SEA Games 2025 Thailand Triathlon: Singapore’s Debutant–Veteran Duo Ready to Power Team Ambitions in Rayong
- Hana Basir
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
SEA Games debutant Ng Xuan Jie and two-time medallist Bryce Chong shared with Sportplus.sg their personal goals and preparations ahead of the Games
With less than a month to go to race day at the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Rayong, Thailand, Team Singapore Triathlon enters its final stretch of preparations with a team that blends fresh energy with proven experience. At the heart of that mix are debutant Ng Xuan Jie and two-time SEA Games medallist Bryce Chong, both set to play key roles in the event’s fast-paced relay format.
The SEA Games Through Bright-Eyed Lenses: Ng Xuan Jie
Like many first-timers before her, Xuan Jie remembers the moment she learned she had made the national squad.
“I was elated when I got the news. We were kind of guessing whether or not I’d be on the team and when we got the confirmation, I was really happy.”
“Now that I’ve qualified for the SEA Games, I think the pressure has set in. Going into my first SEA Games, there are a lot of expectations that I have on myself and maybe even from others since it’s a relay system this time. Singapore has a good chance of bringing home a few medals so I hope I can perform to my best abilities.”
It may be her first SEA Games, but Xuan Jie is fully aware of the standards needed on the big stage, having competed at The World Games 2025 recently.
“If you want to perform at a high standard on such a big stage, it won't be easy. Being my first SEA Games, I want to show my best.”
The relay format—short, sharp, and intensely tactical—places enormous emphasis on cohesion, something Singapore’s triathletes have been steadily building. For Xuan Jie, the guidance from the senior athletes has been invaluable.
“I really appreciate the seniors, especially Ben (Khoo), Arif (Ibrahim) and Rachel (Hew) because they have always been putting in effort to arrange our schedules and try to get us to train together," she gushed.
“The relay system may be broken into individual segments, but the camaraderie and teamwork is important to get to know your team's dynamic.
“The seniors have been the best example of 'actions speak louder than words' because everyone has been training so hard. I believe many of them have full time jobs alongside training so it’s a lot of effort—I hope we all can give our best at the SEA Games.”
Beyond performance targets, Xuan Jie is also embracing the full SEA Games experience.
“I think everything will be really exciting for me—from the beginning to the end. I hope to make more friends from overseas and I also want to make more memories with my teammates,” she smiled.
“This is my first SEA Games and I hope to be back for more but you never know. So, I just want to use this opportunity to get to know everyone better. We don’t train together so it’s really rare for us all to get together.”
Staying Grounded, Staying Sharp: Bryce Chong
For Bryce, Thailand marks yet another high-stakes campaign. A two-time SEA Games medallist, he approaches this edition with the calm of someone who has already weathered the storm. To his younger teammates, the 28-year-old said:
“Just treat it like another race. Going into the race, there will be pressure of trying to win or reaching the podium but besides that, you need to just enjoy the process,” he shared.
“The more pressure you put on yourself, the more you start to overthink and do things that are out of the norm for yourself. It’s not a very long race, it’s short so just give your 100%. Practice whatever you’re going to do at the race in training and everyone should be fine.”
With his experience and years of racing alongside the best in the region, Bryce is under no illusion about the level of competition across Southeast Asia—crediting Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand as competitors to look out for.
“I’m pretty sure they will send up their best athletes. Going up against younger and up and coming athletes will be a challenge but I wouldn’t say it’s impossible.”
“I think our approach—compared to previous years—has been different because of the kind of distance we’re doing this time. There’s more strategy involved. It’s more mental than physical and we need to leverage on each other’s abilities—what our strong suits are and what are the things we can work on so that we can create an advantage for ourselves.”
At the 2023 edition in Cambodia, Bryce clinched the bronze medal in the Aquathlon Men’s Individual—and a silver at the 2019 SEA Games in the Triathlon Mixed Relay. Ahead of the Games this year, the team is eyeing an upgrade in results.
“We are definitely looking for a different coloured medal. This time around, I think it will be a little bit more challenging because i’m not only racing for myself, but for the team. Everyone has to be on the same page and give our 100%.”
With the Games fast approaching, Singapore’s triathlon contingent will lean on the blend of youthful hunger and veteran insight that athletes like Xuan Jie and Bryce represent. The relay format promises speed, tactical nuance, and heart—qualities this team has worked relentlessly to sharpen.
December awaits. And with it, a chance for Singapore Triathlon to script its next chapter.
#SEAGames2025 #SEAGamesThailand #TeamSG #TriathlonSG
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