Federal Territories gymnast Cassidy Tan Jia Xin has been crowned the rhythmic gymnastics queen at the 2026 Malaysia Games (SUKMA) after retaining her individual all-around gold medal with a dominant performance at Dewan Canselor Tun Abdul Razak, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, on 15 August.
The 15-year-old accumulated 98.950 points to claim back-to-back all-around titles, Bernama reported. According to The Star, she topped three of four apparatus events with her highest score in hoop at 25.750 points, followed by ribbon (24.400), clubs (24.550) and ball (24.250).
It marked a second consecutive individual all-around crown for Cassidy, who first captured the title at the 2024 SUKMA in Sarawak when she was just 13.
Selangor’s Sam Lee Li Momoka took silver with 95.350 points, while Cassidy’s Federal Territories teammate Wong Poe Syuen completed the podium with 95.050 points. The victory was Cassidy’s second gold medal of the Games after she helped Federal Territories clinch the rhythmic gymnastics team title the day before alongside Poe Syuen, Rhea Dhaliwall and Isabella Arissa Mohd Khalimi Ashraf.
“Of course, I feel very grateful and happy that I was able to achieve this second gold for Federal Territories in the individual all-around,” she told reporters. “There are definitely some areas which I could have done better today, but I think I tried my best and I’m very happy with the result.”
Cassidy started rhythmic gymnastics at six, following her older sister into the sport. NST noted that nine years later, she leaves the Malaysia Games as a two-time champion.
Reflecting on her progress over the past two years, Cassidy said she is now a more confident gymnast with more advanced routines and improved technique. “I feel like this time I was more confident and my technique has improved thanks to my coaches,” she said.
With Selangor 2026 set to be her final SUKMA, the Alice Smith School student is already looking ahead to making the step up to the senior ranks next year, with the 2027 SEA Games in Malaysia firmly in her sights.
“I hope that I can work hard so that I can represent Malaysia next year,” she said. “I know that it will be a challenging path ahead, so I’m prepared to work and try my hardest to learn and adapt to the senior routines.”
Meanwhile, Selangor emerged champions in the group exercise after accumulating 35.650 points. Federal Territories took silver with 34.400 points, while Perak settled for bronze with 33.750 points. Federal Territories topped the rhythmic gymnastics medal tally, winning two golds, one silver and one bronze across the two-day competition.
