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Guest-of-Honour Mr Chee Hong Tat,
Minister for National Development, joins martial arts star Jackie
Chan, Mr Kiat Lim of the Lim Family Foundation, and Pei Chun Public
School principal Ms Ong Lee Choo, Speaker of Parliament Mr Seah Kian
Peng, alongside wushu, lion and dragon dance performers, during
Chan's visit to the school on 7 July 2026. |
There are celebrities, and then there are legends.
Jackie Chan belongs to the latter. His movies have entertained generations around the world, inspiring countless children to dream bigger, train harder, and perhaps even attempt a few overly ambitious kung fu moves at home (please don't try that!).
So when the global martial arts icon made a rare appearance at Pei Chun Public School in Toa Payoh, you could immediately feel the excitement long before he stepped into the school hall.
More than 900 students filled the assembly hall, their cheers echoing through the school as Jackie Chan arrived alongside Minister for National Development Mr Chee Hong Tat and Mr Kiat Lim from the Lim Family Foundation. Also present were Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng and Members of Parliament for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, Mr Saktiandi Supaat and Mr Cai Yinzhou.
But despite the impressive guest list, all eyes were naturally on THAT one man.
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Martial arts legend Jackie Chan posing
for a group photo during his visit to Pei Chun Public School. The
event, organised by the Lim Family Foundation, was attended by
Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat, Speaker of
Parliament Seah Kian Peng, and Members of Parliament for Bishan-Toa
Payoh GRC Saktiandi Supaat and Cai Yinzhou. |
A Morning Filled with Energy, Culture and Inspiration
The morning began with a lively showcase by Pei Chun Public School's students and alumni under the guidance of head coach Mr Wilson Yap Weisheng. Their performance blended wushu, dragon dance and lion dance, celebrating both athletic excellence and Chinese cultural heritage.
Jackie Chan was then invited to perform the traditional dragon eye-dotting ceremony, an auspicious moment symbolising the awakening of the dragon before taking part in an intimate sharing session with students.
Rather than delivering a polished celebrity speech, Jackie Chan spoke candidly about the values that shaped his remarkable 64-year career. He encouraged the young athletes to embrace discipline, resilience and perseverance, reminding them that success is built through years of consistent hard work rather than overnight achievements. Listening to him, it was easy to understand why his influence extends far beyond action films.
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Jackie Chan meets recipients of the
SOF-Peter Lim Scholarship in a private meet-and-greet, sharing words
of inspiration with Singapore's next-gen wushu talents, flanked by
hosts Mr Peter Lim and Mr Kiat Lim of the Lim Family Foundation,
whose support made the visit possible. |
Why This Visit Matters
Speaking at the event, Mr Kiat Lim from the Lim Family Foundation shared why Jackie Chan was the perfect guest to inspire Singapore's young athletes.
His journey from martial artist to international film icon demonstrates how years of dedication and relentless training can eventually open doors to the global stage. The visit also reflects the Lim Family Foundation's ongoing commitment to nurturing young sporting talents through the Singapore Olympic Foundation–Peter Lim Scholarship (SOFPLS).
Since 2010, the Foundation has contributed more than S$20 million to the programme, supporting 5,629 young athletes across multiple sports, including 163 wushu scholars over the past 16 years.
Many scholarship recipients have gone on to represent Singapore internationally.
Among them are:
- Chua Xin Yun, who was named the International Wushu Federation's Wushu Taolu Rising Star of the Year in 2024 after winning gold and silver at the 9th World Junior Wushu Championships.
- Cholene Aw Rui En, who recently captured three gold medals at the 5th World Taijiquan Championships in Bulgaria to become a world champion.
Both athletes were present to welcome Jackie Chan during the event.
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Jackie Chan poses with (from left) Pei
Chun Public School principal Ms Ong Lee Choo, Guest-of-Honour Mr Chee
Hong Tat, Minister for National Development, Mr Kiat Lim of the Lim
Family Foundation, and Speaker of Parliament Mr Seah Kian Peng,
during his visit to the school on 7 July 2026. |
More Than Just Meeting a Celebrity
This isn't the first time the Lim Family Foundation has created unforgettable experiences for young Singaporeans, having previously welcomed international icons including Cristiano Ronaldo, Lewis Hamilton and JJ Lin to its community initiatives.
Yet Jackie Chan's visit felt particularly meaningful.
"I used to rewatch The Karate Kid over and over, imitating Jackie Chan's stunts in my living room. He is the absolute reason I started wushu. Getting to meet him today and show him my form is a literal dream come true." --- 16-year-old Lucas Teo, a two-time Singapore Olympic Foundation–Peter Lim Scholarship (SOFPLS) high-performance scholarship recipient.
It was one of those rare full-circle moments where a childhood inspiration became reality. For many adults, he represents decades of cinematic memories. For these young wushu athletes, however, he represents something much bigger — proof that discipline, resilience and passion can take someone from a training hall to the world stage.
Watching hundreds of children cheer, listen intently and leave the hall visibly inspired was a reminder that sometimes the greatest impact isn't made through spectacular movie stunts, but through simply showing up, sharing your journey, and encouraging the next generation to believe that their own dreams are possible.
So... who['s that hero who's been inspiring you on?
