Champions Behind the Scenes - Sng Puay Liang

Sng Puay Liang's Remarkable Path: From Gymnastics Champion to Olympic Judge

Sng Puay Liang, standing in front of his BazGym – a gymnastics school in Singapore in 2024. (Photo Credit : Sng Puay Liang)

Standing tall in front of his gymnastics school, BazGym, Sng Puay Liang embodies a lifetime of dedication and passion for the sport he loves. His journey from a budding gymnast to representing Singapore at the Olympics is a testament to perseverance and hard work. This is the remarkable story of one of Singapore's most humble and underrated sporting legends.

Early Days and the Birth of a Passion

In 1983, a 13-year-old Sng Puay Liang attended his first proper gymnastics training session at Chinese High School. Selected by his Physical Education teacher and coach during a PE class, Puay Liang quickly developed a fondness for the parallel bars. His coordination and strength made him a natural on this apparatus, setting the stage for his future in gymnastics.

"I was a late bloomer," Puay Liang recalls. "During our time, there was no proper training system. We were taught by our PE teacher and seniors. After junior college, we just coached each other via trial and error. We would go through the Code of Points and say, 'let's try this!' and figure it out."

Sng Puay Liang (Back Row, 1^st from Right), with Singapore’s Silver-medal winning squad at the 2003 SEA Games. Photo Credit : Sng Puay Liang

Representing Singapore and Overcoming Challenges

Puay Liang's dedication paid off when he joined the national team for the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in 1993. Although his stint with Team Singapore lasted only a year, the experience was invaluable. "After the Games, I had to work and continue my studies, so I stopped training," he explains.

His brief national career did not dampen his love for gymnastics. Instead, it fueled his desire to stay connected with the sport. By 2003, he played a significant role in Singapore's gymnastics landscape, contributing to the national team’s success at the SEA Games as a committee member of the Singapore Amateur Gymnastics Association (SAGA).

"We struggled with very little funding and no proper training place," Puay Liang shares. "We managed to get CHIJ Toa Payoh’s support for our Women’s Artistic Gymnastics squad to train. I devoted all my free time to support our young girls, despite some people doubting my intentions. But all the efforts paid off when we brought back the first-ever team medal in Singapore gymnastics history."

Sng Puay Liang (Standing, Left) at a gymnastics teachers’ training session at BazGym in 2024. Photo Credit : Sng Puay Liang

The Path to Judging

Alongside owning a gymnastics training academy, Puay Liang pursued another aspect of gymnastics—judging. After failing his first judging exam due to a lack of resources, he was encouraged by the Technical Director of Singapore Gymnastics to try again in 2006. "She showed me the important role of judges in the development of our sport," he notes.

His debut as a competition judge was at the 2007 SEA Games in Korat, Thailand. "I was nervous and felt inadequate due to my inexperience," Puay Liang recalls. However, he persevered, and over the years, he has judged at numerous prestigious events, including the Asian Games, Asian Championships, Commonwealth Games, and the Junior World Championships.

 Sng Puay Liang (Left) with his fellow gymnastics’ judges from Singapore, at the 19^th Asian Games in Hangzhou, 2023. Photo Credit : Sng Puay Liang

The Olympic Dream Realized

In 2024, after 17 years of commitment to judging, Puay Liang reached the pinnacle of his career—being selected as an Olympic Games Judge for Paris 2024. "I was shocked upon receiving the invitation letter and asked if it was a mistake," he admits. "It is truly an honour to be the first from Singapore. This distinction shows us that everything is possible if we keep doing the right things."

Looking to the Future

At 54, Puay Liang's love affair with gymnastics spans over 40 years, and he shows no signs of stopping. He aims to help develop the next generation and pass the baton, envisioning a future where more Team Singapore gymnasts participate in major competitions. Puay Liang often tells his gymnasts to do their best and not worry about the results. "It's become my attitude in life—do my best in everything I’m doing and let nature take its course," he says.

Sng Puay Liang at his BazGym training school in 2024. Photo Credit : Sng Puay Liang