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Men's sabre medallists (from left to right) Aibar Kaiym of Kazakhstan, Candeniz Berrak of Turkey and Ashton Auw of Singapore at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. Photo: OIS/Will Palmer
Ashton Auw won Singapore’s first fencing medal at the Youth Olympic Games after defeating Giorgi Urushadze of Georgia 15-10 to take bronze in the men’s sabre event on 13 Nov.
The 17-year-old Singaporean had cruised through the pool stage undefeated and was top seed entering the elimination rounds at the Dakar Expo Center. He beat Hayder Al-Asadi of Iraq 15-11 in the quarter-finals before succumbing to world No. 2 Aibar Kaiym of Kazakhstan 13-15 in a closely-fought semi-final.
His triumph over world No. 6 Urushadze in the bronze medal match marks Singapore’s third medal of Dakar 2026, after wushu exponent Ng Zhe Nin took gold and paddler Loy Ming Ying clinched silver earlier during the Games.
Ashton Auw celebrates after winning the bronze medal match at the Youth Olympic Games on 13 Nov. Photo: OIS/Will Palmer
World No. 22 Auw had taken a leave of absence from school to focus on training for these Games and other major competitions.
“I’ve been training a lot this year and it’s been a good run today. Even though (in) my previous competitions (I didn’t get) the results I was hoping for, I had to tell myself it’s not over and to focus on the next competition,” said the Singapore Sports School student.
“It’s really great (to win Singapore’s first fencing medal at the Youth Olympic Games). I really hope that this is just a stepping stone and that future Singaporean fencers can do better than me in overseas competitions.”
Ashton Auw's bronze in the men's sabre is Singapore's first fencing medal at the Youth Olympic Games. Photo: OIS/Will Palmer
Kaiym was one of the fencers Auw had overcome in the pool stage, and he admitted he had been “holding on to that semi-final bout a bit” before the bronze medal match.
“I was just trying to think of the mistakes I made and how I can exploit that for the next opponent. I told myself that in this competition, there is no one that I cannot win and I went in with the mentality of going one point at a time, one bout at a time. I just kept telling myself that I want this so bad and I just gotta focus on myself and what I want to do,” said the Singaporean, who fell to his knees and elicited a triumphant roar after scoring the winning point.
Ashton Auw reacts after winning the bronze medal match at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games on 13 Nov. Photo: OIS/Will Palmer
Auw, an wushu athlete in primary school, believes some of those skills have transferred well to fencing: explosiveness, balance and a persistent mindset.
Off the piste, he has enjoyed making friends with other athletes from Team Singapore and around the world.
He added: “This is definitely a stepping stone to help keep my confidence there so that I don’t lose it so easily. It’s a reminder to keep on fighting and striving for even greater results.”
Singapore concludes the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games with one gold, one silver and one bronze.
These Games are the first time an Olympic sporting event is taking place in Africa, and over 2,600 athletes aged 14 to 17 competed in 25 sports.
Singapore was represented by 14 athletes across nine sports – archery, athletics, badminton, 3x3 basketball, fencing, artistic gymnastics, sailing, table tennis and wushu.
For Team Singapore Chef de Mission Silas Abdul Razak Noor Shah, who was a torchbearer at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in 2010, his Dakar 2026 experience has been “10 out of 10”.
“It was heartening to see the quality of young athletes we have in Singapore and how well they have started out in their sporting careers. We should do our best to support, guide and help them along their journeys. The YOG is a good stepping stone for them, and I hope they can go on to achieve their aspirations, inspire other young athletes and show that there is a pathway for those who want to pursue sport, with the right support around them,” he said.
"Having competed as an athlete myself, I remember the kind of support I appreciated from my coaches, team managers and support staff. I tried to put myself in the athletes' shoes, spend time with them, have conversations and understand what they needed. Sometimes, it is simply about making them feel comfortable, encouraging them to focus on what they can control and reminding them to take things one step at a time.”
Beyond the competition arenas, many of Singapore’s Dakar 2026 participants named the new friendships formed and Olympic village experience as highlights from their time here.
Men's sabre bronze medallist Ashton Auw (right) takes a photo with fellow medallists at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. Photo: OIS/Will Palmer
Singapore National Olympic Council secretary-general Mark Chay said the impact of these Games extends beyond the competition arena. He also expressed pride at the way the Singapore athletes rose to the challenge of competing among the world’s best young athletes while embracing the spirit of the Games.
“Their performances reflect not only their competitive drive, but also the courage to challenge themselves and the joy of being part of this global sporting community. These Games have the power to inspire young athletes to dream bigger, challenge themselves and pursue their aspirations. Just as importantly, the experiences they gain and the friendships they build can inspire others who follow their journeys,” he added.
"In today's world, where divisions and uncertainty often dominate the headlines, the opportunity for young people from different countries, cultures and backgrounds to come together, understand one another and celebrate what unites us is more important than ever. This is the enduring value of the YOG, and we hope our athletes carry the Olympic spirit with them as they continue their sporting journeys and inspire the next generation."
The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games takes place from 31 October to 13 November 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.
