The fifth Asian Para Games open in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on Sunday (18 October), with 20 Singapore athletes entered in nine of the 18 sports. 45 nations compete at the Games, which run until 24 October.
Para sprinter James Ethan Ang, 25, carries the Singapore flag at the opening ceremony. Eight of the 20 athletes are making their Asian Para Games debut.
Two familiar names in new sports
Some of the debuts belong to athletes who have been here before. Jovin Tan, 40, a former Paralympic sailor, competes in boccia. Theresa Goh, 39, who swam at the Paralympics, now goes for a medal in shooting para sport.
Boccia is Singapore’s biggest group, with four athletes. Para swimming also has four, including Danielle Moi and Sophie Soon, and para cycling has three on the road.
The Singapore team
- Para archery: Nur Syahidah Alim
- Para athletics: James Ethan Ang, Muhammad Diroy Noordin
- Para badminton: Tay Wei Ming
- Boccia: Jovin Tan, Jeralyn Tan, Aloysius Gan, Nurulasyiqah Mohammad Taha
- Para cycling (road): Tan Cheng Jui, Muhammad Nur Amsyar Abdemanaf, Sebastian Adrian Tan
- Para judo: Joan Hung
- Para swimming: Sophie Soon, Toh Wei Soong, Wong Zhi Wei, Danielle Moi
- Shooting para sport: Theresa Goh, Chan Han Siong, Surya Mohan Jha
- Para table tennis: Rodrick Li
Who leads the team
Low See Lien, vice-president of the Singapore National Paralympic Council (SNPC), is chef de mission. He held the same role at the 2022 ASEAN Para Games in Solo, Indonesia.
Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo handed the Singapore flag to Low at Gardens by the Bay on 12 September, when the SNPC named the team and Ang as flag bearer.
“To me, it represents the entire Team Singapore contingent, and I am proud to stand with my fellow athletes as we give our best for Singapore,” Ang said then.
Low told CNA the athletes had shown “tremendous commitment and dedication” in their preparation, and that the focus was on making sure every athlete and official was ready for the challenge.
Low also urged Singaporeans to get behind the team, CNA reported. It faces 3,000 para athletes from across Asia before the Games close on 24 October.
