Singapore Athletes Shine at 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar
Singapore secures gold and silver medals as young athletes compete in Senegal.
1Historic Dakar Games
The 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, represent a milestone as the first Olympic event held on African soil. Running from October 31 to November 13, the competition features over 2,600 athletes aged 14 to 17. Singapore has sent a contingent of 14 athletes competing across nine different sporting disciplines.
2Wushu Gold Success
Sixteen-year-old Ng Zhe Nin secured Singapore's first gold medal of the Games with a combined score of 18.713 points. She dominated the taijishan and taijiquan routines to claim the top spot. This victory is particularly significant as it marks the first time wushu has been included as an official medal sport.
3Table Tennis Milestone
Loy Ming Ying earned a silver medal in women's singles table tennis after a hard-fought final against Chinese Taipei’s Chen Min-hsin. This achievement marks Singapore's second medal in the sport at the Youth Olympics, following Isabelle Li’s silver in 2010. The Singapore Table Tennis Association praised her resilience and fighting spirit.
4Archery Advancement
Seventeen-year-old archer Tabitha Yeo successfully advanced in the women’s individual elimination round after defeating New Zealand’s Ella Yang 6-0. The SEA Games gold medalist remains focused on her next challenge against Mexico’s Maya Casas Lara. Yeo emphasizes that she approaches every elimination match with a mindset of doing her absolute best.
5Mixed Team Results
While some athletes excelled, others faced tough competition in Dakar. The men’s 3x3 basketball team was eliminated after losses to Puerto Rico and Latvia in Pool C. Additionally, badminton player Zack Ng secured a group stage win against Venezuela but was unable to overcome Thailand’s Punnatat Prempunpong in his subsequent match.
6Upcoming Gymnastics Action
Emmanuelle Tan, the 14-year-old national junior champion, is set to compete in the women's artistic gymnastics qualification round. Tan previously dominated the Singapore Gymnastics National Championships in March, where she secured four gold medals. Her performance in Dakar will be a critical test against elite international peers in her age group.
7Windsurfing and Hurdles
Rising windsurfers Trevor Ng and Kate Teo are preparing to take to the water for their respective events. Meanwhile, 17-year-old Daryen Ko will represent Singapore in the men’s 400m hurdles on Monday. These athletes are part of a broader effort to gain international experience across a diverse range of Olympic sports.
8Final Days Outlook
With five days of competition remaining, Singapore’s focus shifts to the final events. Fencer Ashton Auw is scheduled to compete in the men’s sabre on Friday, the closing day of the Games. Auw brings experience from the 2025 FIE Cadet World Cup, where he previously secured a silver medal for his country.
Original article: CNA – Singapore — Singapore Athletes Shine at 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar