver medal in the 100m event at the Asian Games, following her success at the previous edition in Hangzhou. Earlier on Friday, Pereira had entered the final as the fastest qualifier, winning her semi-final heat with a time of 11.28 seconds, as reported by AsiaOne.
Reflecting on a Decade of Competition
For Pereira, this fourth appearance at the Asian Games carries significant personal weight. “As you grow older, you kind of don’t really know when you’re gonna compete in another one of these Games,” she told reporters. “That’s why these Games really has a lot of meaning to me because not only am I here, but I’m fighting for medals and I’m in shape, I’m healthy.”
She emphasized that her mindset has evolved since her last silver medal performance. While she admitted to aiming for the gold, she noted that the increased competitiveness of the field is a positive sign for the sport. “I’ve really learned to embrace the ups and the downs of this sport… It’s like every time you run, you’re expected to run something amazing, but obviously as an athlete, that’s just not possible,” Pereira added.
Looking Toward the 200m Title Defense
The sprinter’s campaign in Nagoya is far from over. As the defending champion in the 200m event, Pereira is scheduled to begin her title defense on Saturday. She remains focused on the challenge, aiming to become the first woman to successfully defend a 200m Asian Games title.
“I love the pressure now. It is just so fun,” Pereira said regarding her upcoming races. “The fact that I’m here chasing medals is just an incredible place to be and I’m just happy with how my journey has played out up till now.”