Cover Professional footballer Matt Orr has been dubbed as Hong Kong’s Cristiano Ronaldo (Photo: Getty Images)
Professional footballer Matt Orr has been dubbed as Hong Kong’s Cristiano Ronaldo (Photo: Getty Images)
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The athletic landscape is being reshaped by a new generation of elite competitors who are shattering records, defying expectations and elevating their respective sports to new heights. Here are 6 sportspeople rising the ranks and igniting pride in their communities
From the arena of international competition to regional games, Asian athletes have captivated audiences and inspired legions of fans with their skill, tenacity and determination.
These sporting pioneers are not just pursuing greatness—they are transcending boundaries and redefining the notion of excellence in their fields.
Among the Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow 2024, a new wave of athletes is rewriting the rulebook on excellence. From tumbling heights to lightning sprints and evening out the battlefields of esports, these athletes are elevating the bar and inspiring the next wave of champions. Meet the six Asian sports prodigies who are redefining what it means to be the best.
Read more: These are the most followed stars from the Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow 2024
Aleah Finnegan
The Filipino-American gymnast made history by qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympics after a stellar performance at the 2023 World Championships in Antwerp. Finnegan, who won multiple medals at the 2022 Southeast Asian Games, was one of the 14 highest-ranked eligible athletes in the women’s all-around qualification to secure her entry to the Olympics.
Born in St Louis to a Filipino mother, Finnegan was part of the US national gymnastics team from 2019 to 2021, winning gold at the 2019 Pan American Games. After narrowly missing the 2020 Olympics, she announced her retirement from elite gymnastics in 2021 to compete for Louisiana State University (LSU). However, an opportunity to represent the Philippines reignited her Olympic dream. At the 2023 Asian Championships, she won bronze medals on the vault and balance beam, paving the way for her historic World Championships performance.
Read more: Meet the 15 Filipino athletes set to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympics
Kunlavut Vitidsarn
The young badminton sensation achieved a remarkable feat in 2023 by winning the men’s singles title at the World Championships, becoming the first Thai player to claim the honour. Vitidsarn’s world ranking peaked at number three and he had previously won the World Junior Championships a record three times from 2017 to 2019.
Vitidsarn’s rise to the top has been meteoric, with his first major senior title coming at the German Open in 2022. He is known for his graceful playing style, deceptive shots and solid all-round game. Guided by national coach Udom Luangphetcharaporn, Vitidsarn moved to the Bangthongyord Badminton School at age 12, inspired by compatriot Ratchanok Intanon’s world title win. He is now part of an emerging rivalry with India’s Lakshya Sen, with the two 22-year-olds trading wins on the tour.
Shanti Pereira
Singapore’s sprint queen Shanti Pereira dominated the Southeast Asian athletics scene in 2023. She shattered national records multiple times in both the 100m and 200m, which culminated in gold medals at the Southeast Asian Games and Asian Athletics Championships. Pereira also made history by becoming the first Singaporean to reach the 200m semi-finals at the World Athletics Championships and secured a spot in the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Pereira’s personal bests of 11.20 seconds in the 100m and 22.57 seconds in the 200m are the fastest timings by an Asian athlete, solidifying her as a strong contender for gold at the upcoming 2024 Asian Games in Hangzhou.
Read more: Shanti Pereira: 5 things to know about the Singapore sprinter inspiring a nation
Matt Orr
A household name in Hong Kong football, Matt Orr has been dubbed Hong Kong’s Cristiano Ronaldo for his skills on the pitch. The striker has been instrumental in the Hong Kong football team’s recent success, gaining fame in 2023 when he scored the goal that propelled the team into the Asian Games quarter-finals for the first time since 1958.
While the Asian Games goal gained him national recognition, Orr’s achievements extend further. He started his professional career with the Hong Kong Premier League club Kitchee before moving to Guangxi Pingguo Haliao before landing a spot with his current team, Shenzhen Peng City, in China’s prestigious Super League.
Kyra Poh
Kyra Poh has cemented her position as Asia’s top indoor skydiver with a record-breaking performance at the 2023 World Indoor Skydiving Championships. There, she became the first athlete ever to win all individual freestyle disciplines at the Championships when she demonstrated her exceptional aerial agility and mastery of body control. The Singaporean Red Bull athlete holds three Guinness World Records; one of which is for performing the most backward somersaults—68 to be exact—in a wind tunnel within a minute.
Poh’s journey to flying high began when she was eight years old. Now at 22, her remarkable achievements continue to inspire aspiring indoor skydivers around the world.
Read more: Kyra Poh, the record-breaking Red Bull skydiving athlete on dealing with the stress of success
Tiffani Lim
Athletes committee chairperson, International Esports Federation
As the athletes committee chairperson of the International Esports Federation (IeSF), Malaysia’s Tiffani Lim is spearheading efforts to gain recognition for esports as an Olympic event and promote its legitimacy on the global stage. Despite being a self-proclaimed introvert, Lim is a vocal advocate for greater inclusivity, actively working to create more opportunities for women and marginalised groups in the male-dominated scene.
In addition to her leadership role at the IeSF, Lim manages Grills Gaming, the all-female Malaysian Dota 2 esports team that made history in 2023 by winning gold at the Global Esports Games. Through her efforts, Lim hopes to normalise female participation, inspire more women-focused tournaments and ultimately address the severe gender imbalance in professional esports.
Meet more Gen.T Leaders of Tomorrow in Sports.
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