Photo Credit: SDSC/Muhammad Adib Mohamad Shah

20 aspiring Para athletes have been selected for the inaugural 2026 cohort of the Singapore Disability Sports Council’s (SDSC) NextGen Para Talent Programme, which aims to identify and nurture emerging talent and support athletes in progressing towards competitive sport.

The athletes, aged between 10 and 31, represent a range of Para sports including Para athletics, boccia, Para cycling, Para swimming, Para table tennis and Para tenpin bowling. They were selected based on their sporting potential, commitment and readiness to develop further in their respective sports.

The cohort was announced today at OCBC Arena Hall 5, in the presence of the athletes, their families, coaches, and representatives from Temasek Foundation and Xu Family Charity Foundation, whose support is helping to strengthen pathways for the next generation of Singaporean Para athletes. Ms Ho Ching, Chairman of Temasek Trust and Patron of SDSC, was the Guest-of-Honour at the event.

Nurturing Potential, Building Pathways

Launched in April 2026 in partnership with Temasek Foundation, the NextGen Para Talent Programme aims to identify and nurture aspiring athletes with disabilities, providing them with structured and individualised support as they progress from emerging talent towards competitive and, where possible, national and international representation. Over the next four years, the programme aims to support around 80 athletes.

The 20 athletes in the 2026 cohort will receive support tailored to their individual development needs, including coaching, strength and conditioning, sports physiotherapy, mental skills training, transport subsidies, specialised equipment, as well as access to classification and competition opportunities. They will also have opportunities to train alongside national teams and learn from experienced coaches and athletes.

NextGen will also strengthen SDSC’s partnerships with schools, social service agencies and other community partners to identify emerging talent and create more inclusive pathways for persons with disabilities to participate and progress in sport.

From Emerging Talent to the Next Level

Among the athletes selected is 21-year-old boccia athlete Yan Jia Yi, whose journey in the sport began at the age of 13 through a co-curricular activity programme at Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore School.

Living with cerebral palsy, which affects her speech and mobility, Jia Yi has had to navigate periods of hospitalisation that have sometimes interrupted her training. Whenever her health allowed, however, she was determined to return to the court and continue working on her fitness, skills and composure. Her family has also played an important role in supporting her sporting journey.

Jia Yi made her international debut at the Bahrain 2021 Asian Youth Para Games, where she won silver in the BC3 Mixed Pairs. At the 2023 World Boccia Youth Championships in Povoa de Varzim, she and teammate Aloysius Gan won gold in the BC3 Pairs, while Jia Yi also claimed bronze in the BC3 Individual event. Most recently, she won silver in the BC3 Individual event at the Dubai 2025 Asian Youth Para Games.

Through NextGen, Jia Yi will receive support to purchase a new ramp and set of boccia balls, as well as subsidised specialised transport to attend additional training sessions.

“Being selected for the NextGen programme is a valuable opportunity for young athletes like me to receive more guidance, develop our potential and work towards representing Singapore with pride. I’m able to focus more on my training without worrying too much about transportation and equipment,” said Jia Yi.

“I hope to grow not just as an athlete, but also as a person through this journey,” she added.

At 14, Para athlete Kong Shann is one of the youngest members of the cohort and has already shown promising progress since taking up athletics three years ago. At the 2026 National Para Athletics Championships, Kong won gold in both the Men’s 100m and 200m Dash for athletes with visual impairment. He went on to set new personal bests at Pesta Sukan, clocking 14.95s in the 100m and 32.21s in the 200m.

As Shann looks to progress towards a high-performance pathway, NextGen will pair his personal coach with SDSC’s high performance team to develop an Individual Athlete Plan (IAP) tailored to his development. He will also train alongside the national team at least once a month, gaining greater exposure to a high-performance training environment and opportunities to learn from experienced coaches and athletes.

Shann said: “I hope I can learn a lot from the coaches, get stronger, faster and keep improving my personal bests. I’m excited to see how far I can go in athletics and hopefully one day have the chance to represent Singapore.”

The oldest in the 2026 cohort, 31-year-old Para cyclist Amelia Tan discovered tandem cycling only in 2023 after trying a range of sports including running, dragon boat, bowling, soundball, kayaking and football. Living with Bietti crystalline dystrophy, Amelia found a new sporting pathway when she was introduced to tandem cycling by former national Para cyclist Steve Tee.

Together with her volunteer pilot, Sarah Tan, Amelia has made rapid progress through dedicated training and teamwork. Within two years, the pair won bronze at the 2025 Asian Para Cycling Championships, before Amelia made her major games debut at the 2025 ASEAN Para Games, finishing fourth in the Women’s Tandem B Individual Time Trial.

Through NextGen, Amelia will receive nutritionist support and assistance with bike parts as she continues to develop and prepare for future competitions.

“Being selected for NextGen is a meaningful milestone in my Para cycling journey. I hope to gain the right support, knowledge and experience to become a better athlete and continue challenging myself at a higher level,” Amelia said.

Together, the 20 athletes represent a diverse mix of emerging and established talent, each at a different stage of their sporting journey. Through individualised support, access to expertise and greater exposure to high-performance environments, NextGen aims to equip them with the resources and opportunities they need to develop their potential and progress in sport.

Quotes

Dr Teo-Koh Sock Miang, President, Singapore Disability Sports Council, said: “The inaugural cohort of 20 athletes marks an important step in strengthening Singapore’s pathway for Para sport. Investing in athletes early, when they are developing their skills and potential, can make a meaningful difference to their progression and long-term sporting journey.”

“NextGen complements the broader disability sports pathway by strengthening the bridge between participation, talent development and high performance. We are committed to working with our partners to give more aspiring Para athletes the right opportunities and support to realise their potential,” he added.

Mr Ng Boon Heong, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Temasek Foundation, said: “The 20 athletes selected for NextGen each bring their own story of determination and ambition. We hope that through their journeys, more people will be inspired by the achievements of our Para athletes. Temasek Foundation is heartened to partner the athletes to realise their sporting aspirations and contribute to a more inclusive sporting culture in Singapore.”

The NextGen Para Talent programme is supported by Temasek Foundation through the E W Barker Endowment, as well as the Xu Family Charity Foundation, a donor-advised fund administered by the Community Foundation of Singapore.

For more information, please visit: https://sdsc.org.sg/nextgen-para-talent/.