Flagbearers Gan and Singh at the head of the contingent during the Parade of Nations. Photo: Commonwealth Games Singapore/ Lim Weixiang
The wait is over for Singapore's athletes as the 23rd edition of the Commonwealth Games officially got underway on Thursday (July 23, Glasgow time), with around 3,000 competitors from 74 nations and territories gathering in Glasgow for the opening ceremony as the King's Baton Relay reached its final destination at the OVO Hydro.
Like Finnie, the unicorn mascot of the 2026 Games, this edition has required a touch of magic to come to life. After Australia's Victoria state's eleventh-hour withdrawal as host, Glasgow stepped in to take the reins just 12 years after it last held them.
Now, Singapore's 53-strong contingent — competing across seven sports and nine disciplines, including athletics, 3x3 basketball, track cycling, artistic gymnastics, bowls, para-bowls, swimming, para-swimming and weightlifting — arrives in the Scottish city determined to make its mark as the Republic begins its 18th appearance at the multi-sport event.
Tan (left) and Cheo opened the campaign in the women's pair event. Photo: Commonwealth Games Singapore/ Lim Weixiang
The team had already begun its campaign on opening day, when Harriman Yuen, Cheo Ai Lin and Janice Tan got the ball rolling in the bowls men's singles and women's pairs, respectively.
Cheo and Tan started brightly with a 2-0 lead in the first end of their pool match against Northern Ireland’s Chloe Wilson and Shauna O’Neill but eventually fell 2-0 (8-4, 5-2) while 2026 Asian Lawn Bowls Championship bronze-medallist Yuen lost 2-0 (9-0, 7-4) to South Africa’s Wayne Rittmuller.
In the evening, 28 Team Singapore officials and athletes marched into the OVO Hydro, including flag bearers Gan Ching Hwee, the Republic’s long-distance swimming star, and para-bowls world championship medallist Mawjit Singh.
They were accompanied by chef de mission Lau Kok Keng and assistant chef de mission Terry Tay, a former national gymnast and Commonwealth Youth Games vault bronze medallist who now sits on the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) Athletes’ Advisory Commission as Asia representative.
Gan, whose Games debut completes her full set of appearances across the five major multi-sport Games (the SEA Games, Youth Olympic Games, Asian Games and Olympic Games), said she was honoured to be selected as one of Singapore’s two flag bearers.
“It’s an incredible honour to be carrying the flag for the first time at the Opening Ceremony with Mawjit. It’s a moment I’ve been looking forward to for a long time. Being entrusted with the flag comes with a great sense of pride and responsibility, because you’re leading the team at such an important moment, and it’s a role I don’t take lightly. ”
Meanwhile, the prestigious appointment has spurred Singh on.
“I’m very honoured. To be given the task of carrying the Singapore flag makes me very proud, but I also want to live up to it. I want to win something,” said the 62-year-old during the Games' flag presentation ceremony.
At the last edition, Singapore returned home with 12 medals — four of each colour — but faces a different challenge this time, with traditional medal-producing sports such as badminton, table tennis and shooting omitted from a pared-down 10-sport programme.
The two racket sports accounted for 10 of Singapore’s 12 medals at the previous Games. Table tennis, in particular, has been the Republic’s biggest contributor, delivering 57 medals since the sport was introduced to the programme in 2002.
But the leaner programme could also provide the stage for seasoned campaigners and emerging talents to rise to the occasion.
At the Tollcross International Swimming Centre, speedster Teong Tzen Wei will look to return to the podium after a successful debut silver in the men’s 50m butterfly four years ago.
Paralympian Toh Wei Soong will also be seeking to build on his two previous appearances, having won bronze in the men’s 50m freestyle S7 on his debut at Gold Coast 2018 before improving to silver at Birmingham 2022.
“I have gotten a bronze and a silver in my last two Commonwealth Games, so I’m looking to make it a third medal, hopefully a gold. That would be a great way to end my Commonwealth Games experience,” said Toh.
Over at the SEC Centre, 3x3 basketball, which will be making its second appearance at the Games after its introduction in 2022, could offer Team Singapore an outside shot at a podium spot.
Although the field has expanded from eight to 12 teams, the steadily improving men’s and women’s national sides could prove capable of an upset in the unpredictable, high-octane format. The world No. 26 men’s team enters as the second seed behind New Zealand, while the world No. 23 women’s team is also seeded second, behind Australia.
The second day of competition (July 24) sees Team Singapore in action in artistic gymnastics, swimming, and para swimming.
The 23rd Commonwealth Games are held in Glasgow from 23 July to 2 August 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.