ChapmanCG's Jovin Tan and Qian Yin Yap Win Singapore's First Gold Medal

On 22 October, ChapmanCG’s Jovin Tan and Qian Yin Yap made history when they won Singapore’s first gold medal at the Asian Para Games in Incheon, Korea. The pair performed consistently well and came first in seven out of nine races in the two-person keelboat (Hansa 303) event at the Wangsan Sailing Marina.

Following the big win, Tan said, “We are happy because our hard work has paid off and this medal goes towards the coaches, team managers, volunteers, family members, and the Changi Sailing Club for being so supportive of us using their venue for our training.” Tan also gave praise to his partner Yap, saying she was instrumental to their success. “We teamed up almost a year ago for this event, and it’s great to have her as my crew since with my disability, I can only steer the boat and be the tactician,” he said. “She deserves most of the credit, especially since the wind can be gusty at times and the weather was cold.”

Jovin and QY met while working at The Chapman Consulting Group, where flexible working and the encouragement to pursue outside interests are both key priorities. Jovin and QY feel fortunate to work for a company that allows them to maintain their strict training regime. Matt Chapman, CEO of The Chapman Consulting Group, had this to say of their win, “Jovin and QY’s performance in Korea made everyone in our company very proud. We have nothing but respect for their dedication to their sport. At the same time, they balance their athletic pursuits incredibly well with their work.”

Tan is an experienced Paralympian, with an eighth place finish at Beijing in 2008, followed by a seventh place finish at London 2012. He introduced Yap to sailing only three years ago, and the year long partnership has proven extremely successful thus far. Having won three races this year, including the February Sail Auckland in New Zealand and the August Royal Yachting Association Multiclass Regatta 2014 in Great Britain, the pair hope to set their sights on the ASEAN Para Games in 2015, where they hope to continue their current winning streak. Tan is also working towards the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, where he hopes to qualify to compete in the SKUD 18 event.