Seven Singapore athletes to look out for at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan

More than 300 athletes will represent Singapore across 27 sports at this year's Asian Games.

Gan Ching Hwee competes during a heat in the women's 1,500m freestyle at the 2024 Olympics, on Jul 30, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (Photo: AP/Bernat Armangue)

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NAGOYA: The continent's top athletes will converge later this week for the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, with a contingent of 304 representing Singapore across 27 sports.

Most of the events at the Sep 19 to Oct 4 meet will take place in Aichi Prefecture, with a number of competitions held elsewhere, including Japan's capital city of Tokyo.

At the last edition of the Games in Hangzhou, Singapore took home 16 medals, with three golds coming from Shanti Pereira (athletics), Maximilian Maeder (kitefoiling), and Ryan Lo (sailing).

Nearly two-thirds of the athletes representing Singapore are making their Asian Games debut. Here are seven to look out for:

1. Gan Ching Hwee (swimming)

CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less Singapore’s best hope of a medal in the pool at the Asiad is likely to be 23-year-old Gan. She holds five individual national records (200m, 400m, 800m and 1,500m freestyle, as well as 400 individual medley), all of which were set in the last 14 months. At the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in July, Gan lowered her own 400m freestyle national record and finished fifth in the final. At the 2025 SEA Games, Gan swept the 200m, 400m, and 800m freestyle events for the third consecutive edition. She has the fourth-fastest 1,500m freestyle time in Asia this year, behind Japan’s Ichika Kajimoto, China’s Li Bingjie and Kajimoto’s compatriot Airi Ebina. Gan is also pencilled in to compete in the 400m and 800m freestyle events.

Singapore’s best hope of a medal in the pool at the Asiad is likely to be 23-year-old Gan.

She holds five individual national records (200m, 400m, 800m and 1,500m freestyle, as well as 400 individual medley), all of which were set in the last 14 months.

At the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in July, Gan lowered her own 400m freestyle national record and finished fifth in the final.

At the 2025 SEA Games, Gan swept the 200m, 400m, and 800m freestyle events for the third consecutive edition.

She has the fourth-fastest 1,500m freestyle time in Asia this year, behind Japan’s Ichika Kajimoto, China’s Li Bingjie and Kajimoto’s compatriot Airi Ebina.

Gan is also pencilled in to compete in the 400m and 800m freestyle events.

2. Ryan Lo (sailing)

A two-time Olympian, Lo will be heading into the Asian Games as the reigning champion in the ILCA7 sailing event.

As a 13-year-old, Lo clinched an Optimist bronze for Singapore at the 2010 Games. Eight years later, he claimed another Asiad bronze, this time in the Laser event (now ILCA7).

But it was at the 2023 Games that he made his breakthrough, winning his first Games gold. There are reasons to be optimistic about his chances of a successful title defence.

Ryan Lo is Asia's top-ranked ILCA7 sailor. (Photo: Singapore Sailing Federation/Stefanus Ian)

At the recent men’s ILCA 7 World Championships, Lo, 29, registered the best finish by a Singaporean male sailor when he placed seventh. He was the best-performing Asian sailor at the meet.

More impressively, he led the fleet earlier in the competition and remained in medal contention all the way until the final day of racing.

3. Amanda Yap (artistic gymnastics)

Despite being just 16, Yap already has an impressive resume.

Last October, she became the first Singaporean gymnast to qualify for a World Championships final, eventually placing sixth on the balance beam.

Two months later, she claimed silver in the same event at the Bangkok SEA Games, ending Singapore's 20-year wait for an individual balance beam medal at the meet.

Most recently, she followed up with another silver at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games – Singapore's first gymnastics medal at the Commonwealth Games since 2014.

Singapore gymnast Amanda Yap at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland on Jul 28, 2026. (Photo: Commonwealth Games Singapore/Lim Weixiang)

Speaking to CNA before the Asiad, Yap said she is hoping to make the balance beam final at her maiden Asian Games.

“I'm just hoping to go into the Asian Games and do my best because I know that the competitors, especially in gymnastics, are really strong,” she said.

“So just being able to compete alongside them will already be such an honour, and hopefully I can get into a final, and I'll just do my best.”

4. Noah Lim (jiu-jitsu)

A student at Nanyang Technological University’s Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Lim is also an accomplished athlete.

A three-time SEA Games gold medallist after wins in 2019, 2022 and 2023, Lim recently won his second straight silver at the Ju-jitsu International Federation World Championships in the men’s ne-waza under-69kg event.

Singapore’s Noah Lim celebrates beating Laos’ Slayman Jedidiah during their Southeast Asian Games jiu-jitsu final match at the Chroy Changvar International Convention and Exhibition Centre on May 6, 2023, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. (Photo: CNA/Jeremy Long)

At the last edition of the Asian Games, the 23-year-old came close to a medal.

First was a loss by one advantage point to South Korea’s Joo Seonghyeon in the quarter-finals of the men’s under-69kg event, and then later in the day, a narrow 0-2 defeat at the hands of Kazakhstan’s Aldiyar Serik in the bronze medal match.

To date, only one Singaporean athlete has clinched a jiu-jitsu medal at the Games, with Constance Lien's historic silver (women's under-62kg event) in 2018.

5. Shanti Pereira (athletics)

An athlete who needs no introduction, Pereira has cemented her status as one of the top sprinters in Asia.

In Hangzhou, she wrote herself into the history books by winning Singapore’s first athletics gold since 1974.

Just days before her 200m triumph, Pereira ended Singapore’s near 50-year wait for an Asiad track and field medal, after she took silver in the 100m.

Singapore's Shanti Pereira in action during her women's 200m heat at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games on Jul 29, 2026. (Photo: SpexSG/Andy Chua)

The 29-year-old comes into the Games in good form. She has the fastest women’s 200m time in Asia this year (22.78s), and the fifth-fastest time in the 100m.

At the Commonwealth Games in July, Pereira made history by becoming the first Singaporean to qualify for an individual sprint final at the Games, eventually finishing eighth in the 200m final.

The goal for Pereira is to finish among the medals in both events, her long-time coach Luis Cunha told CNA.

“She's embracing the pressure, and she wants this pressure,” he added.

6. Shannon Tan (golf)

No golfer from Singapore has ever won a medal at the Asian Games, but one cannot rule out Shannon Tan from making history.

The 22-year-old has enjoyed a strong year, which saw her amass five top-10 finishes at Ladies European Tour events and record a career-best Major finish at the Women's British Open, where she placed joint-sixth.

It comes on the back of a stellar 2025, which saw her win two LET events and the LET Order of Merit.

Singapore's top female golfer Shannon Tan teeing off at the 2025 Amundi German Masters. (Photo: Ladies European Tour)

The world number 60 is part of a six-player squad that will fly the flag at the Kasugai Country Club in Nagoya from Sep 30 to Oct 3.

The competition comprises both individual and team events over four rounds. Individual medals will be awarded to the players with the lowest aggregate scores after 72 holes.

“I’ve been fortunate to represent Singapore on a few big stages, but every time I put on the national colours, it still means a lot. I’m looking forward to competing, enjoying the experience and hopefully making Singapore proud,” said Tan.

7. Camille Spaccarotella (surfing)

Given the lack of natural surf spots in Singapore, Spaccarotella's story is a special one.

The 21-year-old picked up surfing during a family beach holiday a decade ago, and will now make history as Singapore’s first surfer to compete at the Asian Games.

Camille Spaccarotella will make history as Singapore’s first surfer to compete at the Asian Games, marking a new high in a journey that began during a family beach holiday in Bali a decade ago. (Image: CNA)

These days, she spends up to four months a year training in Bali, but also has competed across Asia.

At the competition, which begins on Sep 25, Spaccarotella has her sights set on a medal.

“I do want to have a podium finish. That is my aim for this,” she told CNA.

“But at the same time, I need to also recognise that this is a huge step in my athletic career as well, and I'm just really grateful for that.”

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今年将有超过300名运动员代表新加坡参加亚运会27个体育项目的比赛。

2024年7月30日，在法国楠泰尔举行的2024年冬奥会女子1500米自由泳预赛中，颜清慧正在比赛。（图片：美联社/贝尔纳·阿曼格）

这段音频由人工智能工具生成。

名古屋：本周晚些时候，亚洲顶尖运动员将齐聚日本，参加 2026 年亚运会。新加坡将派出 304 名运动员参加 27 个体育项目的比赛。

9 月 19 日至 10 月 4 日的比赛大部分将在爱知县举行，一些比赛将在其他地方举行，包括日本首都东京。

在杭州举行的上一届运动会上，新加坡获得了 16 枚奖牌，其中三枚金牌分别来自 Shanti Pereira（田径）、Maximilian Maeder（风筝冲浪）和 Ryan Lo（帆船）。

代表新加坡参赛的运动员中，近三分之二是首次参加亚运会。以下七位运动员值得关注：

1. 甘清辉（游泳）

CNA游戏 猜词游戏 逐行破解单词 流行词游戏 用给定的字母组成单词 迷你数独 小谜题，脑力挑战 迷你填字游戏 小方格，大挑战 单词搜索 尽可能多地找出单词 显示更多 显示更少 新加坡在亚运会游泳项目上夺牌的最大希望很可能寄托在23岁的颜宝琨身上。她保持着五项个人全国纪录（200米、400米、800米和1500米自由泳，以及400米个人混合泳），所有这些纪录都是在过去14个月内创造的。在7月份的格拉斯哥英联邦运动会上，颜宝琨刷新了自己保持的400米自由泳全国纪录，并在决赛中获得第五名。在2025年东南亚运动会上，颜宝琨连续第三届包揽了200米、400米和800米自由泳项目的冠军。她今年在亚洲1500米自由泳项目中排名第四，仅次于日本选手梶本一花、中国选手李冰洁和梶本一花的同胞海老名爱梨。甘玉还计划参加400米和800米自由泳比赛。

新加坡在亚运会游泳项目上最有希望获得奖牌的选手可能是23岁的颜金勇。

她保持着五项个人全国纪录（200米、400米、800米和1500米自由泳，以及400米个人混合泳），所有这些纪录都是在过去14个月内创造的。

在7月份的格拉斯哥英联邦运动会上，甘打破了自己保持的400米自由泳全国纪录，并在决赛中获得第五名。

在2025年东南亚运动会上，甘将连续第三届包揽200米、400米和800米自由泳项目的冠军。

今年她在亚洲女子1500米自由泳比赛中排名第四，落后于日本选手梶本一花、中国选手李冰洁和梶本一花的同胞海老名爱理。

甘某还计划参加400米和800米自由泳比赛。

2. Ryan Lo（帆船）

曾两次参加奥运会的罗将以ILCA7帆船项目卫冕冠军的身份参加亚运会。

13 岁时，罗在 2010 年亚运会上为新加坡赢得了一枚乐观级帆船铜牌。八年后，他又在亚运会上获得了一枚铜牌，这次是在激光级帆船（现为 ILCA7）比赛中。

但在2023年奥运会上，他取得了突破，赢得了他的首枚奥运金牌。我们有理由对他成功卫冕抱有乐观态度。

Ryan Lo是亚洲排名第一的ILCA7级帆船运动员。（图片：新加坡帆船协会/Stefanus Ian）

在最近举行的男子ILCA 7级帆船世界锦标赛上，29岁的罗某取得了新加坡男子帆船运动员的最佳成绩，获得第七名。他也是本次比赛中表现最好的亚洲帆船运动员。

更令人印象深刻的是，他在比赛初期就领先全队，并且一直保持着争夺奖牌的希望，直到比赛的最后一天。

3. 阿曼达·叶（竞技体操）

尽管只有16岁，Yap的履历已经相当亮眼。

去年十月，她成为第一位晋级世界体操锦标赛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。

两个月后，她在曼谷东南亚运动会的同一项目中获得了银牌，结束了新加坡在该赛事中20年来在个人平衡木项目上没有获得奖牌的局面。

最近，她在格拉斯哥英联邦运动会上再次获得银牌——这是新加坡自 2014 年以来在英联邦运动会上获得的第一枚体操奖牌。

2026年7月28日，新加坡体操运动员叶曼达在苏格兰格拉斯哥举行的英联邦运动会上。（图片：新加坡英联邦运动会/林伟祥）

在亚运会开赛前接受亚洲新闻台采访时，叶女士表示，她希望在首次参加亚运会的比赛中进入平衡木决赛。

“我只是希望能够参加亚运会，并尽我所能做到最好，因为我知道参赛选手，特别是体操选手，实力都很强，”她说。

“所以能够和他们一起比赛就已经是一种莫大的荣幸了，希望我能进入决赛，我会尽我所能。”

4. 林诺亚（柔术）

林是南洋理工大学李光前医学院的学生，同时也是一名出色的运动员。

林在2019年、2022年和2023年三次获得东南亚运动会金牌，最近在柔术国际联合会世界锦标赛男子寝技69公斤以下级别比赛中连续第二次获得银牌。

2023年5月6日，在柬埔寨金边Chroy Changvar国际会展中心举行的东南亚运动会柔术决赛中，新加坡选手诺亚·林击败老挝选手斯莱曼·杰迪迪亚后庆祝胜利。（图片：CNA/Jeremy Long）

在上一届亚运会上，这位23岁的选手险些获得奖牌。

首先是在男子69公斤以下级四分之一决赛中以一分之差输给了韩国选手朱成铉，随后在当天晚些时候的铜牌争夺战中以0-2惜败于哈萨克斯坦选手阿尔迪亚尔·塞里克。

迄今为止，只有一名新加坡运动员在奥运会柔术项目中获得奖牌，那就是康斯坦斯·连在 2018 年获得的历史性银牌（女子 62 公斤以下级别）。

5. 珊蒂·佩雷拉（田径）

佩雷拉是一位无需介绍的运动员，她已巩固了自己作为亚洲顶尖短跑运动员之一的地位。

在杭州，她为新加坡赢得了自 1974 年以来的第一枚田径金牌，从而名垂青史。

就在她赢得 200 米冠军的前几天，佩雷拉在 100 米比赛中获得银牌，结束了新加坡近 50 年在亚运会田径比赛中无缘奖牌的局面。

2026年7月29日，新加坡选手珊蒂·佩雷拉在格拉斯哥英联邦运动会女子200米预赛中奋力拼搏。（图片：SpexSG/Andy Chua）

这位29岁的选手状态正佳，她拥有今年亚洲女子200米最快成绩（22.78秒），100米成绩排名第五。

在 7 月的英联邦运动会上，佩雷拉创造了历史，成为第一个晋级该运动会个人短跑决赛的新加坡人，最终在 200 米决赛中获得第八名。

佩雷拉的长期教练路易斯·库尼亚告诉CNA，佩雷拉的目标是在两项赛事中都获得奖牌。

“她欣然接受压力，而且她渴望这种压力，”他补充道。

6. 香农·谭（高尔夫）

虽然新加坡高尔夫球手从未在亚运会上获得过奖牌，但也不能排除陈香农创造历史的可能性。

这位 22 岁的球员今年表现出色，在女子欧巡赛中获得了 5 次前 10 名的成绩，并在女子英国公开赛上取得了职业生涯最佳的大满贯成绩，并列第六名。

此前她在 2025 年取得了辉煌的成绩，赢得了两项女子欧巡赛赛事冠军和女子欧巡赛积分榜冠军。

新加坡顶尖女子高尔夫球手陈香农在2025年阿蒙迪德国大师赛上开球。（图片：女子欧巡赛）

世界排名第 60 位的选手是六人参赛队伍中的一员，该队伍将于 9 月 30 日至 10 月 3 日在名古屋春日井乡村俱乐部代表美国队出战。

比赛包括个人赛和团体赛，共进行四轮。72洞比赛结束后，总成绩最低的选手将获得个人奖牌。

“我很荣幸能代表新加坡参加一些大​​型赛事，但每次穿上国服，对我来说都意义非凡。我期待着比赛，享受比赛过程，并希望能够为新加坡争光，”陈先生说道。

7. 卡米尔·斯帕卡罗特拉（冲浪）

鉴于新加坡缺乏天然冲浪地点，斯帕卡罗泰拉的故事就显得格外特别。

这位 21 岁的年轻人十年前在一次家庭海滩度假中开始接触冲浪，如今他将创造历史，成为新加坡首位参加亚运会的冲浪运动员。

卡米尔·斯帕卡罗泰拉将成为新加坡首位参加亚运会的冲浪运动员，创造历史，这也标志着她十年前在巴厘岛与家人度假时开启的冲浪之旅达到了新的高峰。（图片：CNA）

如今，她每年有长达四个月的时间在巴厘岛训练，但也参加过亚洲各地的比赛。

比赛将于9月25日开始，斯帕卡罗泰拉的目标是获得一枚奖牌。

“我的确想登上领奖台。这是我的目标，”她告诉亚洲新闻台。

“但与此同时，我也需要意识到，这对我来说也是运动生涯中的一大步，对此我非常感激。”

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