Congratulations and praises have poured in for Singapore’s Yip Pin Xiu after the athlete bagged a gold in the women’s 100m backstroke S2 at the Tokyo Paralympics on Wednesday (25 Aug).
Yip, who is also a two-time world champion, finished with a time of 2:16:61 at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre.
She won gold for the same event at the Rio Paralympics in 2016, setting a world record of 2:07.09. She also won the 50m backstroke S2 in the 2016 games, making her the first Singaporean to win two gold medals at the Paralympics. Her record still stands today.
News of Yips success sparked a rush of congratulatory messages from politicians on social media, including Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong who praised the athlete for adding to her medal haul from past games.
“Pin Xiu, Singapore is proud of you, and you inspire all of us!” PM Lee wrote.
Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat wrote, “Congratulations to Yip Pin Xiu for successfully defending her crown in the women’s 100m backstroke S2, and clinching our first Gold medal for the Games!”
Also chiming in was President Halimah Yacob who congratulated Yip for being the first Singaporean to bring home gold at this year’s Paralympic Games.
“Competing on the global stage is no easy feat and I am glad that Pin Xiu as well as her fellow athletes remain focused and determined to achieve their goals,” Mdm Halimah wrote.
Several other politicians from the People’s Action Party (PAP) offered their congratulations as well, including Zaqy Mohamad and Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean who went with a simple “Congrats” and “Well done” respectively.
MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC Alvin Tan, who is a National Youth Council Singapore Council Member, praised Yip’s “superb swim”, describing her as an inspiration both in and out of the pool.
“She always puts her heart into everything she does, be it striving to be the best in her sport, or serving the community,” Mr Tan added.
Similar sentiments were shared by the Member of Parliament (MP) and Mayor of the Southwest District Low Yen Ling, as well as MPs Baey Yam Keng and Eric Chua.
Ms Low wrote, “She’s been a true inspiration, in the sporting community, in Parliament when she was NMP, and to women and people with disabilities in Singapore.”
MP Hany Soh expressed gladness that Yip’s hard work and “great resilience” paid off at the games despite the difficult and challenging circumstances of the past year.
Meanwhile, MP Edwin Tong expressed pride at hearing the national anthem, Majulah Singapura, being played during the medal ceremony.
Progress Singapore Party’s (PSP) Jeffrey Khoo congratulated Yip for her “fantastic effort”, noting how proud the nation is of her.
People’s Voice (PV) chief Lim Tean also congratulated Yip on her gold and for making the nation proud as a multiple world and Olympic champion. Mr Lim also wished her future success.
