List of Foreign Sports Talent Scheme athletes
The Foreign Sports Talent Scheme is used by sports officials and organisations 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]
- Dong Enxin (returned to native country)[3]
- Du Xianhui (returned to native country)[3]
- Luan Wei[3]
- E Xiaoxu[3]
Billards
Badminton
- Fu Mingtian
- Gu Juan
- Hendra Wijaya
- Hendri Saputra
- Jiang Yanmei
- Li Yujia
- Liu Fan
- Ronald Susilo
- Xing Aiying
- Yao Lei
- Zhang Beiwen (quit national team)
- Robin Gonansa
- Danny Bawa Chrisnanta
- Shinta Mulia Sari
- Dellis Yuliana
- Chayut Triyachart
- Li Li (quit national team)
- Xiao Luxi (returned to native country)
- Riky Widianto (returned to native country)
- Febriyan Irvannaldy (returned to native country)
Basketball
- Li Ling (in national netball team)
- Zhao Jing
- Zhou Lei
- Li Lin (left Singapore)
- Yao Xiuxiu (left Singapore)
- Zhang Shu (left Singapore)
Chess
Football
- Agu Casmir
- Daniel Bennett
- Itimi Dickson
- Mirko Grabovac
- Mustafic Fahrudin
- Precious Emuejeraye
- Shi Jiayi
- Egmar Goncalves (returned to native country)[4]
Hockey
- Chen Huiling
- Ma Xiaomeng
- Niu Lei
- Qi Hui
- Zhang Jun
- Li Ying (not active, living in Singapore)
Water polo
Table tennis
- Chen Feng
- Feng Tianwei
- Gao Ning
- Lin Ye
- Li Hu
- Yang Zi
- Yu Mengyu
- Zhou Yihan
- Cai Xiaoli (retired)
- Duan Yongjun (retired)
- Jing Junhong (retired – moved to Singapore prior to introduction of FST, but citizenship was fast-tracked)
- Li Jiawei (retired, returned to Beijing)
- Ma Liang (retired, stayed in Singapore as coach)
- Sun Beibei (retired, stayed in Singapore as coach)
- Wang Yuegu (retired, stayed in Singapore as coach)
- Xu Yan (returned to native country)
- Zhan Jian (retired)
- Zhang Taiyong (retired)
- Zhang Xueling (returned to native country)[4]
References
- ^ Leonard Lim (2008-03-09), "Is the foreign talent scheme working?", The Straits Times
- ^ Peh Shing Huei (2008-08-19), "The man behind the medal", The Sunday Times.
- ^ a b c d e "Imports 'failed', but locals will take up baton: Athletics chief". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
- ^ a b Tan Hui Yee (2008-08-26), "The priceless power of the dream", The Straits Times, p. A26.