Tang Pui Wah was the first female Olympian from Singapore. She was born in 1933 and studied in Nanyang Girls’ School (later moved to Raffles Girls School in an attempt to improve her English) where sports was quite a well-established activity for students in school. Pui Wah’s first breakthrough in sports was in 1950 where she took part in the Singapore Chinese Amateur Athletic Association’s competition (全星华校中学运动会) and sets a new record in the 80 meters sprint and 80 meters hurdles. She was thus selected for the Asian Games in New Delhi in 1951. Pui Wah finished fourth in position for hurdles, but more importantly, she met Ng Liang Chiang, gold medallist for hurdles at the Games, and took guidance from him. Pui Wah’s subsequent excellent performance at the Malayan championship held in Kuala Lumpur was attributed to Ng Liang Chiang’s training which was crucial in paving the way for Pui Wah to be selected for the Helsinki Olympics. She quitted sports in 1956.
