List of Foreign Sports Talent Scheme athletes

The Foreign Sports Talent Scheme is used by sports officials and organizations in Singapore to scout and facilitate the migration of non-Singaporeans deemed to possess sports talent to play in Singapore colours in sporting events. Introduced in 1993[1] by the Singapore Table Tennis Association,[2] it also aimed to boost local sporting standards by importing sporting expertise.

In March 2008, it was announced in the Parliament of Singapore that 54 athletes had benefited from the programme and received Singapore citizenship, of which 37 were still in active training.

Athletics

  • Zhang Guirong[3][4]
  • Dong Enxin (returned to native country)[3]
  • Du Xianhui[3][5]
  • Luan Wei[3]
  • E Xiaoxu[3]

Billiards

  • Peter Gilchrist[6]

Badminton

  • Dellis Yuliana
  • Hendra Wijaya
  • Hendri Saputra
  • Jiang Yanmei[7]
  • Li Yujia
  • Liu Fan[8]
  • Robin Gonansa
  • Ronald Susilo
  • Shinta Mulia Sari
  • Chayut Triyachart (retired due to injury)
  • Febriyan Irvannaldy (returned to native country)
  • Fu Mingtian (retired, became badminton coach and returned to native country)
  • Gu Juan
  • Huang Chao (retired due to injury)[9]
  • Li Li (quit national team and returned to native country)[7]
  • Xiao Luxi (returned to native country)[10]
  • Xing Aiying (retired due to injury)
  • Yao Lei (quit national team and returned to native country)[11]
  • Zhang Beiwen (dropped by Singapore Badminton Association)[12]
  • Zhou Lei

Basketball

  • Li Ling (Switched to national netball team in 2005 and retired in 2011)[7]
  • Zhao Jing
  • Li Lin (left Singapore)
  • Yao Xiuxiu (in Singapore)
  • Zhang Shu (left Singapore)

Chess

Football

Field hockey

  • Chen Huiling[15]
  • Li Ying[15]
  • Ma Xiaomeng[15]
  • Niu Lei[15]
  • Qi Hui (retired in 2007)[7][15]
  • Zhang Jun[15]

Water polo

  • Luo Nan

Table tennis

  • Cai Xiaoli (retired in 2011 and became the assistant coach of the national women's team)[7]
  • Chen Feng (retired in 2017)[16]
  • Feng Tianwei
  • Gao Ning (retired in 2018 and became the head coach of the national men's team)[17]
  • Lin Ye (table tennis)
  • Li Hu (sacked in 2016)[18]
  • Yu Mengyu (retired in 2022)[19]
  • Duan Yongjun (retired)
  • Jing Junhong (retired – moved to Singapore prior to introduction of FST, but citizenship was fast-tracked)
  • Li Li (returned to China)[20]
  • Li Jiawei (retired in 2012, returned to Beijing)[21]
  • Ma Liang (retired, stayed in Singapore as coach)
  • Sun Beibei (retired in 2012, stayed in Singapore as coach)[22]
  • Wang Yuegu (retired in 2012, stayed in Singapore as coach)[23]
  • Xu Yan (returned to native country)[7]
  • Yang Zi (retired in 2017)[24]
  • Zeng Jian
  • Zhan Jian (retired in 2015)[25]
  • Zhang Taiyong (retired)
  • Zhang Xueling (returned to native country)[7][26]
  • Zhou Yihan

References

  1. ^ Leonard Lim (9 March 2008), "Is the foreign talent scheme working?", The Straits Times, archived from the original on 14 September 2008, retrieved 5 June 2012
  2. ^ Peh Shing Huei (19 August 2008), "The man behind the medal", The Sunday Times, archived from the original on 22 August 2008.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Imports 'failed', but locals will take up baton: Athletics chief". Channel NewsAsia. Archived from the original on 3 September 2008. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
  4. ^ U-gene, Chan (18 December 2013). "Zhang dedicates golden gift to year-old son". AsiaOne. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  5. ^ "Du's back - after 6 years". www.asiaone.com. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  6. ^ "Gilchrist pots way to new world milestones". TODAYOnline. Archived from the original on 7 June 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i "'I won't cut ties with S'pore'". www.asiaone.com. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  8. ^ "Coaching revamp for S'pore badminton". TODAY. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  9. ^ "Huang quits s'pore team". Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  10. ^ "Xiao Luxi to quit national team". The Straits Times. 23 March 2004.
  11. ^ Lin, Jan. "Singapore doubles pairs humble seeded shuttlers". RED SPORTS. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  12. ^ Wong, Jonathan. "ZHANG 'SACKED' BY SBA". The Straits Times.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h hermes (23 September 2018). "Football: Foreign talent hunt back on the table for FAS". The Straits Times. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  14. ^ Osman, Shamir (3 May 2017). "FAS considering foreign-born trio for FTS". The New Paper.
  15. ^ a b c d e f "Two China-born athletes shown the door". Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  16. ^ "Singapore paddler Chen Feng retires at age of 23". todayonline.com. Low Lin Fhoong. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  17. ^ "Table tennis: Gao Ning appointed as men's national coach, youngsters promoted into senior squads". The Straits Times. David Lee. 2 January 2019. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  18. ^ "Table tennis: National player Li Hu sacked by STTA over disciplinary violation". The Straits Times. Jonathan Wong. 24 October 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  19. ^ "Table Tennis: Singapore's Olympic semi-finalist Yu Mengyu announces retirement". Channel News Asia. Yasmin Begum. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  20. ^ Lim, Han Ming (17 February 2008). "Thank you – and goodbye". The New Paper. p. 46.
  21. ^ "Li Jiawei wants to groom the next table tennis star". todayonline.com. Low Lin Fhoong. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  22. ^ "Sun Beibei" (PDF). stta.org.sg. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  23. ^ "Singapore table tennis player Wang Yuegu retires". china.org.cn. Chen Ji Peng. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  24. ^ "Yang Zi retires". tnp.straitstimes.com. Lim Han Ming. 6 January 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  25. ^ "Table Tennis: Elbow injury forces Zhan Jian to retire from Singapore national team". The Straits Times. Chua Siang Yee. 11 August 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  26. ^ Tan Hui Yee (26 August 2008), "The priceless power of the dream", The Straits Times, p. A26.