Leong put up a commendable display on her Games debut, finishing joint-fifth out of 16. Photo: SNOC/ Kong Chong Yew
Singapore karateka Shannon Leong came agonisingly close to a debut Asian Games medal when she lost to Vietnam’s Bui Ngoc Nhi in the women’s kata bronze medal bout on Sunday (Sep 20) morning.
At the Toyohashi Gymnasium, Leong cruised to the latter stages of the 16-man bracket, dispatching Cambodia’s That Chhenghorng 4-1 and Macau’s Chu On Kei 4-1, before facing world No.2 and home favourite Maho Ono in the semi-final.
She lost 5-0 to the Japanese before progressing to the bronze medal bout, where she was beaten 4-1 by Bui.
Still, it was a debut to remember for the karateka, who last year had to juggle her Master’s in Exercise and Sport Studies while competing on the World Karate Federation’s professional circuit.
“Competing in a major Games has been my dream since 2015. To finally get here and come this close to a medal, I can't describe the feeling other than being extremely happy just to be here, donning the flag, and representing Singapore.”
“I gave it my all and am very happy with my performance today. It was my first time facing Maho (Japan) head-on, so I was glad to have the opportunity to match up against her and see where I currently stand. I’m really happy with my scores against her,” said world No.39 Leong.
Despite missing out on a podium finish, the 27-year-old soaked in the atmosphere of her first Games, with the national karate squad making its first appearance at the Asiad since 2006.
“It was exhilarating to be on such a large stage and to reach my first bronze medal match here. I loved the atmosphere, and the crowd was amazing.”
To prepare for her debut, Leong went to great lengths, travelling to Okinawa, the birthplace of karate, for a week-long training camp.
There, she trained alongside former Olympic champion Ryo Kiyuna, Brazil’s three-time South American champion Leticia Cardoso and seven-time world champion and Japan’s Olympic coach Tsuguo Sakumoto.
“Training camps in Okinawa always teach me something new about myself and help me improve in so many ways. This time was no different-it really helped me feel confident in my abilities.”
It marked a busy season for Leong, who made her Karate One Premier League debut in Rome in March before competing on the next stop in Leshan.
While training six days a week, Leong also had to balance her preparations for the Games with rehabilitation for a knee strain she suffered at the Asian Championships in Bali in June.
There, she narrowly missed out on a top-eight finish after losing to Iran’s eventual bronze medallist Fatemeh Sadeghi.
“My main takeaway is to stay the course, keep training the way I have been, and remain confident in what I can achieve. I feel like I have definitely improved a lot, and I’m excited to keep building on that for these upcoming competitions.”
Next up for Leong is her third Karate One Series A event of the year in Salzburg next month, in hopes of making a surge up the ranking charts, before December’s Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Riyadh.
The 20th Asian Games are held in Japan from 19 September to 4 October 2026. For the latest Team Singapore coverage and news, follow Team Singapore on their social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok) or visit the official Team Singapore website.