Gabriel Huang: Inspiring Singapore’s Next Generation of Wrestlers

Gabriel is a former MMA fighter, national wrestler and current Operations Manager of the Singapore Wrestling Federation. He has represented Singapore in wrestling tournaments such as the SEA and ASEAN Games.

Gabriel is also the Founding Coach of the Meerkats Wrestling Club, a youth club started to teach kids life skills through wrestling.


Looking back, looking forward: Former MMA fighter and national wrestler who was inspired by those who came before now comes a full (wrestling) circle to inspire future athletes.

As the saying goes, an athlete dies two deaths. Gabriel’s retirement from competitive would come in the form of a devastating knee injury.

“I competed at the nationals and I won but I hurt my knee very badly. Basically, I tore my MCL first. That was fine, but five weeks later I had another competition in Australia. There, I tore my knee completely — I tore all the other ligaments.”

But Gabriel’s story, unlike many of his wrestling compatriots, has a happy ending. He was given a scholarship to study in Hungary for three months, and there, he found a purpose beyond his personal competitive career.

“That trip to Hungary changed my perception and my goals. I saw the level of the kids, what they could do was eye opening for me. I decided that when I’m back in Singapore, coaching is going to be my focus. I want to build a very strong kids programme.”

Soon after his trip to Hungary, Gabriel would become the Founding Coach of the Meerkats Wrestling Club, a youth club dedicated to teaching kids from the age of five and up Olympic freestyle wrestling.

 “As an athlete, I want more opportunities to compete and more opportunities to represent the country… During my time, if I had the opportunities like how the athletes have now with MMA and all that, I’d be so happy.”

This is Gabriel’s fight now — not on the mat, but behind it. Not as an athlete, but as a coach and manager. For somebody he was so heavily inspired by those who came before him, there’s something poetic about how Gabriel came full (wrestling) circle to serve as an inspiration himself.


From now to 31st December 2024, we’re treating our readers to a 25% discount using the code “TEPXCCCC”. So grab your copy of Choke Clinch Crank Combat today!

GRAB YOUR COPY

VIEW SERIES

Arman Shah

A former travel writer with fond memories of solo adventures in Southeast Asia, Arman is now founder and editor of The Everyday People. If you ever see him approaching with a camera and voice recorder in hand, please choose kindness and don’t decline his request for an interview.

Recent Posts

NAO 2025: Night At Orchard

30 May – 1 June 2025: The only night market in Singapore's prime shopping district…

19 hours ago

Korea Travel Fair 2025: Your Gateway to K-Culture

16 – 18 May 2025: The three-day event event by the Korea Tourism Organization marks…

19 hours ago

Mother’s Day 2025

11 May 2025: It's the time of the year to celebrate the matriarch of your…

2 days ago

Your GRC Might Be Why You’re Still Single in Singapore

As Singapore gears up for the 2025 General Election, Coffee Meets Bagel explores something just…

1 week ago

Who Wants to Read About Me? The Art and Business of Writing a Memoir

4 May 2025: This is part of NAC-NLB Writer's Lab manuscript incubation programme – writer…

1 week ago

Celebrate Peranakan Culture at Capitol Singapore and CHIJMES

1 – 25 May 2025: Honour Singapore's rich and intangible cultural heritage with programmes that…

1 week ago