12-year-old becomes first Singaporean to win an age-group crown at the prestigious continental event.

Singapore’s Kareena Sashikumar has become the first Singaporean to win a junior individual age‑group title at the Asian Junior Individual Championships, triumphing in the girls’ U‑13 final in Sichuan, China.

Historic First For Singapore
Kareena’s victory marks the first time a Singaporean has claimed an Asian junior individual age‑group title since the competition introduced multiple age categories in 2006. Previously, Singapore’s best finish in the U‑13 girls’ event was third place by Kayla Choy in 2023.

Dominant Final Performance
The Primary 6 pupil from Farrer Park Primary School capped the five-day tournament at Sichuan Panshiya Highland Sports Training Base with a commanding win over Japan’s Rio Yoshino in the May 24 final, taking just 15 minutes to seal the match 11‑2, 11‑3, 11‑1.

Mental Toughness Behind The Scoreline
Despite the lopsided score, Kareena told Lianhe Zaobao the match demanded strong mental preparation. She noted that her opponent had come off an intense victory the day before and applied heavy pressure in long rallies, but Kareena felt she handled the crucial points better in the end.

Breaking A Long Drought At Asian Level
Before age divisions were introduced, the Asian Junior Individual Championships used a single under‑19 category; a Singaporean last topped that format in 1987. Kareena’s breakthrough in the U‑13 era ends a decades‑long wait for another Singapore champion at the event.

Next Stop: South-East Asian Junior Championships
Kareena’s next challenge will be the South‑east Asian Junior Individual Championships in Manila, starting June 10, where she will look to build on her Sichuan success and further cement her status as one of Singapore’s brightest young talents.

Kareena Sashikumar’s landmark win in Sichuan not only adds a major title to her young career, but also rewrites Singapore’s history at the Asian Junior Individual Championships. For young athletes and families in Singapore and the region, her performance shows how preparation, mental resilience and belief can turn promise into a continental breakthrough.

Sources: Asia One (2026) , Straits Times (2026)

Keywords: Kareena Sashikumar, Asian Junior Individual Championships, Sichuan China, U-13 Girls Title, Farrer Park Primary