Powerlifting Singapore

In 2009, Tan Say Yong, a Singaporean working in the US, came in 1st in his category during the California State Games powerlifting meet. When he returned, his passion and keen interest in this sport were further fuelled after meeting after Tom Liaw, president of the Singapore Weightlifting Federation (SWF), who is also a keen supporter of powerlifting. With the collaboration with SWF, Say Yong and a small group of volunteers formed the Powerlifting Singapore group and organized the 1st local powerlifting meet in 2011, The Singapore National Open 2011. Although done on a very small scale with only 13 participants, this inaugural meet sparked interests from keen sportsmen from the local strength community- hence the birth of the powerlifting scene.^[1]

Powerlifting Singapore continued to hold SPO12 (Singapore Powerlifting Open) and SPO13, where national records were being broken year by year. Today SPO has become an annual national sporting event in Singapore which attracts participants and spectators from all parts of Singapore. In addition there has been held Singapore Powerlifting Invitationals (SPI) with competitors coming to Singapore from neighbouring countries such as Malaysia, India, Australia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Philippines and even the US and UK.^[2]

Powerlifting Singapore's first participation in an international event started in 2014, for the Asia & Oceania Championships held in Melbourne, Australia. To date, the organisation regularly participates in international competitions such as the Asian championships and the World championships.

In 2022, Sport Singapore, the governing statutory board in Singapore over sports, clarified that it recognised Powerlifting Singapore as a National Sports Association but does not receive funding from it due to regulatory requirements.^[3]