Bahrain 2025: 23 Oct Highlights

Team Singapore athletes continued to display determination and spirit on their second day of competition at the Asian Youth Games, with 12 athletes representing the nation across five sports — triathlon, golf, taekwondo, athletics, and equestrian.

In the Triathlon Individual Super Sprint event, athletes completed a 400m swim, 10km bike ride, and 2.5km run — a demanding combination that tested both physical endurance and mental focus. In the Boys’ Final, Chan Chi-Onn Ethan and Caleb Joel Barter finished back-to-back, placing 23rd and 24th respectively out of 39 athletes. Ethan crossed the line in 30:41, while Caleb followed closely with 30:55. In the Girls’ Final, Nur Isabella Schiering finished 14th with a time of 34:20, and Jemma Hadden came in 17th at 36:34 among 24 competitors.

Over at the Royal Golf Club, Riffa Views, Team Singapore’s golfers began their campaign with strong performances. In the Boys’ Individual event, Kwong Ching Yat Bruce carded a 76 (4 over par) to finish joint 22nd out of 51 athletes. Over in the Girls’ Individual event, Guo Jun Xi impressed with a 66 (6 under par), placing her joint 3rd out of 31 competitors after Round 1. Both golfers will look to build on their momentum when Round 2 tees off on 24 October.

Kwong Ching Yat Bruce gets the ball out of the sand. Photo: Andy Chua/SNOC

In Taekwondo, Koh En Qi Gwen showcased determination in the Girls’ Individual Recognised Poomsae Round of 16, where she faced Iran’s Zeinab Shahriari. Despite a valiant effort, Gwen fell narrowly short, scoring 8.13 to Shahriari’s 8.40 — a difference of just 0.27 points.

The track came alive at the Bahrain National Stadium, where Team Singapore’s sprinters delivered spirited performances. In the Girls’ 100m, Caitlin Ng Shan Wen twice bettered her personal record — first clocking 12.42 seconds (13th out of 26) in Round 1, then improving to 12.36 seconds (13th out of 16) in the semifinals. Teammate Tan Ying Tong Shannon also ran well, qualifying for the semifinals with a time of 12.53 seconds (15th out of 26) before improving slightly to 12.33 seconds (12th out of 16). The two girls showed consistency and composure against a strong field of sprinters there. In the Boys’ 400m, Sean Russell Tay impressed with a new personal best of 49.84 seconds, placing 8th out of 15 and earning a spot in the Final on 24 October.

Rounding off the day, Team Singapore’s equestrian athletes took on the Show Jumping Individual Team Competition, where precision, speed, and control were key. Faults were incurred for exceeding time limits, knocking down bars, or refusals to jump, while multiple refusals led to elimination. Representing Singapore were Bonehill Yasmine Isabelle (with horse Winnipeg) and Chiara Mei Corbi (with horse Heavenly Star). Despite elimination, both of them rode the course with speed and grace. They will return to compete in the Jumping Individual Finals on 26 October.

Bonehill Yasmine Isabelle attempting to complete the course. Photo: Andy Chua/SNOC

As competition intensifies, Team Singapore continues to demonstrate resilience, teamwork, and national pride. With several events still to come, including the Boys’ 400m Final and Golf Round 2, the athletes are determined to keep their momentum going strong.