Riding the Waves: Team Singapore’s Sumeya on Dragon Boating, Hosting, and Finding Home
- John Yeong
- 20 hours ago
- 5 min read
From overcoming injury and identity challenges to representing Singapore and inspiring audiences at the Singapore Sports Hub
This is a feature article written by SportPlus.sg for Kallang Alive Sports Management. For more sports events, programmes and human stories of Singapore Sports Hub, visit the Singapore Sports Hub's 'Here to Play' website. When Sumeya first moved to Singapore at age 12, she never imagined she would one day don the red and white jersey as a national athlete. Born in Malaysia, her journey to becoming a Team Singapore dragon boat paddler has been anything but straightforward.
From overcoming a career-threatening knee injury to missing the SEA Games and Asian Games due to citizenship paperwork delays, Sumeya’s path has been defined by resilience, reinvention, and relentless drive.
Today, she’s not only a national athlete but also a freelance host and storyteller - a familiar face at the Singapore Sports Hub, where she brings energy and authenticity to audiences on and off the water.
Personal Journey and Resilience
Dragon boat wasn’t always part of the plan for Sumeya. In fact, her introduction to the sport started from what she jokingly calls her “50-cent moment” — a small decision that would ultimately change her life.
While running a donation drive for the Business School, she spotted a group of guys carrying paddles and assumed they’d make generous contributors. Instead, one of them handed her just 50 cents—along with a link to join Temasek Polytechnic’s dragon boat team.
“I wanted to cry,” she laughs. “But looking back, it was the best 50-cent trade of my life.” That unexpected encounter in 2018, just a year after recovering from her first surgery, became a turning point. Though she had been fearful of exercising again, dragon boating gave her not only the courage to rebuild her strength but also the foundation for what would become her national sporting career.
“I always thought I would be in ball sports rather than water sports, but when that 50-cent moment happened I just knew if I didn’t try it then the opportunity may not come again,” she shares.
“I didn’t want my life to be about what ifs, so I decided to go for it. I wouldn’t be nearly as mentally, emotionally or physically as strong as I am now if I didn’t take that chance.” Her journey hasn’t been without obstacles. A serious knee injury once threatened to cut her sporting career short. Instead, it became the foundation for her growth — shaping her mindset as much as her muscles.
“I do feel my injury even now sometimes when I run or when I push on the boat, so I needed the discipline to do my rehab and also more self-awareness along the way. So there is a lot of devotion that goes into this sport,” she reflects.
Through dragon boat, she found not only athletic excellence but also personal transformation.
National Pride & Belonging
For Sumeya, pulling on the Singapore jersey carries profound meaning. Though she wasn’t born here, she now embodies what it means to represent the Lion City.
“It means a lot to be able to represent Singapore. I am very happy to be able to represent the country and the community that is behind me and the people I live with everyday.”
“I am a real chatterbox, so I chat with so many people from the community, even some of the older folks who would come up and say hi,” she says with a laugh.
Missing out on the recent SEA Games and Asian Games due to passport delays was a heartbreak, but it only fuels her determination to seize future opportunities. Every stroke in the water is now a statement of pride, belonging, and belief.
Singapore Sports Hub Experience
Few athletes know the Singapore Sports Hub as intimately as Sumeya. It’s not just her training ground, but also a stage where she wears her second hat — that of a freelance host and media personality.
From paddling at the Kallang Basin with the National Stadium towering in the backdrop, to bringing stories to life on stage or camera, the Singapore Sports Hub is where her two worlds converge.
“I’ve learned to expect the pressure as it comes - I wouldn’t say I become a different person when I switch roles from being a dragon boat athlete to being a media host, but rather they represent different sides to the same person of who I am,” says Sumeya.
“I am more serious and focused when I am out on the water with my teammates, and a little less talkative; but when I switch to my work role or that of a host the expressive side of me naturally comes and I will just talk to anyone and everyone to make them feel included.”
The Singapore Sports Hub’s design — where elite athletes and everyday enthusiasts share space — is, in her words, a catalyst for Singapore’s growing sporting culture.
Freelance Host & Media Journey
Beyond the paddle, Sumeya is equally at home behind a microphone in front of the camera or even in front of live audiences. From brand campaigns to live shows, she has built a parallel career as a host and content creator.
She thrives on bringing stories full circle — from content strategy to delivery — and dreams of one day hosting an international sporting event at the Singapore Sports Hub.
“I don’t know if this will ever happen, but I would love to host HYROX one day as I know that it happens at the National Stadium once a year,” she said with a laugh.
“HYROX is my kind of thing because there is plenty of HIIT and running and many of my friends are either participating in HYROX or joining run clubs these days.”
Her dual life as athlete and host may seem worlds apart, but she sees them as complementary — one fuels her discipline, the other her creativity.
Looking Ahead
Balancing national training, freelance projects, and hosting gigs isn’t easy. But for Sumeya, it’s about passion and purpose.
She recalls: “This is something I learnt when I joined the poly dragonboat team, and helped me to be disciplined not just in my actions and my progress, but in the way I look at time.”
“I section out every hour of the day, with each having different areas of focus - and I only allow myself to focus on that task at hand in the specific time I set aside for it. In essence I look at time like a pie chart, so I do compartmentalise my life a lot.”
“I know it sounds crazy, but it has helped me manage a crazy packed schedule that includes training, my freelancing and a full time job, as well as taking care of my grandmother,” she said.
Looking forward, she envisions herself continuing to make waves both in sport and in media — inspiring the next generation of athletes and storytellers alike.
Closing
From her first unexpected paddle stroke to becoming a symbol of resilience and belonging, Sumeya’s story is one of Singapore’s most inspiring sporting journeys.
Whether on the water or on stage, she embodies what it means to chase dreams, embrace challenges, and proudly call Singapore home. #mySgSportsHub #Dragonboat #SEAGames2025 #TeamSG
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