Singapore kickboxer Valencia Yip fights back from injury

SINGAPORE – Kickboxer Valencia Yip has won numerous titles throughout her career, but standing on the podium at the Uzbekistan World Cup from Sept 26-29 felt particularly special for her.

Just five months earlier, Yip found herself in a wheelchair because of a Lisfranc ligament injury in her right foot from a freak training accident. Despite facing uncertainties during her recovery, her determination led to a triumphant return at the World Cup, where she won three gold medals and one silver.

Overcoming a Major Setback

The 34-year-old expressed her joy, saying, “I can’t quite describe it. I’m incredibly happy to stand on the podium. Just a few months ago, I relied on a wheelchair and struggled with simple tasks like buying food or using public transport. Competing now and being on the podium proves that anything is possible if you trust the process.

Yip injured herself in April when she landed awkwardly while trying a jump spinning hook kick. A sharp pain shot through her foot upon impact, making it difficult for her to put any weight on it. Even though she managed to take a bus home, her foot swelled, prompting her to visit the emergency department at a hospital for treatment.

Initially diagnosed with an ankle sprain, the real extent of the injury was discovered after Kickboxing Federation of Singapore (KFS) president Jason Lim reviewed footage of the accident. His intuition proved correct when a specialist confirmed a Lisfranc injury, where the bones or ligaments in the mid-foot are damaged, requiring surgery.

The Tough Road to Recovery

Yip initially planned to compete in tournaments during May and June, and she had made impressive progress before her injury. “I was improving quickly and prepared to take my gymnastics training to the next level. I kept wondering, ‘Why is this happening now?’ I felt angry with myself,” she recalled.

After her surgery in late April, Yip faced a challenging recovery. Even while using a wheelchair, she pushed herself to keep training, concentrating on pool therapy and utilizing adaptive machines at the gym to preserve her muscle mass. Six weeks later, doctors cleared her to walk without a boot, and by mid-July, she resumed training. However, she still had doubts about her foot’s strength and worried about re-injury.

The senior fitness trainer at Active Zone, a kickboxing gym, shared her experiences, saying, “My stamina, fitness, and cardio all declined. I remember feeling winded after only a few moves.

Triumph at the World Cup

With encouragement from those around her, Yip slowly regained her confidence and prepared for the competition in Tashkent. At the Universal Sport Palace, she earned gold medals in the creative form, creative form weapon, and musical form weapon categories, finishing ahead of India’s Shraddha Rangarh. Although Rangarh claimed gold in the musical form, Yip secured the silver medal.

Her fellow Singaporeans, Alexavier Koh and Shaikh Abdullah, also performed well, contributing to Singapore’s total of 10 medals at the event.

Yip is now focused on the future, with plans to compete in two World Cups and the World Association of Kickboxing Organisations World Championships in 2025.

KFS president Lim praised her resilience, stating, “What Valencia has accomplished is truly remarkable. She defied the odds and overcame the impossible. She faced every athlete’s worst nightmare and emerged victorious in the most incredible way.”

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