SEA Games Athletics: Five questions with men’s 4x400m relay team member Tan Zong Yang

Interview by Colin Tung/Red Sports. Photos by Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports

Singapore athlete and Southeast Asian Games hopeful Tan Zong Yang pose for a portrait at the Kallang Practice Track at the Singapore Sports Hub on May 2, 2015.

Tan Zong Yang will be participating in the men’s 4x400m relay event at the 28th SEA Games. (Photo 1 © Lim Yong Teck/Red Sports)

Red Sports (RS): Tell us about your background as an athlete. When, where, and how did you get your start in athletics?

Tan Zong Yang (ZY): I started athletics in Saint Joseph’s Institution in 2007. I participated in my inter-house relays in primary school and my interest was piqued.

RS: What do you enjoy about your event? What has kept you in it over the years?

ZY: I am actually new to the 400m as I was doing the 100m and 200m during my school days. I love the adrenaline and the intensity of the shorter sprints. However I decided to give the longer sprint a shot and have since learnt how tactical one needs to be in the event.

RS: What are your aims this SEA Games?

For the relay team (four to run from the pool of Zubin Percy Muncherji, Ng Chin Hui, Kenneth Khoo, Seow Yeong Yang, Raymond Scott Lee, and Zong Yang) to run a strong timing and for myself to do a fast split.

RS: How do you feel about competing at the first SEA Games on home ground in 22 years?

It’s definitely an honor to be representing the country on home soil. I hope to do my nation proud and, with a supportive home crowd, I’m sure every Singaporean athlete will be inspired to perform their best.

RS: What sort of scene do you imagine and hope to see at the National Stadium on competition day?

I’m hopeful that the crowd, whether friends or family, will be supporting every local athlete. It’ll probably be more than a decade or even more when the Games next come around to Singapore and, hence, it’ll be a once-in-a-lifetime chance for many. Everyone should seize the opportunity to see your loved ones in action.

Tan Zong Yang
Height: 1.70m
Weight: 58kg
Event: 4x400m relay
Personal best: 49.87sec (2015 Taiwan Open)

Four runners from the pool of Zubin Percy Muncherji, Ng Chin Hui, Kenneth Khoo, Seow Yeong Yang, Raymond Scott Lee, and Tan Zong Yang will represent Singapore in the men’s 4x400m relay

The men’s 4x400m relay final is scheduled for Thursday, June 11, 2015. See here for full schedule