Youth Olympic Games 2026: Ng Zhe Nin laughs off nerves on first day of wushu competition

Ng Zhe Nin scored 9.300 points in the women's taijiquan combined preliminary round taijishan on 1 Nov at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. Photo: OIS/ Felix Diemer

Ng Zhe Nin was a picture of calm as she took to the stage at the Youth Olympic Games on 1 Nov, her resolute expression unwavering as she performed a taijishan routine that propelled her to the top of the rankings of the women’s taijiquan combined preliminary round.

The wushu exponent’s collected performance at the Dakar Expo Center was the result of having successfully quelled her pre-competition nerves through her go-to “reset move”: Laughing it out.

“I always laugh it out when I’m nervous. Like, I go, ‘hehe, haha’,” said Ng, shrugging her shoulders up and down by way of explanation.

“I was actually really nervous before the competition because a lot of mishaps happened when I was doing my make-up and hair, like my blush became too pink … but I managed to calm myself down and laugh it out.”

Ng Zhe Nin will return for the women's taijiquan combined preliminary round taijiquan on 2 Nov. Photo: OIS/ Felix Diemer

Wushu is making its first appearance at the Youth Olympic Games, and Ng is honoured to be a part of this milestone.

She said: “I want to do my best and make my country and my family and myself proud. “I’m still learning how to approach (performing taolu) but for now, I just tell myself that it’s a performance and you are letting the audience immerse themselves in what you do.”

The taijiquan combined event is one of two events at the Dakar 2026 wushu taolu programme, which is held at DEX Pavillon C at the Dakar Expo Center. Each participant of the taijiquan combined event will perform two routines – taijishan and taijiquan. Scores from both routines will be combined to determine final placings. The top eight athletes from the preliminary round progress to the final.

Ng, who started wushu at age 10 at Pasir Ris Community Club, considers herself lucky to be at the “perfect age” to compete at the Youth Olympic Games.

“It’s really a big milestone for the sport, because usually more Asian people do this sport. Now that it’s in the Olympics, it’s a really huge platform for us,” added the 16-year-old.

Ng Zhe Nin performing her routine during the World Junior Wushu Championships in March. Photo: 武缘堂 (Wuyuantang)

She has won multiple medals at the World Junior Wushu Championships in recent years – two golds and a silver from the most recent edition in China, and one gold and one silver during her first outing in 2024. These experiences have aided her preparations for the Dakar Games, as her competitors are familiar faces.

Her game plan for the taijiquan on 2 Nov is straightforward: “Just do what I always do, and just tell myself that it’s the same as normal training.”

Paddler Loy Ming Ying will face Tunisian Ela Saidi in her final match of the women's singles preliminary round on 2 Nov. Photo courtesy of Loy Ming Ying

Compatriot Loy Ming Ying was also in action nearby at DEX Pavillon A, where the table tennis competition took place. In the women’s singles preliminary rounds, the 16-year-old recorded a 3-1 (11-3, 9-11, 11-3, 11-3) triumph in her opening match against Australia’s Daisy Xie. Loy’s second match was a tougher contest – she put up a close fight before eventually falling 3-2 (12-10, 6-11, 6-11, 11-5, 6-11) to South Korean Heo Yerim. She will face Ela Saidi of Tunisia in her final Group 7 match on 2 Nov.

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.