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(from left to right) Team Singapore Chef de Mission Silas Abdul Razak, physiotherapists Suelyn Chan and Kelvin Ng, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Culture, Community & Youth and Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment Goh Hanyan, chief medical officer Benny Loo, dietitian Huang Liyan and Singapore National Olympic Council secretary-general Mark Chay. Photo: Singapore National Olympic Council
Singapore’s Dakar 2026 athletes may each enter the field of play alone – or with their teammates, for the 3x3 basketball team – but it is hardly a lonely experience.
The 14-strong contingent are backed by a team who not only protects their bodies, but also lifts their spirits: Chief medical officer Benny Loo, physiotherapists Kelvin Ng and Suelyn Chan, and dietitian Huang Liyan.
Loo, a senior consultant paediatrician specialising in sport and exercise medicine at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, is a father of three who treats school athletes through his daily practice as well. The 43-year-old was also part of the medical team last year for the Asian Youth Games in Bahrain and Asean School Games.
“I have many experiences of talking to the young athletes in my clinic, so I roughly know what they talk about or the common stresses they feel coming to the Games. Beyond bodily health, it’s also about mental health to make sure they are not too nervous,” he added.
In Dakar, he is roommates with Chef de Mission Silas Abdul Razak and physiotherapist Ng, whose major Games stints include 2015 Asean Para Games, several iterations of the SEA Games and 2024 Olympic Games.
Physiotherapist Kelvin Ng (left) with Chef de Mission Silas Abdul Razak (centre) and chief medical officer Benny Loo at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. Photo: Courtesy of Kelvin Ng
Dakar 2026 is Ng’s second Youth Olympic Games stint – the 39-year-old was a volunteer at the 2010 edition in Singapore, when he was a physiotheraphy student. He was then based in a local polyclinic, where he served overseas athletes who came in with injuries.
Echoing Loo’s sentiments about ensuring athletes’ psychological wellbeing, he said: “Some of the athletes are very young in their careers, so they are a bit overwhelmed by the grandness of the competition venue, so we reassure them. For us as medical and sports science support staff, we just try to talk to them and distract them a little bit so that they are not so hyper-focused on their nerves.
“Out of competition, we try to sit with the athletes at meals and try to get to know them a bit better. Staying here in a foreign country, everything is new and they are away from family. There is a lot going on in their minds as well and we just want to make sure that they have more familiar faces around.”
These interactions help with building rapport and alleviating the jitters, and also play an important role in instilling good recovery habits in young athletes early in their careers.
He referred to the 3x3 basketball team’s outing on 7 Nov, when Singapore played two games that were about four hours apart.
“They are very young and they didn’t have a set routine on how to recover for the second game, so Liyan and I provided some tips and advice on what they should be doing at certain times so that they could recover better,” added Ng, who also advised the boys to do basic stretches and foam rolling before their second match.
“At a major Games like this, we don’t want to do too much by giving athletes too many new things that they are not used to. They are already overwhelmed, and giving them more stimulus is not exactly great as well.”
The sport science support team works closely with the secretariat from the Singapore National Olympic Council to ensure that athletes are supported in every aspect before and during the Games. Preparation began months before arrival in Dakar. For Loo, this meant identifying the necessary pre-trip vaccinations, monitoring the Ebola situation in Africa, and making medical recommendations to officials and athletes, among other duties. Prior to the Games, athletes are also tasked with filling up an online form detailing any allergies or medications, as well as their supplement intake.
Dietitian Huang noted that while most senior athletes have some experience with what to eat to fuel themselves for performance and recovery, this is not always the case with youth athletes.
The 43-year-old, Sport Singapore's team lead for sport nutrition, has advised most of the Singapore athletes here in Dakar. Describing part of her support as “doing small small things to help them recover”, such as making Milo for paddler Loy Ming Ying and the basketball players, she pointed out that an important part of her work is about being sensitive to sentiments.
“When you work with athletes, you must be very mindful of where their energy is at. We always have the best intentions but when they’re not ready for that change, we don’t push,” said Huang.
“At the competition, you have to be very careful about what you say because you don’t want to trigger any negative thoughts … food is a very personal thing, and nobody likes to be told they’re not eating correctly.”
For the most part, the athletes and coaches have been receptive to her recommendations.
For example, the basketball players and coaches sought her out for further advice after their last game, with the latter asking for simple ways that young athletes could remember her tips.
3x3 basketball captain Fred Leow (right) said nutritionist Huang Liyan's guidance after their first match was instrumental in aiding their recovery before their second game on the same day. Photo: OIS/ Jonathan Nackstrand
“The players queued up after the second game, like seeking consultation, and all saying they wanted to know more about certain things … (such as) how to build muscle while being a vegetarian,” said Huang. “I feel appreciated, because a lot of kids at this age think they’re invincible.
“There is this saying among sport nutritionists in general that when nutrition is poor, its effects can show very quickly. But if a person eats well, they don’t feel that nutrition is something that impairs or enhances their performance … it’s something in the background and easy to forget, so it’s important to instill the habit from a young age.”
Team Singapore nutritionist Huang Liyan (in cap) with athletes at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. Photo: Courtesy of Huang Liyan
Huang and her colleagues’ efforts have certainly been appreciated by Singapore’s Youth Olympians in Dakar.
Sailor Trevor Ng, describing Huang’s presence on site at the windsurfing competition as a “huge sense of reassurance”, said: “Having support from the shores is a big difference and huge help in our recovery after, and preparation before with salts and bars. And a sense of safety knowing that someone is looking out for me as I compete is a nice feeling especially as they tolerate the heat at the (venue) just to support us.”
Sailors Kate Teo (left) and Trevor Ng refuelling on the first day of their windsurfing races at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. Photo: Courtesy of Huang Liyan
His teammate Kate Teo, who is competing in the women’s event, added: “I usually never hydrate or eat enough before a race, so it was funny to have someone reminding me to eat and drink water. I don’t carry much water on me or any snacks, so I’m usually pretty much dehydrated all the time. It does remind me that people are rooting for me and wish me all the best.”
Track and field athlete Daryen Ko sees these acts as a gesture of love.
Team Singapore physiotherapist Kelvin Ng (left) with track and field athlete Daryen Ko at the Youth Olympic Games. Photo: Courtesy of Benny Loo
“That’s how meaningful it is when someone checks in on you – when our doctor tells us to take our malaria pills, or when our nutritionist gave me those hydration tablets,” said the 17-year-old, who set a national Under-18 record in his 400m hurdles final.
“I guess (these are) rather simple hardwares that ChatGPT can tell us as well, but the whole team coming out here and telling us to our faces just reminds us that they’re here for us. There’s that sense of love that makes it so fulfilling, it makes me so inspired to channel that elsewhere. They’re really good role models for us.”
This affection flows both ways. For doctor Loo, the most important advice he has dispensed to these young athletes is not medical in nature.
“I told all the youth athletes here that I’m already very proud of them for being able to represent Singapore and to compete at the Youth Olympic Games, regardless of the results,” he said. “It’s not easy for them to reach this level, so this is just for them to enjoy the moment. Regardless of the result, many of us are already very proud of them.”
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.
