Singapore taekwondo exponent Darren Yap clinches historic Asian Games taekwondo bronze

NAGOYA: He may have bagged Singapore's first taekwondo Asian Games medal, but 22-year-old Darren Yap never wanted to compete internationally when he first started in the combat sport.

"I never wanted to compete at this level," he told reporters on Thursday (Oct 1) after clinching bronze in the men's individual poomsae.

"But once I went for my first competition, I kind of caught the bug and I've always wanted to keep going and going. That pushed me to work very hard, and eventually I got selected to represent Singapore."

At the Toyohashi Gymnasium, Yap (9.0400) made history as he finished behind South Korea's Yun Kyu-sung (9.3800), Thailand's Navin Pinthasute (9.2800) and Philippines' Derick Yape (9.0900). Both the third and fourth-placed finishers are awarded joint-bronze.

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"I didn't really have any expectations because I always try to enter not expecting anything and trying to focus on the end result," said Yap, who was eliminated in the round of 16 at the last Games in Hangzhou.

"More of enjoying the process and it led to a good place today."

For the Singaporean who is now competing at his fifth major Games, the medal felt like "a long time coming".

"I'm just a very competitive person. For me, it's very fun to be able to do what I love to do on a big stage," he added.

Yap qualified second in his semi-final and third overall for the final earlier in the day. The double SEA Games bronze medallist will next compete in the virtual taekwondo event on Friday.

"I'm just very very happy. Now when people see Singapore on their bout list, they'll maybe get worried," said Yap.

"I hope I'm able to inspire the new generation of players that want to train and be able to do what I do, or be even better than me."