SINGAPORE — Team Singapore will send 20 para athletes across nine sports to the 2026 Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with eight members set to make their Asian Para Games debut when the continental competition begins next month.
The fifth Asian Para Games will run from October 18 to 24, 2026, bringing together about 3,000 athletes from 45 National Paralympic Committees who will compete across 18 Para sports.
For Singapore, the Games represent another major opportunity for its para athletes to compete against Asia’s best—and for several established names, a chance to prove themselves in unfamiliar disciplines.
James Ethan Ang named Singapore’s flag bearer
Para athletics athlete James Ethan Ang, 25, has been selected as Singapore’s flag bearer for the opening ceremony.
Ang, who competes in para athletics, said carrying the national flag would be an honour and that he was proud to represent the entire Singapore contingent.
His selection adds another significant chapter to a career that has already included international success.
Ang won silver medals in the men’s T13 200m and 400m at the 2023 ASEAN Para Games in Cambodia, according to the Goh Chok Tong Enable Awards profile.
Now he will lead Singapore into the opening ceremony in Aichi-Nagoya before competing on the track.
Two Paralympians are taking on new sports
Among the most intriguing stories in the Singapore delegation are Jovin Tan and Theresa Goh, two experienced Paralympians who are returning to major international competition in different sports.
Tan, 40, is moving from his former Paralympic discipline of sailing into boccia.
The four-time Paralympian turned to boccia after sailing was removed from the Paralympic programme. He subsequently won the men’s BC1 individual gold at the 2025 ASEAN Para Games in Thailand.
Goh, 39, has made an equally dramatic switch.
The former Paralympic swimmer is now competing in shooting para sport, having already demonstrated her potential by winning gold in the women’s P2 10m air pistol SH1 at the 2025 ASEAN Para Games. She also won silver in the mixed team P6 10m air pistol SH1.
Her return to competition in a different sport has become one of the most compelling stories in Singapore’s para-sport programme.
Nine sports, 20 athletes
Singapore’s delegation will compete in:
- Para archery
- Para athletics
- Para badminton
- Boccia
- Para cycling — road
- Para judo
- Para swimming
- Shooting para sport
- Para table tennis
The 20 athletes selected are Nur Syahidah Alim, James Ethan Ang, Muhammad Diroy Noordin, Tay Wei Ming, Jovin Tan, Jeralyn Tan, Aloysius Gan, Nurulasyiqah Mohammad Taha, Tan Cheng Jui, Muhammad Nur Amsyar Abdemanaf, Sebastian Adrian Tan, Joan Hung, Sophie Soon, Toh Wei Soong, Wong Zhi Wei, Danielle Moi, Theresa Goh, Chan Han Siong, Surya Mohan Jha and Rodrick Li.
Eight of them will be making their Asian Para Games debut, although some are experienced international competitors returning to the continental stage in a different sport.
Toh Wei Soong leads a strong swimming group
Among Singapore’s established para-sport names is swimmer Toh Wei Soong, who enters the Games with significant recent success.
At the 2025 ASEAN Para Games, Toh won three gold medals, earning the largest individual payout at Singapore’s Athlete Achievement Awards for the event.
The Singapore National Paralympic Council said the 2026 Games contingent reflects the continued development of Singapore’s para athletes and their preparation for another major international challenge.
Singapore’s recent para-sport momentum
The squad heads to Japan following encouraging performances at the 2025 ASEAN Para Games.
Singapore’s para athletes produced a strong medal haul in Thailand, while the country’s 12-athlete contingent at the 2025 Asian Youth Para Games also won two golds, six silvers and four bronzes.
The recent results have helped build momentum heading into Aichi-Nagoya.
But the Asian Para Games represent a considerably tougher continental test, bringing together leading athletes from across Asia.
A bigger Games than ever for the region
The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games will be the fifth edition of the continental event.
The Asian Paralympic Committee says approximately 3,000 athletes from 45 National Paralympic Committees will compete across 18 Para sports at 19 competition venues.
Organisers have already completed their final major coordination preparations, covering athlete services, accessibility, transportation, medical services, classification, accommodation and anti-doping operations.
That preparation is crucial because the event is not simply about medals. It is also a major test of accessibility and athlete support across one of Asia’s biggest multi-sport competitions.
Singapore’s para athletes are not going to Japan just to participate
The Singapore delegation contains a mix of experienced Paralympians, emerging athletes and competitors making their first appearance at the Asian Para Games.
That combination makes the team particularly interesting.
There are athletes trying to defend or build on established reputations.
There are athletes entering completely different sports.
And there are debutants looking to make their mark on one of Asia’s biggest Para-sport stages.
For Tan and Goh especially, the Games offer another opportunity to demonstrate that an athlete’s career does not necessarily end when one sport disappears from the programme—or when a new challenge appears.
Their journeys from sailing and swimming into boccia and shooting are reminders that elite para sport is often as much about adaptation as competition.
The countdown to Japan is on
The Asian Para Games begin on October 18, with the competition running until October 24.
Singapore will arrive with 20 athletes, nine sports and a growing group of competitors carrying major international experience.
And with James Ethan Ang leading the delegation into the opening ceremony, the message from Team Singapore is clear:
The goal is not simply to be in Japan. It is to compete, challenge Asia’s best and make Singapore proud.
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