SEA Games 2025 Thailand Football: Senior-Junior Duo Forge Unique Paths to Debut on the Regional Stage
- Hana Basir
- 10 hours ago
- 6 min read
11 years apart, Lim Li Xian and Irsalina Irwan share how their very different journeys have brought them here—shaping their preparations for a joint SEA Games debut.
It’s bound to be a tough outing at the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Thailand this year for the Singapore Women’s Football Team—having been drawn into a tough group. This December, Singapore will face Indonesia, Cambodia and hosts Thailand in the group stage.
It is, however, innate for athletes to welcome a good challenge—and it’s no different for the squad headed to Chonburi this year.
It was smiles all around as the women’s squad gathered at the Kallang Football Hub for their first-ever media day. The SEA Games squad blends seasoned veterans with fresh talent, and the two groups lean on each other for energy, guidance, and experience.
One example of this dynamic is SEA Games debutants 29-year-old Lim Li Xian and 18-year-old Irsalina Irwan. While Li Xian’s journey of quiet rediscovery has refined and matured her style of football, Irsalina’s recent experiences as a student-athlete at IMG Academy in the United States and recently competing in the AFC Women’s Champions League (AWCL) have only amplified her energy.
Their paths may be different, but both share the thrill of making their SEA Games debut for Singapore this December. Together, they bring a blend of energy and insight that shapes their contribution to the team.
Lim Li Xian: Returning Recharged, Matured and Ready to Lead
After a three-year hiatus from Singapore football, Li Xian made her return to the set up in June this year—and she’s brought with her not just experience, but a renewed sense of purpose.
Having moved abroad in 2022 to reset after experiencing burnout, Li Xian now returns to Singapore football as one of its senior members. She made her national team debut at just 15 years old and now, at 29, she is set to make her long-awaited SEA Games debut.
“It’s always an honour to be called up to the national team and to pull the jersey on again. We kind of never know when our last time playing for the team will be, whether it’s because of injury or a different direction in life. For me, every match I get to play, I’m grateful for. I don’t take it for granted that I have a place in this team. It’s always something I treasure very much."
“It’s a great honour to be able to represent the country in a competition of this calibre. I think there’s a lot more exposure and support for the women’s team now so I’m excited.”
From the raw energy of her early days to the composed control she now exhibits, Li Xian’s game has matured. Following years as a fixture in the national team, she took a step back—allowing herself time to pause, reflect, and reconnect with her own journey.
“I feel like as a younger player, you just give your all without understanding how to pace yourself. There was more energy and excitement to run around—but too carelessly," she shared.
"Now, with a better understanding of the game, tactics and what our team’s strengths are, I guess there’s a lot more control and discipline when it comes to football for me."
Reflecting on the differences between being an up and coming player before her move abroad and the veteran she is now, Li Xian noted not only the pressure of adulthood but the need to now be the one to help push her younger teammates.
“Right now, as a more senior player, there’s a lot more to consider when it comes to playing football in Singapore—like balancing work and football. It’s a bit tougher on the body and mind,” she said.
“When I’m on the field now, there are instances where I find myself in the position where I have to try to encourage the younger girls. Some of them have not played international competitions yet, there are many who got their first caps this year as well. It’s a different dynamic for me, having to put myself out there and encourage others to reach the level they know they can.”
For Li Xian, her focus extends beyond personal performance. She hopes to instill resilience in a squad that has often, and will continue to face uphill battles.
“It’s tough in women’s football. Even though we have increased support now, at the end of the day, we are still not at a professional level so there needs to be a kind of resilience to keep going, and to keep playing for passion and for the country. That’s the most important for us—to have resilience and faith in what our team can achieve.”
Her goals for the SEA Games are simple, yet telling of her role: “Personally, it’s to be able to keep up with the young ones on the field and off the field,” she laughed, looking over at her younger, more energised teammate Irsalina Irwan.
“It’s important. They bring a lot of life,” she added.
“Other than that, it’s to give my best whether I’m on the bench or on the field. Every opportunity that’s given, I’m ready to give my 100%.”
To her teammates, she offers this advice:
“The most important thing is to have faith in your teammates and the staff, who do everything for us. At the end of the day, we are the ones that have control over what we do—not how the public perceives us, not how the opponents are—but how we play and how we train.”
Irsalina Irwan: Taking Experience Abroad to the Regional Stage
For Irsalina, the path to the SEA Games has been one of elite training and high-level competition. Having recently returned to Singapore after completing her Unleash The Roar! scholarship at IMG Academy in the United States, she now prepares to make her SEA Games debut in Thailand, carrying lessons learned from abroad and her recent outing at the AWCL.
“Playing at such high intensity has allowed me to be more well-prepared. I believe the competitiveness and physicality in the States has truly shaped me into the player I am today—especially after having to keep up with the aggressiveness. That’s what I need in the game because I’m smaller in size,” said the 18-year-old.
“At IMG Academy, I had access to elite facilities and with the help of the strength coaches, I was able to put in extra gym work. I competed with players who were much more aggressive and technically better than me. At the recent AWCL, playing against strong teams like Melbourne City and Ho Chi Minh, it helped me see where I am personally and to see what I can work on to improve as a player ahead of the SEA Games.”
Having already played in the Asian Games held in Hangzhou in 2023, Irsalina knows all too well the excitement that comes with representing her country on foreign soil. Yet, there’s none lost ahead of her SEA Games debut this December.
“I’m really excited because it’s my first ever SEA Games and I’m looking forward to it. It’s truly an honour. Every time I step onto the pitch, I always think about wanting to make my family and country proud. I want to give my very best for the SEA Games and leave the pitch with no regrets.”
With tough opponents ahead, her dedication is total—mentally, physically, and in spirit—as she pushes herself to see where she and her teammates measure up in the region.
Still, beyond the drive to compete, the teenager’s heart is set on savouring every moment in Thailand with her friends, fully present in the experience.
“I want to defend until the final second and do whatever I can to contribute to the team, on the field or off the field.”
“I’m actually looking forward to competing the most, but I also want to spend time with my teammates and cherish the moments with them,” she smiled.
Singapore will kick off their SEA Games campaign on 4th December against Cambodia at the TNSU Chonburi Stadium. They then face their toughest opponents, Thailand on 7th December at the Chonburi Stadium, before returning to TNSU Chonburi Stadium to wrap up the group stage against Indonesia three days later.
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