Team Singapore’s new generation ready to rise in Asian Games in Japan

National swimmer Russel Pang has been earmarked as Singapore’s rising star of distance swimming and will make his Asian Games debut at the Aichi-Nagoya Games.

Published Sep 16, 2026, 08:02 PM

Updated Sep 16, 2026, 11:52 PM

Nearly two-thirds of Singapore's 304-strong Asian Games team are debutants, signalling a new generation ready to lead the nation in 27 sports at the Sept 19-Oct 4 event.

Young athletes like swimmer Russel Pang and gymnast Amanda Yap show promise with recent national records and international medals.

These athletes aim to build experience and inspire future success, with coaches emphasising progress over medals amid strong competition from Asian powerhouses.

SINGAPORE – In the Land of the Rising Sun, 304 athletes will fly the Singapore flag in 27 sports at the Sept 19-Oct 4 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya . With nearly two-thirds of the contingent set to make their Games debut, The Straits Times looks at five rising stars aiming to lead Singapore sport into an exciting new era.

Russel Pang (swimming)

The Singapore men’s swimming team are in transition after Olympic champion Joseph Schooling’s retirement in 2024 and veteran Quah Zheng Wen’s decision to put swimming on hold for his post-graduate studies. That leaves only defending 50m butterfly silver medallist Teong Tzen Wei as the senior statesman of the squad.

Russel Pang, who is making his debut at 16, could offer a glimpse of the future.

Already earmarked as Singapore’s rising star in distance swimming, Russel is part of a new generation looking to make its mark in the region.

He announced himself on the international stage in December 2025 with a 1,500m freestyle bronze on his SEA Games debut, setting a national record in 15min 28.46sec before lowering it to 15:25.58 at the Commonwealth Games in July.

The Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) student also clocked another national mark in the men’s 800m freestyle (8:04.70) at the Australian Age Championships Boys’ 16 Years event on April 12.

At the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, Russel is pencilled in for the men’s 200m individual medley, 400m, 800m and 1,500m freestyle and the 4x200m freestyle relay.

The soft-spoken teenager said: “For the Asian Games, (the target) is more of how far I can go in terms of timing rather than focus on placings because there are many big swimmers from teams like China, Japan and South Korea. It’s more realistic to look at things from a time-based perspective rather than positions.”

Russel, who also made his Commonwealth Games debut in 2026, added that he wants to “be someone who is truly known for being good at your sport”.

For inspiration, he looks up to training partner and Singapore distance specialist Gan Ching Hwee, as well as Northern Ireland’s Daniel Wiffen, the 2024 world champion in the 800m and 1,500m freestyle.

He said: “She (Gan) inspires me with the way that she trains. Even during difficult times, and even during days when she’s not feeling her best, she gives it her best during training, and I think that’s something really inspiring.”

Coach Eugene Chia, who also trains Gan, said: “I can see him probably emulating something like what Ching Hwee has done: qualifying for the Olympics or even a finalist at world championships in the future. But he needs the time because he’s still really young… and male swimmers tend to peak slightly later than female swimmers.”

Justin Saik (water polo)

The 17-year-old is also looking to make a splash as part of Singapore’s water polo team. Drawn in Group B, Singapore will face South Korea, Iran, and China, while Group A comprises Thailand, Kazakhstan, Japan and Hong Kong.

Justin, a Singapore Sports School student, competed in the 2025 World Aquatics Championships on home soil, and secured gold at the SEA Games later that year.

At the Asian Under-18 Water Polo Championships in March, he was named player of the match during Singapore’s dominant 26-5 victory over South Korea in the group stage.

Justin Saik (right) of the national men's water polo team in action during a closed door session at Singapore Sports School on July 7, 2025. PHOTO: ST FILE

Justin Saik (right) of the national men's water polo team in action during a closed door session at Singapore Sports School on July 7, 2025.

As Singapore aim to return to the podium for the first time since earning bronze at the 1986 Seoul Games, a share of that responsibility will fall on Justin’s young shoulders.

He said: “I definitely feel some pressure, but I would like to see it as an opportunity instead. Being part of the younger generation, I want to help Singapore improve and help us compete at the highest level in Asia.

“My role will be mainly to support the older and more experienced players, giving them opportunities to keep the play going forward, but I also wish to learn from them and gain valuable experience.”

Amanda Yap (gymnastics)

Gymnast Amanda Yap, 16, is another athlete who has burst onto the scene lately.

In July, she clinched a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in the balance beam for Singapore’s first gymnastics medal at the Games since 2014.

That feat followed a historic achievement at the world championships in October 2025 , when she became the first Singaporean gymnast to qualify for a final at the event, eventually placing sixth in the balance beam.

(From left) Singapore's Amanda Yap celebrating on the podium with Australia’s Breanna Scott and Canada's Lia-Monica Fontaine at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on July 28. PHOTO: REUTERS

(From left) Singapore's Amanda Yap celebrating on the podium with Australia’s Breanna Scott and Canada's Lia-Monica Fontaine at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on July 28.

In December 2025, she won a silver medal in the same event at the SEA Games, ending Singapore’s 20-year wait for an individual balance beam medal. In a year of achievements, she also won the inaugural The Straits Times Young Singaporean of the Year award in March.

Women’s artistic gymnastics national head coach Georgia-Rose Brown said Amanda “is in a really exciting position right now”.

Brown added that her recent results demonstrate that “Singapore has the ability and capacity to be successful on the international stage in gymnastics”.

“She is showing younger gymnasts and athletes across Singapore that with hard work, a positive mindset, strong coaching and the right support network, significant results are achievable.”

Brown said that the main objective for Yap in Aichi-Nagoya is to compete with confidence and reproduce what she has demonstrated in training.

“We don’t want the focus to be solely on a result or placing,” said Brown.

“Each competition is an opportunity for Amanda to build on her previous performances and continue showing what she, and Singapore gymnastics, are capable of. Competing against some of the strongest gymnasts in Asia, particularly from China, Japan and (South) Korea, is always exciting.”

Sofia Rivas (jiu-jitsu)

Jiu-jitsu exponent Sofia Rivas will arrive in Japan for her Asian Games debut on the back of another prominent continental triumph in 2025.

The 18-year-old won gold in the girls’ Under-52kg category at the 2025 Asian Youth Games in Bahrain, in a victory which announced her as one of Singapore’s most exciting young martial arts talents.

Jiu-jitsu exponent Sofia Anabel Rivas in action at 2025 Asian Youth Games in Bahrain. PHOTO: Andy Chua/SNOC

Jiu-jitsu exponent Sofia Anabel Rivas in action at 2025 Asian Youth Games in Bahrain.

PHOTO: Andy Chua/SNOC

Sport runs in the teenager’s family. Her mother Arlene Lim represented Singapore in taekwondo while her older sister Isabel claimed a joint-bronze in the women’s taekwondo kyorugi (sparring) 46kg event at the 2022 SEA Games.

Introduced to jiu-jitsu by her mother when she was just four, Rivas said: “After the Asian Youth Games, I realised that I wanted to take the sport to a higher level. I wanted to compete more seriously and challenge myself, rather than just doing it as a hobby.

“I feel thrilled and excited, but at the same time, there’s definitely some nervousness (going into the Asian Games). My main goal is simply to leave everything on the mats and walk away knowing that I gave it my best.”

Marissa Hafezan (karate)

Like Rivas, karate exponent Marissa Hafezan, 20, is also looking to replicate recent gold-medal success.

Her victory in the women’s kumite 55kg at the 2025 SEA Games ended a 32-year gold-medal drought in karate at the regional event.

Singapore’s Marissa Hafezan after her victory in the Karate Women Under-55kg Final at the Chaeng Watthana Government Complex during the Thailand SEA Games in Bangkok on Dec 12, 2025. ST FILE PHOTO

Singapore’s Marissa Hafezan after her victory in the Karate Women Under-55kg Final at the Chaeng Watthana Government Complex during the Thailand SEA Games in Bangkok on Dec 12, 2025.

Marissa is one of three karatekas representing Singapore, marking the first time the Republic has fielded athletes in the sport since 2006.

Despite the heightened expectations, she views the opportunity as a privilege rather than a source of pressure.

Marissa was born in Singapore and lives in France, where she is reading psychology at La Grande Ecole de P sychologie.

“I am proud of what I have achieved, that (SEA Games gold) medal and the story behind it will be a part of me forever and they deserve to be embraced fully.

“It is an honour to be a part of this major milestone for my sport, for my country, and I hope to be able to bring pride and joy to myself and to all those who’ve believed and invested themselves in our story,” she said.

Deepanraj Ganesan is a sports correspondent at The Straits Times focusing on football, athletics, combat sports and policy-related news.

国家游泳运动员彭瑞生被誉为新加坡长距离游泳的明日之星，他将在爱知-名古屋亚运会上首次亮相。

发布于 2026 年 9 月 16 日晚上 8:02

更新于2026年9月16日晚上11:52

新加坡参加亚运会的304名运动员中，近三分之二是首次参赛，这标志着新一代运动员准备在9月19日至10月4日举行的亚运会27个体育项目中带领国家队。

像游泳运动员罗素·庞和体操运动员阿曼达·叶这样的年轻运动员，凭借最近取得的全国纪录和国际奖牌，展现出了巨大的潜力。

这些运动员的目标是积累经验，激励未来取得成功，教练们则强调进步而非奖牌，因为他们面临着来自亚洲强队的激烈竞争。

新加坡——在日出之国，304名运动员将代表新加坡参加9月19日至10月4日在爱知-名古屋举行的亚运会，角逐27个项目的桂冠。近三分之二的运动员将首次亮相亚运会，《海峡时报》将目光聚焦于五位冉冉升起的新星，他们有望引领新加坡体育迈入激动人心的新时代。

拉塞尔·庞（游泳）

新加坡男子游泳队正处于过渡期，奥运冠军约瑟夫·斯库林将于2024年退役，老将柯正文也决定暂停游泳生涯攻读研究生学位。目前队中仅剩卫冕50米蝶泳银牌得主张振伟一位资深队员。

年仅 16 岁就首次亮相的罗素·庞，或许能让我们一窥未来之星的风采。

拉塞尔已被誉为新加坡长距离游泳界冉冉升起的新星，他是希望在该地区崭露头角的新一代游泳运动员之一。

2025 年 12 月，他在东南亚运动会上首次亮相，获得 1500 米自由泳铜牌，并在 15 分 28.46 秒的成绩创造了全国纪录，随后在 7 月的英联邦运动会上将纪录刷新至 15 分 25.58 秒。

这位英华中学（独立）的学生还在 4 月 12 日举行的澳大利亚青少年锦标赛男子 16 岁组比赛中，以 8 分 04 秒 70 的成绩创造了另一项全国纪录。

在东京水上运动中心，拉塞尔暂定参加男子200米个人混合泳、400米、800米和1500米自由泳以及4x200米自由泳接力赛。

这位说话轻声细语的少年说：“对于亚运会来说，（我的目标）更多的是在时间上尽可能游得更远，而不是关注名次，因为像中国、日本和韩国这样的国家有很多游泳强手。从时间角度来看，而不是从名次角度来看，这更现实。”

拉塞尔也将在 2026 年首次亮相英联邦运动会，他补充说，他想“成为真正以擅长这项运动而闻名的人”。

为了获得灵感，他仰慕训练伙伴、新加坡长距离游泳专家颜清辉，以及北爱尔兰的丹尼尔·维芬，后者是 2024 年 800 米和 1500 米自由泳世界冠军。

他说：“甘静瑜的训练方式激励着我。即使在困难时期，即使在她状态不佳的日子里，她也会在训练中全力以赴，我认为这真的很鼓舞人心。”

甘的教练尤金·谢表示：“我觉得他未来可能会像程辉那样，获得奥运会参赛资格，甚至进入世锦赛决赛。但他还需要时间，因为他还很年轻……而且男游泳运动员的巅峰期往往比女游泳运动员晚一些。”

贾斯汀·赛克（水球）

这位17岁的少年也渴望在新加坡水球队中大放异彩。新加坡被分在B组，将与韩国、伊朗和中国队交锋；A组则包括泰国、哈萨克斯坦、日本和中国香港队。

贾斯汀是新加坡体育学校的学生，他参加了在本土举行的 2025 年世界游泳锦标赛，并在同年晚些时候的东南亚运动会上获得了金牌。

在 3 月份举行的亚洲 18 岁以下水球锦标赛上，他在小组赛新加坡队以 26-5 大胜韩国队的比赛中被评为最佳球员。

2025年7月7日，新加坡体育学校举行闭门训练，图为国家男子水球队队员贾斯汀·赛克（右）正在训练。（图片来源：海峡时报档案）

2025年7月7日，新加坡体育学校举行闭门训练，图为国家男子水球队队员贾斯汀·赛克（右）正在训练。

新加坡的目标是自 1986 年首尔奥运会获得铜牌以来首次重返领奖台，而这份责任的一部分将落在贾斯汀年轻的肩膀上。

他说：“我确实感到有些压力，但我更愿意把它看作是一个机会。作为年轻一代的一员，我希望帮助新加坡进步，帮助我们在亚洲最高水平的赛事中竞争。”

“我的主要职责是支持那些年龄较大、经验更丰富的球员，给他们机会让比赛继续进行下去，但我同时也希望向他们学习，获​​得宝贵的经验。”

阿曼达·叶（体操）

16岁的体操运动员Amanda Yap是最近崭露头角的另一位运动员。

7 月，她在英联邦运动会平衡木项目中获得银牌，这是新加坡自 2014 年以来在该运动会上获得的首枚体操奖牌。

此前，她在 2025 年 10 月的世界锦标赛上取得了历史性的成就，成为第一个晋级该赛事决赛的新加坡体操运动员，最终在平衡木项目中获得第六名。

（从左至右）7月28日，在格拉斯哥举行的英联邦运动会上，新加坡选手阿曼达·叶与澳大利亚选手布雷安娜·斯科特和加拿大选手莉娅-莫妮卡·方丹在领奖台上庆祝。图片：路透社

（从左至右）7月28日，在格拉斯哥举行的英联邦运动会上，新加坡选手叶阿曼达与澳大利亚选手布列塔尼·斯科特和加拿大选手莉娅-莫妮卡·方丹在领奖台上庆祝。

2025年12月，她在东南亚运动会同一项目中获得银牌，结束了新加坡20年来在个人平衡木项目上的奖牌荒。在这一年里，她还荣获了首届《海峡时报》年度新加坡青年奖（3月）。

女子竞技体操国家队主教练乔治亚-罗斯·布朗表示，阿曼达“现在处于一个非常令人兴奋的位置”。

布朗补充说，她最近的成绩表明“新加坡有能力在国际体操舞台上取得成功”。

“她向新加坡各地的年轻体操运动员和运动员表明，只要努力训练、保持积极的心态、接受优秀的教练指导并拥有正确的支持网络，就能取得显著的成绩。”

布朗表示，叶在爱知名古屋的主要目标是充满自信地参赛，并重现她在训练中展现出的状态。

布朗说：“我们不希望大家的关注点仅仅放在结果或名次上。”

“每一场比赛都是阿曼达提升自身水平、展现她和新加坡体操实力的机会。与亚洲一些最优秀的体操运动员，特别是来自中国、日本和韩国的运动员同场竞技，总是令人兴奋。”

索菲亚·里瓦斯（柔术）

柔术高手索菲亚·里瓦斯将在2025年抵达日本，首次亮相亚运会，此前她曾在另一项重要的洲际赛事中取得胜利。

这位 18 岁的选手在 2025 年巴林亚洲青年运动会女子 52 公斤以下级别比赛中获得金牌，这场胜利使她成为新加坡最令人兴奋的年轻武术天才之一。

柔术选手索菲亚·阿纳贝尔·里瓦斯在巴林举行的2025年亚洲青年运动会上比赛。照片：Andy Chua/SNOC

柔术选手索菲亚·阿纳贝尔·里瓦斯在巴林举行的 2025 年亚洲青年运动会上比赛。

照片：Andy Chua/SNOC

这位少女的家族有运动基因。她的母亲阿琳·林曾代表新加坡参加跆拳道比赛，而她的姐姐伊莎贝尔在2022年东南亚运动会女子跆拳道竞技（搏击）46公斤级比赛中获得并列铜牌。

里瓦斯四岁时在母亲的引导下开始接触柔术，她说：“参加完亚洲青年运动会后，我意识到我想把这项运动提升到一个更高的水平。我想更认真地参加比赛，挑战自己，而不仅仅是把它当作爱好。”

“我感到既兴奋又激动，但同时，（即将参加亚运会）也确实有些紧张。我的主要目标就是在赛场上全力以赴，尽自己最大的努力，然后带着这样的信念离开。”

玛丽莎·哈菲赞（空手道）

与里瓦斯一样，20 岁的空手道选手玛丽莎·哈菲赞也希望复制最近获得的金牌佳绩。

她在 2025 年东南亚运动会女子空手道 55 公斤级比赛中获胜，结束了该地区空手道项目 32 年的金牌荒。

2025年12月12日，在曼谷举行的泰国东南亚运动会期间，新加坡选手玛丽莎·哈菲赞在昌瓦塔纳政府大楼举行的空手道女子55公斤级决赛中获胜。（海峡时报资料照片）

2025年12月12日，新加坡选手玛丽莎·哈菲赞在曼谷昌瓦塔纳政府大楼举行的泰国东南亚运动会女子空手道55公斤级决赛中获胜后。

玛丽莎是代表新加坡参赛的三名空手道运动员之一，这是新加坡自 2006 年以来首次派出运动员参加这项运动。

尽管外界对她寄予厚望，但她将这个机会视为一种荣幸，而不是压力来源。

玛丽莎出生于新加坡，现居法国，在法国高等心理学学院（La Grande Ecole de Psychologie）攻读心理学。

“我为自己取得的成就感到自豪，那枚（东南亚运动会金牌）以及它背后的故事将永远是我的一部分，它们值得被完全接受。

“能够参与到这项对我的运动、对我的国家而言意义重大的里程碑事件中，我感到无比荣幸。我希望能够为自己，以及所有相信我们、为我们的故事投入心血的人们带来自豪和喜悦，”她说。

Deepanraj Ganesan 是《海峡时报》的体育记者，主要报道足球、田径、格斗运动和政策相关新闻。