The Singapore Olympic Foundation (SOF)-Peter Lim Scholarship marks 15 years of uplifting young sporting talent across Singapore, with over $12.61 million awarded to aspiring athletes since its inception
Launched in 2010 through a landmark $10 million donation from entrepreneur and philanthropist Peter Lim, the scholarship was created with a powerful mission: to ensure that no young athlete’s dream would be limited by financial constraints. It remains the largest private contribution to sports development in Singapore’s history. In 2019, Lim reaffirmed this commitment by pledging another $10 million, extending the scholarship through to 2030.
Since the first batch of awards in 2011, the scholarship has helped shape the journeys of over 5,200 athletes, including 24 Olympians such as Singapore’s first Olympic gold medallist Joseph Schooling and Asian Games sprint champion Shanti Pereira.
At the 15th annual awards ceremony held at Temasek Convention Centre, 346 student-athletes from 106 schools and 39 sports received a total of $1.05 million in cash awards. This year’s recipients include 99 high-performance Under-18 athletes, among them Kyra Seow Kai Hui, Singapore’s first Modern Pentathlon awardee, and Caitlyn Anne Tan, who competed in artistic swimming at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships.
Guests at the ceremony included Olympic and world champion swimmer Chad le Clos, who presented some of the awards and inspired young recipients with his presence. Other dignitaries included Mr Teo Chee Hean, Patron of the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC); Ms Grace Fu, SNOC President and Minister for Sustainability and the Environment; Mr Ng Ser Miang, Chairman of SOF; and Mr Kiat Lim, son of Peter Lim.
In a heartfelt speech, Kiat Lim reflected on his family’s legacy and personal connection to the scholarship.
“The SOF-Peter Lim Scholarship represents a continuation of my family values — using our privilege to uplift others. As someone who has been involved in this journey from early on, the Scholarship has shaped how I see giving, not as a one-time act, but as a sustained commitment to recognising diverse forms of potential, especially in youths who may flourish better outside conventional paths. Carrying this forward is something I intend to do and is close to my heart.”
About the SOF-Peter Lim Scholarship
Year it started: 2011 (15th edition in 2025)
Award categories and quantum:
- Primary – $1,000
- Secondary – $2,000
- JC/IP/Tertiary – $3,000
- High performance under-18 – $5,000
Criteria:
- For the primary, secondary, JC/IP/Tertiary categories: Good performance at interschool (minimal zonal) or equivalent competition(s); Key considerations: Applicant’s family income and sports performance
- For the high performance under-18 category: 18 years old and below as at 31 December 2024, Commendable performance at regional/international competition(s); Key considerations: Applicant’s sports performance and potential
No. of recipients in 2025:
- Primary – 46
- Secondary – 96
- JC/IP/Tertiary – 105
- High performance under-18 – 99
- Total: 346 from 106 schools and 39 sports
Amount disbursed in 2025: $1,048,000
No of scholarships from 2011-2025: 5,269
Amount disbursed from 2011- 2025: $12.61 million
No. of sports featured in the scholarship from 2011-2025: 57
Olympians who were SOF-Peter Lim scholarship recipients:
- Athletics – Gary Yeo Foo Ee
- Athletics – Veronica Shanti Pereira
- Badminton – Liang Xiaoyu
- Badminton – Derek Wong Zi Liang
- Badminton – Terry Hee
- Badminton – Jessica Tan Weihan
- Canoe – Geraldine Lee Wei Ling
- Canoe – Stephenie Chen
- Fencing – Amita Berthier
- Marathon Swimming – Chantal Liew
- Rowing – Saiyidah Aisyah Binte Mohamed Rafa’ee
- Sailing – Colin Cheng Xin Ru
- Sailing – Cecilia Low Rui Qi
- Sailing – Amanda Ng Ling Kai
- Sailing – Audrey Yong Pei Lin
- Shooting – Jasmine Ser Xiang Wei
- Shooting – Adele Tan Qian Xiu
- Swimming – Joseph Isaac Schooling
- Swimming – Mylene Ong Chui Bin
- Swimming – Quah Zheng Wen
- Swimming – Quah Jing Wen
- Swimming – Tao Li
- Table Tennis – Izaac Quek
- Short Track Speed Skating (Winter Olympic Games) – Cheyenne Goh
List of high performance under-18 category recipients
