SINGAPORE: Two Singapore women have been shortlisted from 80 applicants for an expedition to the South Pole.

Either senior engineer Lina Goh or freelance fitness instructor and IT consultant Sophia Pang, both aged 36, will represent Singapore in the Commonwealth Women's Antarctic Expedition and become the first Singaporean woman to ski to the South Pole.

A total of eight women from Commonwealth countries aim to reach the South Pole on New Year's Day 2010.

Ms Goh said: "I'll just have to prove that I'm a good team player and I will contribute as much as I can to the team in terms of trying to secure sponsorships because I think that's the biggest obstacle for the team."

Ms Pang, a mother of three, was shocked to make it to the final two, and so was her family.

She said: "I guess my eldest daughter is still in a state of disbelief. But I think it's a good time for me to put the message to her as well as to everyone else that if you want to do something, just go ahead and try and (don't) regret not doing it later."

Organisers said the key factor in the final selection, which will be done in late February after the training in Scandinavia, is whether that person can work well with other members in the team.


- TODAY/so