List of Foreign Sports Talent Scheme athletes explained

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 by the Singapore Table Tennis Association,^[1] 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^{[2] [3]}
• Dong Enxin (returned to native country)
• Du Xianhui^[4]
• Luan Wei
• E Xiaoxu

Billiards

• Peter Gilchrist^[5]

Badminton

• Dellis Yuliana
• Hendra Wijaya
• Hendri Saputra
• Jiang Yanmei
• Li Yujia
• Liu Fan^[6]
• 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)^[7]
• Li Li (quit national team and returned to native country)
• Xiao Luxi (returned to native country)^[8]
• Xing Aiying (retired due to injury)
• Yao Lei (quit national team and returned to native country)^[9]
• Zhang Beiwen (dropped by Singapore Badminton Association)^[10]
• Zhou Lei

Basketball

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

Chess

• Wu Shaobin

Football

• Egmar Goncalves (returned to native country)^[11]
• Mirko Grabovac
• Daniel Bennett
• Agu Casmir
• Itimi Dickson
• Shi Jiayi
• Mustafic Fahrudin
• Precious Emuejeraye
• Qiu Li^[12]

Field hockey

• Chen Huiling^[13]
• Li Ying
• Ma Xiaomeng
• Niu Lei
• Qi Hui (retired in 2007)
• Zhang Jun

Water polo

• Luo Nan

Table tennis

• Cai Xiaoli (retired in 2011 and became the assistant coach of the national women's team)
• Chen Feng (retired in 2017)^[14]
• Feng Tianwei
• Gao Ning (retired in 2018 and became the head coach of the national men's team)^[15]
• Lin Ye (table tennis)
• Li Hu (sacked in 2016)^[16]
• Yu Mengyu (retired in 2022)^[17]
• Duan Yongjun (retired)
• Jing Junhong (retired – moved to Singapore prior to introduction of FST, but citizenship was fast-tracked)
• Li Li (returned to China)^[18]
• Li Jiawei (retired in 2012, returned to Beijing)^[19]
• Ma Liang (retired, stayed in Singapore as coach)
• Sun Beibei (retired in 2012, stayed in Singapore as coach)^[20]
• Wang Yuegu (retired in 2012, stayed in Singapore as coach)^[21]
• Xu Yan (returned to native country)^[22]
• Yang Zi (retired in 2017)^[23]
• Zeng Jian
• Zhan Jian (retired in 2015)^[24]
• Zhang Taiyong (retired)
• Zhang Xueling (returned to native country)^[25]
• Zhou Yihan

Notes and References

1. .
2. Web site: Imports 'failed', but locals will take up baton: Athletics chief . . June 5, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080903034950/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/301635/1/.html . 2008-09-03 . live .
3. Web site: U-gene. Chan. 2013-12-18. Zhang dedicates golden gift to year-old son. 2021-07-02. AsiaOne. en.
4. Web site: Du's back - after 6 years. 2021-07-02. www.asiaone.com.
5. Web site: Gilchrist pots way to new world milestones. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150607150429/http://www.todayonline.com/sports/gilchrist-pots-way-new-world-milestones. 7 June 2015. TODAYOnline. 7 June 2015.
6. Web site: Coaching revamp for S’pore badminton . 2024-01-23 . TODAY . en.
7. News: Huang quits s'pore team. 14 October 2020.
8. News: 23 March 2004. Xiao Luxi to quit national team. The Straits Times.
9. Web site: Lin . Jan . Singapore doubles pairs humble seeded shuttlers . 2024-01-23 . RED SPORTS . en-US.
10. News: Wong. Jonathan. ZHANG 'SACKED' BY SBA. The Straits Times.
11. Web site: hermes. 2018-09-23. Football: Foreign talent hunt back on the table for FAS. 2021-07-02. The Straits Times. en.
12. Web site: Osman. Shamir. 3 May 2017. FAS considering foreign-born trio for FTS. The New Paper.
13. Web site: Two China-born athletes shown the door . 19 February 2019.
14. Web site: Singapore paddler Chen Feng retires at age of 23 . todayonline.com . Low Lin Fhoong . 8 June 2022.
15. Web site: Table tennis: Gao Ning appointed as men's national coach, youngsters promoted into senior squads . . 2 January 2019 . David Lee . 8 June 2022.
16. Web site: Table tennis: National player Li Hu sacked by STTA over disciplinary violation . . 24 October 2016 . Jonathan Wong . 8 June 2022.
17. Web site: Table Tennis: Singapore's Olympic semi-finalist Yu Mengyu announces retirement . . Yasmin Begum . 8 June 2022.
18. News: Lim . Han Ming . 17 February 2008 . Thank you – and goodbye . 46 . The New Paper.
19. Web site: Li Jiawei wants to groom the next table tennis star . todayonline.com . Low Lin Fhoong . 8 June 2022.
20. Web site: Sun Beibei . stta.org.sg . 8 June 2022.
21. Web site: Singapore table tennis player Wang Yuegu retires . china.org.cn . Chen Ji Peng . 8 June 2022.
22. Web site: 'I won't cut ties with S'pore'. 2021-10-01. www.asiaone.com.
23. Web site: Yang Zi retires . tnp.straitstimes.com . 6 January 2017 . Lim Han Ming . 8 June 2022.
24. Web site: Table Tennis: Elbow injury forces Zhan Jian to retire from Singapore national team . . 11 August 2015 . Chua Siang Yee . 8 June 2022.
25. .