Singapore’s youngest athlete at the 2025 ASEAN Para Games, Surya Mohan Jha, could hardly contain his excitement after his mixed 10m air rifle prone SH1 final on Thursday afternoon (Jan 22).
The 18-year-old debutant had just completed his seventeenth shot, finishing sixth in an eight-man final. In a closely-watched shoot-off, Myanmar’s Kyaw Kyaw Win edged the Singaporean 9.9 to 9.3.
Despite missing out on the medal spots, Surya was just overjoyed to be part of the Games.
“It was a great experience. I got to meet so many different athletes, and to be able to compete at this level, I thought it was amazing, and I’m really happy I managed to end up sixth in the finals. I thought I did a great job and I’m quite excited for the future,” he said, after also setting a new personal best and national record of 628 in the morning’s qualification phase.
The teenager was no stranger to making history, though, having become the first Singaporean to reach a World Shooting Para Sport 10m air rifle prone mixed SH1 final at last November’s World Abilitysport Games at the same venue.
He went one better this time round as he improved from seventh to sixth.
“I’m quite happy. I was telling my parents that the only way you can train for a final is by being in the finals. That’s how you get better… I’m very happy I improved, and I think I can do much better next time,” he said, with his parents watching from the sidelines alongside his coach Deanne Pheong and fellow national para shooters Theresa Goh, Chan Han Siong and Shannon Heng.
The final also offered an experience uncharacteristic of regular shooting finals as Thai superfan Thailand Khamthong, accompanied by a boisterous contingent of Thai supporters, banged drums and whistled their support for their countrymen throughout the final.
“You can feel the soul of Thailand… Everybody is so happy to be here, so I think it’s a great environment,” said Surya, about the energetic atmosphere in the shooting range of His Majesty the King’s 80th Birthday Stadium.
His debut Games have whetted his appetite for international competition, with the 2028 Paralympics firmly in his sights.
“I’m very excited for the next competition, and I know that these Games pushed me to do better. The fact that I was in an ASEAN competition made me want to perform much better, so I’m very excited about the future.”
