Tan Eng Bock

Tan Eng Bock played water polo for Singapore at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. His brother, Tan Eng Liang, was also on the team at Melbourne but did not play. Eng Bock won a gold medal at the 1954 Asian Games, and later captained the national team to three titles at the Southeast Asian Peninsular (SEAP) Games, winning in 1965, 1967, and 1969.

In Singapore his nickname was “Mr. Water Polo”, as Tan Eng Bock served in water polo administration and was Singapore’s deputy chef de mission at the 1988, 1996, and 2000 Olympic Games. His career was as a police officer, and he became assistant commissioner of police before retiring in 1991. For his service, he received a Public Administration Medal (Silver) in 1981, a State Long Service Medal the following year, and a Public Service Star in 1986.