Reclaiming the Championship: Our Judo Journey

Written by:

Li Junjia Aiden (4i4, 2026)

Nigel Chua Jun Yi (4P3, 2026)

Tiger Fu Jiahua (4P1, 2026)

Yeoh Zhiliang (4A2, 2026)

On 15 and 16 April 2026, our Secondary 3 and 4 High School Judo members took part in the National School Games Judo Championships. Competing in the B Division, we emerged overall champions with three gold medals, two silver medals and two bronze medals.

The victory was especially meaningful because of what had happened the year before. In 2025, we narrowly missed out on the overall championship title to one of our strongest rivals, St. Gabriel’s Secondary School, despite months of preparation. That disappointment became one of our biggest sources of motivation.

In the months leading up to this year’s competition, we pushed ourselves hard during every training session. There were setbacks along the way, but we learnt to recover from them and keep improving. More than anything, we were determined to reclaim the championship title. After all the time and effort we had invested, seeing our hard work pay off made the victory especially rewarding.

Although judo is ultimately an individual sport, we never felt that we were competing alone. Throughout the season, we trained, struggled and improved together. During the competition, we supported one another from the sidelines, cheering at the top of our lungs during each bout and standing by one another regardless of the result.

Our captain, Tiger Fu Jiahua (4P1), who won a gold medal in the B Division Boys Under 73kg category, reflected on the importance of this support:

“My win would not have been possible without the support of my teammates. I could hear them cheering me on as I fought, and that pushed me to keep going and give my best in every bout.”

Our coach, Mr Tang Soon Onn, also played an important role in our journey. He guided us closely throughout our training, helping us improve our technique and pushing us to challenge ourselves at every session. His encouragement during the competition gave us the confidence to persevere even when we faced difficult opponents.

We are also grateful to our teachers-in-charge, Mr Lim Beng Huat, Mr Chua Boon Woo and Ms Tay Yan Hoon, who supported us throughout the season and looked out for our well-being as we balanced training with our other commitments.

Juggling schoolwork, CCAs and training three times a week was not always easy, especially during the NSG season. There were moments when the pressure felt overwhelming, but the encouragement we received from our teammates, coach and teachers helped us stay focused and continue moving forward.

Looking back, we are proud not only of winning the championship, but also of how much we grew as a team. The season taught us the importance of perseverance, discipline and supporting one another through both success and disappointment.

As this season comes to a close, we hope to continue training hard, improving together and carrying the same fighting spirit into the competitions ahead.