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Whether she’s in her Police uniform or Team Singapore jersey, holding the line for Sergeant (Sgt) Melrize Ng means standing firm under pressure. For her, both roles demand strength and discipline, to support the team.
At the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand, Sgt Melrize represented Singapore with her teammates in a tug-of-war demonstration sport event, clinching bronze in the mixed 560 class, on that team that included six Police officers in a group of eight athletes.
Sgt Melrize joined the Police Coast Guard (PCG) in 2016, where she started off in frontline operations at the Coastal Patrol Squadron. In 2021, she was deployed to serve as an Assistant Operations Officer in the PCG’s Operational and Security Branch.
Sgt Melrize is currently pursuing her further studies at the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), taking a three-year track degree in Public Safety and Security.
Learning the Ropes
Throughout her journey as an officer in the Singapore Police Force (SPF), Sgt Melrize found a passion for sports – specifically. tug-of-war.
“I’ve been practising tug-of-war since 2017,” Sgt Melrize shares. “It’s a sport that focuses on technique but also requires a high level of fitness, in order to withstand and beat the other team.”
Sgt Melrize’s first experience of tug-of-war came courtesy of the PCG’s intra-unit games. Back then, every team had to field at least one female officer. “It turned out I really enjoyed it, and it was a blessing in disguise,” she recalls.
This led Sgt Melrize to delve deeper into the sport by participating in the 2018 Tug-of-War Indoor World Championships in Xuzhou, China.
The Badge Behind the Medal
Even as she underwent training as a SEA Games athlete, Sgt Melrize continued to serve as an Assistant Operations Officer with the PCG’s Operations Management team. The PCG Operations Management team works closely together to oversee day-to-day operations and coordinate inter-agency efforts in Singapore’s territorial waters.
Her duties included reviewing new operational equipment and gear that were introduced for the PCG to ensure that these were suitable.
If any issues arose, her team works to find solutions. Their efforts ensure that frontline PCG officers can carry out their maritime policing duties effectively.
The Road to the 2025 SEA Games
The road to the SEA Games was anything but smooth. Competing in the women’s 500kg category meant the team had to lose nearly 30kg collectively while still maintaining its core strength. Since many of the team members worked shift duties, they were also not able to have full-team training sessions until just two weeks before the Games.
The competition itself was intense, with multiple events held in a single day. Since Team Singapore didn’t have a large contingent participating in tug-of-war, several team members, including Sgt Melrize, had to participate in all three events. “I wasn’t expecting to bring a medal home,” Sgt Melrize admitted after watching the strong performances of the other national teams.
When the team secured the deciding pull for the bronze medal, their emotions spilled over. “The entire team just celebrated and cried on the mat,” she said. “The medal represented all our sweat and tears throughout our journey.”
Strength in Support
Sgt Melrize credits her strong circle of support for her achievements. When she shared that she would be competing at the SEA Games in Thailand, her family and friends were all excited for her.
“My mom was very shocked and supportive that I’d be participating in the SEA Games,” she said. “She made sure I had proper nourishment and helped care for my daughter when I couldn’t make it back in time from training.”
Her friends also played a part in keeping her motivated. “They even bought me a fitness tracker because they knew I was trying to catch up on my training,” she added.
With the support she has behind her, Sgt Melrize knows that she’ll never be alone, pursuing her passion as a tug-of-war athlete while continuing to serve with dedication as a PCG officer.
