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Singaporean runner Soh Rui Yong casually sets new national record in London 5km community race

Despite not representing his country at the forthcoming Asian Games, Singaporean runner Soh Rui Yong achieved an extraordinary feat by breaking a national record during a UK race.

Without prior preparation, he seized the opportunity a day before the event. In a 5km road race organized by Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team, he secured third place with an impressive time of 15 minutes and 15 seconds, trailing the first-place finisher by only 9 seconds.

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SINGAPORE: Despite not representing the country at the Asian Games, Singaporean long-distance runner Soh Rui Yong accomplished a remarkable feat last Tuesday (8 Aug)  — he participated in a race in the United Kingdom (UK) and effortlessly shattered a national record.

Reportedly unprepared, he realized he had signed up for the event only when he stumbled upon an envelope containing the race tag in his London apartment, just a day before the race.

In a Facebook post dated on Saturday (12 Aug), Mr Soh recounted his participation in the 5km road race organized by Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team, which took place in Battersea Park, London.

During the race, he completed the distance in an impressive time of 15 minutes and 15 seconds, securing the third position.

32-year-old Soh finished just 9 seconds behind the first-place winner, Nick Bester (15:06), and the runner-up Matthew Rallison (15:12) in the Men’s Under 50 category.

According to Mr Soh, he ran the race after a full day of remote work.

While the event had a community aspect, Soh observed that the 5km road race was fiercely competitive. Impressively, 74 runners finished below the 17-minute mark, with 19 runners breaching the 16-minute mark.

Soh, who described the new Singapore road 5km record as a “soft record,” managed to break it, despite it being 31 seconds slower than one of his existing records (14:44.21).

Looking ahead, Soh is hopeful to achieve an even faster time when he competes in the World Athletics Road Running Championships scheduled for 30 September to 1 October in Latvia.

According to the Straits Times, he said, “Given that I didn’t really know what to expect running this race, I just ran as hard as I could and got third, which I thought was a decent performance for a race that I wasn’t really peaking for and was doing as part of a session.”

Although there were no existing national records for the 5km road race, Singapore Athletics acknowledged Soh’s accomplishment due to the race meeting UK Athletics permit standards and possessing course accuracy certification.

Netizens flood social media with congratulations for Soh’s achievement

A multitude of congratulatory comments inundated the ST’s Facebook post, with netizens expressing their well wishes.

Alongside the celebration, there was also a sense of disappointment as some questioned why the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) had not chosen him to represent Singapore in the forthcoming Asian Games.

A comment celebrated, referring Mr Soh as a “True Singaporean son,” praising his feat of breaking a national record during the week of Singapore’s birthday.

The hope was expressed that he would have the opportunity to represent the nation in this year’s Asian Games.

Another comment astutely pointed out that Soh’s speed at the community event translated to an impressive pace of around 3 minutes per km.

However, within one of the comments, Mr Soh playfully recounted that the top performer in the women’s over-50 category was Clare Elms, a 59-year-old lady. She managed to complete the 5km race in 18 minutes and 4 seconds.

He humorously remarked, “Now that’s a grandmother that runs faster than you!”

Soh excluded from the upcoming Asian Games by the SNOC

On 17 July 2021, Mr Soh set a time of 14 minutes 44.21 seconds at the Singapore Athletics All Comers Meet 4, breaking the men’s 5,000m national track record.

Despite his recent outstanding achievements at the 2023 Cambodia SEA Games, where he achieved a national record of 31:10.7 in the 10,000m and finished fourth in the 5,000m, he wasn’t selected as part of the 413-athlete contingent for the Hangzhou Asian Games scheduled from 23 September to 8 October.

The SNOC has claimed that Soh failed to honor commitments made to the SNOC, including those following his participation at the Cambodia 2023 SEA Games.

Mr Soh, currently engaged in an internship in financial crime prevention, is set to return home this month.

The ST’s report also revealed Soh’s plans, which include participating in the Valencia Half Marathon and completing a full marathon by the end of 2023.

He said: “At the end of the day, running is not something I do to compete, it’s something I do because I genuinely believe that everyone who has some form of regular exercise becomes a happier and more productive human being.”

“During Covid, I didn’t train for a while and realised something was really lacking. I wasn’t my best self even though I had more time on my hands…”

“I realised that there will come a day when I will hang up my competitive shoes – I don’t think that’s anywhere near on the horizon because I’m still getting better every year.”

 

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Crime

Singaporean fugitive deported from Thailand, to be charged with drug trafficking

A Singaporean fugitive arrested in Thailand, was deported to Singapore on 19 September 2024 and faces drug trafficking charges. Authorities expect him to face the death penalty under Singapore’s tough drug laws for running a smuggling operation between Thailand, Australia, and Singapore.

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2 hours ago

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19 September 2024

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A 31-year-old Singaporean man, wanted for drug trafficking offences, was arrested in Thailand and deported to Singapore on 19 September 2024.

The fugitive, identified as Benny Kee Soon Chuan, was apprehended by Thai police at his residence near Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport and will face charges in court on 20 September.

Kee, described as a high-level trafficker, ran a smuggling operation that trafficked crystal methamphetamine, ketamine, and Ecstasy to Australia and Singapore using Thailand as a transit hub, according to Pol Lt Gen Panurat Lakboon, secretary-general of Thailand’s Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB).

Cross-Border Investigation and Arrest

The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) of Singapore had issued an arrest warrant for Kee following investigations into two drug trafficking cases in December 2020 and November 2022.

He had been on the run since 11 April 2016, prompting CNB to collaborate with its international counterparts, including the ONCB. Thai authorities were tipped off by CNB on 12 August 2024, and after weeks of investigation, Kee was apprehended on 17 September.

Thai immigration officials revealed that Kee had entered Thailand earlier in 2024 using a Vanuatu passport.

Following his arrest, Kee’s Thai visa was cancelled, and assets worth 15 million baht (S$585,000), including luxury watches, gold pieces, and a luxury car, were seized during a raid on his residence in Samut Prakan.

Lt Gen Panurat confirmed that the fugitive had been living an affluent lifestyle in Thailand despite lacking legitimate employment.

Links to Broader Drug Network

Kee is believed to be linked to other Singaporean traffickers involved in the smuggling of drugs from Thailand.

In March 2021, Thailand’s Anti-Trafficking in Persons Task Force (AITF) intercepted packages containing Ecstasy and ketamine destined for Singapore, as well as crystal methamphetamine bound for Australia.

Two other Singaporean men, aged 21 and 29 at the time of their arrests, were later sentenced to imprisonment and caning in Singapore for their involvement in these operations, which were connected to Kee’s trafficking network.

Death Penalty Under Singaporean Law

Kee’s deportation to Singapore brings him under the jurisdiction of Singapore’s severe drug laws, which prescribe the death penalty for those convicted of trafficking substantial amounts of controlled substances.

Singaporean authorities have indicated that he could face the death penalty under the country’s strict drug trafficking laws. Pol Lt Gen Panurat indicated that Singaporean authorities are expected to seek the maximum penalty for Kee’s alleged offences.

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Arts & Culture

Epigram Books to close SAM bookshop amid low sales and footfall

Epigram Books will shut down its bookshop at the Singapore Art Museum on 26 January 2025, citing low sales and foot traffic. The independent bookstore, known for supporting local authors, will continue to operate its online store, but its future in brick-and-mortar retail is uncertain.

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2 hours ago

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19 September 2024

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Epigram Books, a major supporter of Singaporean literature, will close its Epigram Coffee Bookshop at the Singapore Art Museum (SAM) on 26 January 2025.

The decision comes after years of struggling with low sales and foot traffic at the Tanjong Pagar Distripark location, marking the end of the bookstore’s three-year lease.

The announcement on 19 September follows Times Bookstores’ closure of its final outlet in Holland Road, highlighting the growing challenges faced by brick-and-mortar bookstores in Singapore.

Edmund Wee, publisher at Epigram Books, expressed disappointment, stating: “We tried everything to make this work. Over the past three years, we’ve often asked ourselves, how many people even knew our bookstore existed here, let alone visited?”

Despite efforts to boost traffic, including operating shuttles to increase accessibility, the bookstore struggled to attract visitors consistently.

Epigram Coffee Bookshop, previously located at the Urban Redevelopment Authority Centre on Maxwell Road and later in a pop-up at Beach Road, relocated to SAM in May 2022 in partnership with Balestier Market Collective.

The 20-seater store featured towering shelves showcasing local and Southeast Asian titles, including books from other independent publishers like Ethos Books and Math Paper Press.

However, the location’s industrial setting, which only saw spikes in visitors during major exhibitions like Olafur Eliasson’s, limited consistent footfall.

The closure coincides with the end of Eliasson’s exhibit on 22 September 2024. Although the exhibition provided a temporary boost to the bookshop’s sales, Epigram noted that the increased traffic was short-lived.

Epigram’s future in physical retail remains uncertain. Mr Wee indicated that high rental costs make reopening a physical store unlikely: “Unless rent prices relent, it’s unlikely we’ll move into another space.”

Epigram Books has been a significant presence in Singapore’s independent book scene, promoting local authors and holding literary events.

The bookshop was also a community hub for the literary arts, hosting numerous book launches and events supporting local writers. “These spaces are special to our literary arts community. They’re where book lovers gather, where literary events and book launches happen in support of our writers,” said Mr Wee.

Despite the closure of the SAM store, Epigram will continue to operate its online store. The publisher emphasized the need for continued support from readers: “We’ve come this far with everyone’s support, and we look forward to continued support from our readers as we transition to focus on online sales.”

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