Singaporean shuttler Loh Kean Yew secured a silver medal at the Asian Games in Nagoya on Sept 29, 2026, falling to second-ranked Kunlavut Vitidsarn in the final. Meanwhile, the Public Transport Council announced that adult transit fares will rise by up to 13 cents starting December 26 due to soaring energy costs.
Loh Kean Yew Claims Historic Asian Games Silver After Battle in Nagoya
Loh Kean Yew brought a theatrical flair to the Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium throughout the week, entertaining audiences by channeling the One Piece manga character Monkey D. Luffy. Donning a white jersey and headband, the 29-year-old skipped his way through a historic run before meeting Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn in the men’s singles final.
The journey to the final demanded grit. In the semi-finals, Loh overcame South Korea’s Yoo Tae-bin 21-19, 19-21, 21-12 in a grueling 69-minute encounter that left him with plastered fingers, scraped knuckles, and a blood-stained top. That hard-fought victory followed a quarter-final breakthrough where he snapped a 10-match winless streak against Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie to guarantee Singapore its first Asian Games badminton medal in 20 years.
Meeting Kunlavut in the title-decider proved a step too far. The Thai star, who won the 2023 world title and an Olympic silver a year later, held a dominant 8-2 head-to-head record over the Singaporean. Loh ultimately dropped the final, sealing his campaign with a silver medal that marks a major milestone for the Republic’s badminton history.
“Not getting a gold medal is obviously a sad thing, but overall, I think I played well. And to be able to create history for Singapore is an achievement as well.”
Loh Kean Yew
Previously, the only time Team Singapore stood on an Asian Games badminton podium was when the women’s team won bronze in 2006.
Public Transport Council Approves 7 Percent Fare Hike From December 26
While athletes competed on the international stage, commuters back home faced economic headwinds. The Public Transport Council (PTC) announced that adult bus and train fares will increase by 12 or 13 cents starting December 26. The adjustment represents a 7 percent overall fare increase, driven primarily by escalating energy costs linked to the Middle East crisis.
Seniors, students, and commuters using the Persons with Disabilities card will see a smaller increase of 5 cents per journey. For cash-paying passengers, adult fares will rise by 20 cents, while concessionary cash fares will go up by 10 cents. Monthly travel passes will remain frozen at $122 for adults and $55 for seniors and individuals with disabilities.
PTC chairperson Janet Ang explained that the council approved a hike that sits at less than half of the allowable maximum limit of 14.7 percent.
“Over the past five years, the PTC has moderated fare increases to strike a balance between keeping public transport fares affordable for commuters and ensuring the financial sustainability of Singapore’s public transport system amid rising operating and energy costs.”
Janet Ang, Chairperson of the Public Transport Council
Energy Price Volatility and Middle East Conflict Drive Transit Adjustments
The structural pressure behind the fare adjustment stems directly from global energy disruptions. Monthly diesel prices experienced wild fluctuations during the review period, swinging violently between -14 percent and 138 percent.
To mitigate the squeeze on vulnerable households, the Government and council introduced targeted cushions. Public Transport Vouchers will increase in value from $60 to $80. Eligibility criteria have also expanded: households with a per capita income limit raised from $1,800 to $2,100 will now qualify, bringing approximately 60,000 additional families into the assistance scheme. Low-wage workers under the Workfare Transport Concession scheme will see no change to their fares.
Balancing Long-Term Affordability Against Squeezed Margins
Despite the mounting cost pressures, the PTC maintains that the proportion of household income spent on public transport has held steady at 2.4 percent for lower-income households and 1.7 percent for average-income households.