WP chair Sylvia Lim, 59, to marry ex-footballer Quah Kim Song, 72, in Jan. 2025

Workers' Party (WP) chair Sylvia Lim, 59, and former striker of the Singapore national football team Quah Kim Song, 72, will tie the knot in January 2025.

The couple have been dating for almost 12 years after first meeting each other at a WP variety concert in January 2013, reported CNA.

Lim has never been married before, while Quah became a widower after losing his wife to cancer in 2007, according to The New Paper.

Wedding details

According to Lim, she and Quah will be holding their ceremony at a church "in the presence of family members".

In a separate interview with AsiaOne, Quah shared that both he and Lim are Catholics, and they will be solemnising their marriage at the St Mary of the Angels in Bukit Batok.

During a dinner talk organised by CANA the Catholic Centre in 2014, Lim revealed that she had been a choir singer at the church "for many years".

Quah also described the 12 years he and Lim spent together as "blissful, blessed, and wonderful".

"[This is why] we decided to tie the knot and journey together all the way", he added.

Love story

According to TNP, many thought of Lim and Quah's relationship as "unusual" as they appeared to be completely different individuals.

On the one hand, Lim was a law graduate who became a senior associate with Peter Low LLC before assuming WP's chairmanship in 2003.

On the other hand, Quah became a footballer after completing his A levels and played for the Singapore national team for almost three decades, according to his autobiography.

However, the couple's different life trajectories did not stop them from falling in love, as they soon found they shared common interests in music and football.

According to Quah, he had a guitar at Lim's family home, and they would listen to live music and sometimes sing at home after some drinks, which helped Lim to de-stress.

Lim has 'special relationship' with Quah's family

Even when Lim became swamped with party matters during the General Election 2015, Quah still made sure to spend some time with Lim by becoming her personal chauffeur, reported TNP.

In response, Lim also expressed her affection towards Quah openly during a Bendemeer rally in 2015:

"And I'm so proud that the man who headed in the opening goal (Singapore beat Penang 3-2 in the 1977 Malaysia Cup final) is here with us tonight as my personal driver."

Besides sharing a strong relationship with each other, Quah said Lim also had a "special relationship" with his family members.

"She joins social gatherings involving my children and my brothers and sisters," added Quah.

Top images via Sylvia Lim/Instagram