28th SEA Games Singapore 2015 - Spectacular Lighting of The Sea Games Cauldron by Fandi Ahmad and Son

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SEA Games: Fandi Ahmad and son Irfan light Games cauldron to kick off biennial affair

PUBLISHED ON JUN 5, 2015 10:04 PM

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Singapore football icon Fandi Ahmad and his son Irfan embarking on the final leg of the torch relay during the SEA Games 2015 opening ceremony on June 5, 2015. -- ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM

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SINGAPORE - After months of speculation, football's Fandi Ahmad and son Irfan were finally revealed as the duo who lit the SEA Games cauldron on Friday night during the Games' opening ceremony.

Singapore football's favourite son and his eldest offspring, who is featuring in the football competition as the squad's youngest player, were among 13 final torchbearers who carried the flame on its final journey around the National Stadium before it culminated in the lighting of the Games cauldron.

The honour, said Fandi, surpassed even the euphoria of scoring goals in a final.

"I couldn't believe it when they told me the decision and even now, I can't believe it. To do it with my son is even more special. It is the greatest honour for me. I am so passionate for my country and for sports."

Irfan added: "This is my first time experiencing anything like this. It is a way for me to say thank you to Singapore."

They were among three other inter-generational pairs in the finale of the two-hour opening ceremony - athletics' Prema Govindan and Shanti Pereira, hockey's Annabel Pennefather and Enrico Elifh Marican and badminton's Wong Shoon Keat and son Derek.

Other torchbearers for the nights included dragonboater Clement Neo, shuttler Liang Xiaoyu, sprinter Muhammad Naqib Asmin, judoka Gabriel Yang and cyclist Dinah Chan.

maychen@sph.com.sg

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