Asian Games 2026: Milestones, resilience and fighting spirit celebrated as Singapore concludes campaign

Singapore concluded the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games with two golds, nine silvers and seven bronzes. Photo: SpexSG/ Andy Chua 

Following numerous breakthrough performances, historic milestones and encouraging displays, Singapore closed out its Asian Games outing with a total medal tally of two golds, nine silvers and seven bronzes.

In addition to the medal haul, there were also 10 national records, 23 personal best and five season-best performances from the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games. Singapore fielded 300 athletes across 26 sports at the Games, which took place from 19 Sep to 4 Oct.

The Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games officially came to a close on 4 Oct. Photo: SpexSG/ Andy Chua

Historic milestones at these Games included Shanti Pereira becoming the first woman to retain the 200m gold, shuttler Loh Kean Yew (silver) and golfer Shannon Tan’s (bronze) historic medals in their respective sports, and swimmer Gan Ching Hwee’s three-silver haul and multiple national records, among others.

Chef de Mission Goh Kee Nguan added: “Beyond the medals and historic milestones, what stood out was the fighting spirit, resilience and determination shown by our athletes. It was particularly encouraging to see our younger athletes rise to the occasion, compete with confidence and deliver strong performances on this major stage.

During a press conference to round up Singapore’s performance at these Games on 4 Oct, Goh also acknowledged the support of athletes’ families and friends, and expressed appreciation to organisers and volunteers of the Aichi-Nagoya Games.

There were 192 Asiad debutants – 64 per cent of the contingent – among the 300 athletes. Singapore officials believe the opportunity to compete against Asia’s best while experiencing the demands of a major Games of this stature will prepare athletes well for future international meets.

(from left) Singapore National Olympic Council secretary-general Mark Chay, Team Singapore Chef de Mission Goh Kee Nguan, High Performance Sport Institute chief Low Jia Ren, Sport Development Group chief Su Chun Wei at a press conference on 4 Oct.Photo: SNOC/ Lim Weixiang

Low Jia Ren, chief of SpexSG’s High Performance Sport Institute, noted that while the internal medal projections and performance benchmarks were met, the main target extends beyond the medal tally.

“At the end of the day, why do we invest in high-performance sport? It is to allow athletes to do well, so that they can inspire the nation. It is the stories of athletes, the journeys that they took and the performance that they deliver when the crunch comes, when they are on the competitive field. That’s what we are gunning for, and that is the target that all of us want to go for,” added Low.

Young athletes have also impressed at these Games – three of Singapore’s four sailing medals were secured by teenagers, while several young swimmers recorded numerous personal bests at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre. As these athletes are rightly celebrated for their outstanding performances, Low also sought to provide assurance that athletes will be supported throughout the various stages of their sporting journeys.

Referring to resources such as the HPSI’s Athlete Life Management team and the spexEducation Undergaduate Scholarship, the former national basketball captain acknowledged that athletes are driven by passion for their sport and the desire for excellence.

For someone to choose a career as a full-time athlete, or even a national athlete who is (training) part-time, it takes a lot of commitment and dedication to do this day in and day out for many years, especially if you’re working and training at the same time,” he said.

“But it is a choice that some of our athletes have made and as HPSI and the system beyond that, we want to support and honour it. What we want moving forward is to give all our athletes peace of mind, (so that they can say) that ‘Sport is a viable career and it is an attractive career, and I want to commit to the journey around this because the support around this has improved over the years. And I’m confident that I can have a good career even as I retire later’.”

The 20th Asian Games officially concluded on 4 Oct with a mesmerising closing ceremony that celebrated the admirable displays of sporting excellence and fighting spirit over the past two weeks.

Singapore was represented by 91 athletes and officials at the closing ceremony of the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games on 4 Oct. Photo: SpexSG/ Andy Chua

There were performances that paid tribute to the efforts of the 11,000 athletes from 45 participating nations. The Games torch was then handed to Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, with Doha to host the next edition in 2030.

Team Singapore Chef de Mission Goh Kee Nguan and assistant Chefs de Mission Aleksandar Duric and Fariza Zabir were among the 91-strong Singapore contingent at the closing ceremony of the 2026 Asian Games on 4 Oct. Photo: SNOC/ Terence Tan

A dazzling light show, costumes adorned with well-known Japanese elements, and a video capturing memorable moments from the Games added to the joyous atmosphere at the Paloma Mizuho Stadium. The ceremony ended with an upbeat song and dance segment featuring songs with ties to Aichi and Nagoya.

A performance in which dancers wore costumes with cherry blossom prints at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games closing ceremony. Photo: SNOC/ Terence Tan

Singapore was represented by 91 athletes and officials, with men’s rugby captain Marah Ishraf the flagbearer.

Men's rugby captain Marah Ishraf was Singapore's flagbearer at the closing ceremony of the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games on 4 Oct. Photo: SNOC/ Terence Tan

“It’s truly an honour and privilege to be nominated as the flag bearer for the Singapore contingent. A moment I’ll cherish for the rest of my life,” said the 32-year-old. “I am not only representing rugby but all sports in Singapore, and this will be one of the greatest honours of my sporting journey. This Asian Games has been an unforgettable experience.

“Grateful for this opportunity and for my family’s unwavering support. I can’t wait to return home and share these memories with my kids.”

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.