Asian Games 2026: Team finals an experience to remember for artistic gymnasts

Amanda Yap during the artistic gymnastics women's team final at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games on 23 Sep. Photo: SpexSG/ Jeremy Lee

Emma Yap has spent nearly two decades as a gymnast with a wealth of international competition experience under her belt – including the junior and senior World Championships, Asian Championships, SEA Games and Commonwealth Games.

Emma Yap is the only member of the women's artistic gymnastics women team with prior Asian Games experience. Photo: SpexSG/ Jeremy Lee

But the 21-year-old considers her second Asian Games to be “one of the best competitions” she has had, after a shift in approach ahead of the ongoing Aichi-Nagoya Games.

Yap and teammates Alena Tan, Colleen Hong, Emma Goh and sister Amanda were eighth in the women’s team final with their score of 143.329. Their male counterparts Abdul Barr Abdulattif, Alfonso Tan, Asher Pua, Cameron Pefianco and Kenzu Kang also finished eighth in the final, scoring 200.928.

Emma Yap performs her floor routine during the artistic gymnastics women's team final at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games on 23 Sep. Photo: SpexSG/ Jeremy Lee

Yap, who won a silver in the floor event at the 2025 SEA Games, said of her renewed approach: “I’m the kind of athlete who overthinks a lot, so it’s not just the anxiety of competing because I’ve actually had enough experience. It’s more of maybe a bit of burnout as well; just being in the sport for so long and (it demanding so much) of your body and your mind takes a toll sometimes.

“What changed for me this competition, especially coming back from the Commonwealth Games where I didn’t do very well, I just told myself that there’s nothing to lose, so I should just go out there and enjoy it with my team.”

She is the only gymnast on the women’s team with prior Asiad experience. The Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games were also special for teammate Colleen – it is her first competition after undergoing surgery on her ankle in May.

The 17-year-old, who fractured and tore her ligaments after a bad landing during training, had to relearn how to walk and execute certain skills. She also had to manage the mental aspect of her comeback.

This is Colleen Hong's first competition back following ankle surgery. Photo: SpexSG/ Jeremy Lee

“It was definitely harder than usual because I haven’t competed in a long time. Just being back on the field and competing and performing in front of a crowd was quite different and I had to manage the stress and to not get overexcited,” she explained. “Mentally it was also a bit hard because it’s the feeling that, ‘Oh I haven’t been back in so long, what if it doesn’t go well?’ You just don’t feel secure. It was just a great experience coming back out again after injury and for Asian Games to be my first competition back.”

Compatriot Pua said after the men’s team final that his maiden Asiad has been a “very humbling but eye-opening experience”.

Asher Pua during the artistic gymnastics men's team final at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games on 23 Sep. Photo: SpexSG/ Jeremy Lee

The 20-year-old had a fumble on the horizontal bar when his grip slipped and he could not produce the power required for the skills in the rest of his routine.

"When things like that happen, you just have to move on because it’s a team competition. You don’t only do one apparatus, so you have to keep it in the right mindset and not let it affect you,” said Pua, who clinched a silver in the pommel horse at the SEA Games last year.

“Every competition has different things to take back and reflect on. These Asian Games have been very eye-opening. Last year, the SEA Games was very successful for me especially on the pommel horse but this time I wasn’t able to produce what I can produce. It’s just going back to the drawing board and then working out with my coach what works best and what plans to take moving forward.”

Pua and his teammates enjoyed the lively atmosphere of the final, with the home fans showing up in full force to cheer their team on.

Kang, 20, said: “It did make me slightly more nervous because suddenly when we're halfway, there will be a loud noise or they start screaming. But this is something we have to get used to, if we want to continue competing at a higher level next time. It’s a good experience.”

Abdul Barr Abdulattif enjoyed his first Asian Games outing at the Aichi-Nagoya Games. Photo: SpexSG/ Jeremy Lee

Compatriot Barr agreed, adding: “At the start of the competition we had our falls, but it didn’t really affect us that much. We’re happy to be here and we’re happy to compete in the finals.”

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.