OBITUARY: Commonwealth Games champion Poh Lip Meng dies at age 52
SINGAPORE — Veteran national pistol shooter and 2010 Commonwealth Games champion Poh Lip Meng died on Wednesday evening (22 December). He was 52.
The Singapore Shooting Association announced his passing in a Facebook post on Thursday. According to The Straits Times, Poh had collapsed during a jog and was taken to Changi General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
"Lip Meng was a valuable member of the national pistol men’s team, helping Singapore achieve remarkable results in various competitions. Most notably, he was a finalist in the ISSF World Cup Fort Benning 2010 in the 10m air pistol men’s event," said the Association, which praised his "dedication and commitment" to the sport.
"A treasured member in the Shooting family, he will be greatly missed. We convey our deepest condolences to his family."
Poh won silver and bronze medals in the 10m air pistol team event at the 27th and 28th SEA Games respectively, as well as the gold medal at the 40th Southeast Asian Shooting Association Championship 2016. He also clinched gold at the 28th SEA Games 2015 in the 50m free pistol team event.
Poh holds the current national records for both 10m air pistol men and 50m free pistol events.
Won medals at every major Games
According to The Straits Times, Poh has a daughter Yu Ting, 14, and a son, Yu Hao, 20, who is also a national shooter. Father and son competed together at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.
Poh joined the national team in 2002, and forged a strong team partnership with Gai Bin and Nigel Lim. The trio clinched a historic bronze in the 25m standard pistol team event at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games, becoming the first Singapore men's shooters to earn a medal in an Asiad pistol competition.
Poh and Gai Bin also captured the gold in the 25m standard pistol competition at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in India.
He had already been selected to represent Singapore at next May's SEA Games in Hanoi.
Singapore National Olympic Council president Tan Chuan-Jin paid tribute to Poh in a Facebook post, saying, "He was an exemplary athlete, and often greeted anyone he met with a friendly and warm disposition. We've lost a fine role model."
Poh's funeral wake is being held at Block 857, Tampines Street 83, until Sunday.
Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore
