NAGOYA, JAPAN — Singapore has officially entered the medal standings at the 2026 Asian Para Games after veteran para swimmer Toh Wei Soong captured bronze in the men’s 400-meter freestyle S7 final on Monday, October 19. But while Singapore celebrated its breakthrough, Philippine swimming star Ernie Gawilan delivered a commanding gold-medal performance.
The 28-year-old Toh finished third in 5 minutes and 24.23 seconds at the Nagoya City General Gymnasium, becoming Singapore’s first medalist at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games.
Gawilan claimed gold for the Philippines with a winning time of 4:56.72, while China’s Zhang Yilong secured silver in 5:01.36.
The result highlighted an early Southeast Asian rivalry in the swimming competition, with both Singapore and the Philippines earning places on the podium.
Toh Wei Soong Extends His Remarkable Asian Para Games Legacy
For Toh, the bronze medal represents another milestone in a successful career spanning multiple Asian Para Games and Paralympic appearances.
At the previous Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, held in 2023, Toh won silver in the same 400m freestyle S7 event.
He also dominated shorter-distance races at that competition, capturing three gold medals in the 50m freestyle S7, 50m butterfly S7 and 100m backstroke S7.
His latest bronze raises his career Asian Para Games medal collection to eight, further strengthening his reputation as one of Singapore’s leading para swimmers.
The two-time Paralympian also entered the 2026 Games with international momentum after winning silver in the men’s 50m freestyle S7 at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games earlier this year.
Philippines’ Ernie Gawilan Delivers a Golden Performance
While Singapore marked its first podium finish, the Philippines had another reason to celebrate.
Ernie Gawilan completed the 400m freestyle S7 final in 4:56.72, finishing 4.64 seconds ahead of China’s Zhang Yilong and 27.51 seconds ahead of Toh.
The victory adds another significant international achievement to Gawilan’s para swimming career.
His performance also underlines the growing competitiveness of Southeast Asian para athletes against established sporting powers such as China and Japan.
With Gawilan and Toh both reaching the podium, the race offered an early demonstration of the region’s strength in international para swimming.
Singapore Sends 20 Athletes Across Nine Sports
Singapore’s campaign at the 2026 Asian Para Games features 20 athletes competing across nine sports between October 18 and 24.
Eight members of the delegation are making their Asian Para Games debuts.
Singapore’s athletes are participating in para archery, para athletics, para badminton, boccia, road para cycling, para judo, para swimming, shooting para sport and para table tennis.
Toh’s bronze provides an early boost for the delegation as it pursues additional medals throughout the week.
Can Singapore Build on Its Opening Medal?
Toh’s performance shows that Singapore remains competitive in para swimming, although his bronze also highlights the challenge posed by rivals such as Gawilan and Zhang.
The 2026 Asian Para Games are far from over, leaving Singapore’s emerging athletes and experienced competitors opportunities to add to the country’s medal tally.
For the Philippines, Gawilan’s gold is another reminder of its established talent in para swimming.
For Singapore, Toh has once again delivered on the international stage.
The bigger question now: Can Singapore turn its first bronze into a wave of medals before the Asian Para Games conclude on October 24?
