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More Seniors in Singapore Take Up Competitive Sports as Games Participation Rises 30%

From CNA · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • More than 6,000 people aged 60 and above took part in Singapore’s second Seniors National Games, up from more than 4,500 participants in 2025.
  • The Games offer five adaptive sports through Active Ageing Centres and grassroots organisations, with organizers aiming to promote physical activity and community connections.
  • An 85-year-old woman and her daughter have competed together in disc golf for two consecutive years.

At 85, Yeo Ah Choo has gone from avoiding crowded activities to competing in a national sports event with her daughter. The change began after two falls while she was living alone prompted her daughter, Tan Bee Tuan, to bring her to a nearby Active Ageing Centre in March 2025.

I encouraged her … to come down to do some exercise. In the beginning, she refused to do that. She said that no, too many people (as) she doesn’t like to mingle.

· Tan Bee TuanShe described her mother’s initial reluctance to join an Active Ageing Centre.

Yeo initially resisted. “I encouraged her … to come down to do some exercise. In the beginning, she refused to do that. She said that no, too many people (as) she doesn’t like to mingle,” Tan, 61, said. But her mother eventually embraced the centre and the people there. “But now, she's hooked on it. She loves the neighbourhood, all the seniors here,” Tan said.

The pair have since competed in the Seniors National Games for two straight years, entering disc golf together and reaching the finals after qualifying through the heats. Disc golf combines frisbee throwing with golf-style scoring, with players trying to land discs in metal baskets using the fewest throws. Yeo said she now enjoys watching and playing disc golf, along with other ball games that are easier for her.

But now, she's hooked on it. She loves the neighbourhood, all the seniors here.

· Tan Bee TuanShe explained how her mother’s attitude changed after joining the centre.

More than 6,000 seniors from nearly 130 Active Ageing Centres and grassroots organisations joined this year’s Games, which concluded in August. Participation rose by more than 30% from over 4,500 people at the inaugural event in 2025.

I now really like to watch and play disc golf and other ball games, activities that are easier for me.

· Yeo Ah ChooShe described the activities she enjoys after taking part in the Games.

Sport Singapore organizes the competition as part of the annual GetActive! Singapore programme. It is open to people aged 60 and above and features boccia, disc golf, ladder toss, seated floorball and sport stacking. SportSG active health director Genevieve Goh said the event seeks not only to improve physical health but also to build community ties and overall well-being among seniors.

Beyond physical health benefits or sports participation, it is about fostering strong community connections and improving the overall well-being of our seniors.

· Genevieve GohThe SportSG director explained the broader aims of the Seniors National Games.
About this summary

Originally published by CNA in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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