Three Athletes, Three Journeys, One YOG Dream

For Zack Ng, a Year 1 student-athlete pursuing a Diploma in Business, the journey began with a simple game of badminton with his brother at just six years old. By seven, he was already training competitively. What started as a childhood pastime soon blossomed into a passion, fuelled by the thrill of competition and inspired by badminton greats such as Lin Dan and Kento Momota.

A former South View Primary School student, Zack was training under the Singapore Badminton Association’s (SBA) Junior Performance Programme at Sports School while studying at Anglo-Chinese School (Independent). In 2025, the mid-streamer made the switch to join Sports School at Secondary 4, allowing him to pursue his academic aspirations while continuing to develop as a competitive badminton player.

“⁠I wanted to pursue badminton seriously while continuing my education. I felt that the Sports School environment would give me the opportunity to improve my skills, learn from experienced coaches to become a better player,” he shared.

Now part of the national training squad, Zack is sharpening his fitness, speed, agility and strength while working to improve his consistency on court ahead of the YOG. Just as importantly, he is preparing mentally to handle pressure and stay focused when every point counts. Before a match, he listens to music, visualises how he will play against his opponent and practises breathing exercises or positive self-talk to steady his nerves.

But the road to the YOG has demanded more than skill and speed. Balancing academics with the rigours of training and competition has tested his discipline and time-management skills. Through it all, Zack has learnt to prioritise his responsibilities and stay committed to his goals.

He said: “There have been many challenges and setbacks along the way, but I have learnt that perseverance is the key. Progress comes from staying consistent even when things do not go as planned. This journey has taught me to keep working hard, trust the process, and never give up on improving myself.”

At the YOG, Zack hopes to deliver his best performance, challenge some of the world’s top young players and compete for a medal. Above all, he wants to represent Singapore with pride and return with valuable lessons to fuel the next chapter of his sporting journey.

His advice to aspiring student-athletes is to be patient, stay disciplined and never stop believing in themselves. Setbacks are part of the process, and success does not happen overnight. Listen to your coaches, learn from your mistakes and focus on getting a little better every day.

For 3x3 basketballer Jaden Ng, the journey into competitive basketball is only just beginning — but he is already learning what it takes to turn passion into progress.

Inspired by his parents, Jaden began learning the sport in earnest in 2025. A year later, he made the switch from Jurong Secondary School to join Sports School’s National Basketball Programme, determined to pursue his passion for the game while continuing to grow academically.

Now a Year 1 student-athlete pursuing a Diploma in Business, Jaden has quickly discovered that becoming a better athlete takes more than hours on the court. Balancing the demands of school and sport has been one of his biggest challenges. Rather than letting competing priorities overwhelm him, he took a step back, reviewed his routine and introduced a daily task checklist to stay organised and on track.

It may be a simple strategy, but it reflects an important lesson in the student-athlete journey: progress begins when you take responsibility for your own growth.

With the YOG approaching, Jaden and his teammates have been training intensely, building not only their physical conditioning and on-court chemistry but also the trust that holds a team together. Guided by Head Coach Neo Beng Siang and Coach Wu Qingde, and supported by HPSI staff member Miss Shirley, Jaden is preparing to take on the challenge alongside teammates who have worked hard to grow as a unit.

For Jaden, an open mind is essential to improvement. Whether receiving feedback, learning from mistakes or adapting tactics in the heat of a game, he believes that being willing to listen and adjust can make all the difference. This mindset helps athletes turn challenges into opportunities to learn and improve.

His approach to the YOG is to focus on the team’s strengths, play with confidence and embrace the opportunity without being weighed down by expectations. With a quarter-final berth in his sights, Jaden is ready to give the competition everything he has.

And when it comes to getting into game mode, he has his own pre-game ritual: an energy drink to fire himself up before the action begins!

For young athletes hoping to follow in his footsteps, Jaden’s advice is short but powerful: “Always believe in yourself.” Sometimes, the first step towards achieving a big dream is believing that you belong on the court.

When Ashton Auw first encountered fencing through the Junior Sports Academy programme in Primary 5, he was still participating in wushu as his school co-curricular activity. He had always wanted to try a sport built around one-on-one combat. When fencing came along, something clicked — and he knew he had found his calling.

A former Tao Nan School student, Ashton joined Sports School in 2022, Then, the Secondary 1 student-athlete was drawn by its strong sporting support system, excellent facilities and the opportunity to become more independent and disciplined. The boarding experience also offered him a chance to take greater ownership of his daily routines and personal growth.

Since then, his journey has been shaped by a willingness to make difficult decisions and the determination to keep moving forward. In Secondary 4, Ashton faced the challenge of balancing his final year as an Under-17 (cadet) fencer with the demands of securing a place in Sports School’s International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). Rather than choosing one ambition over the other, he learnt to plan ahead, revise early and adjust his training load to make time for his studies. Whenever possible, he continued fencing during study breaks, even if he had only 30 minutes to spare.

This year, he made another calculated decision by taking a Leave of Absence (LOA) to dedicate more time to training and major competitions, including the Asian and World Cadet Championships and the YOG. The decision also supports his longer-term plan to align his academic commitments with his ambitions as a junior fencer, as he works towards future milestones such as the 2027 SEA Games qualification campaign and the 2029 SEA Games in Singapore.

For Ashton, these decisions are not about taking the easier route. They are about making the most of available opportunities and giving himself the best chance to grow as both an athlete and a student. He believes resilience has brought him to this milestone. Instead of dwelling on setbacks, he treats them as opportunities to learn, reflect and return stronger. To prepare for the YOG, he has attended overseas training camps to experience different fencing styles and training methods, while taking private lessons to strengthen his fundamentals, refine his timing and sharpen his technique. He also visualises himself performing well, reminding himself to stay grounded and make every training session count.

His ambition is bold - to bring home a gold medal for Singapore. Yet Ashton recognises that the YOG offers more than the chance to stand on the podium. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to test himself against the world’s best young fencers, gain valuable experience and carry those lessons into future competitions.

When it comes to competition-day rituals, Ashton has a couple of unusual ones - a cold shower before every competition and a tiny extra sock worn on his right foot, over his long socks. Every athlete has their own way of getting into the zone, and Ashton is certainly no exception!

For aspiring athletes, his message is to make the most of every opportunity and available resource, maintain a positive mindset and never be afraid to seek help. Both victories and defeats offer valuable lessons, and setbacks need not define the journey.

He said: “Success comes not only from how far you go, but also from how you grow through the journey.” It is a philosophy that reflects Ashton’s journey so far — and one he will carry with him as he steps onto the piste at the YOG.