Martial arts guru Chatri Sityodtong wields more power than Yao Ming in Asia top 10 leaders list
Fifa president Gianni Infantino tops the field of the region’s most powerful officials compiled by Fox Sports Asia
Chinese basketball legend Yao Ming, MMA impresario Chatri Sityodtong and the head of China’s soccer federation are among three personalities including in Asia’s 10 most influential sports leaders of 2017, compiled by global broadcaster Fox Sports Asia.
Yao, the former Houston Rockets star who now heads the Chinese Basketball Association came eighth in the rankings, one place ahead of Chinese Football Association chief Cai Zhenhua.
The biggest surprise was Chatri being placed number three by the broadcaster – which has a variety of sports channels that are seen by billions throughout Asia, including Hong Kong.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino was number one ahead of NBA commissioner Adam Silver, with Uefa president leksander Ceferin at No 4. Others on the list are Horacio Muratore (5) head of amateur basketball world body FIBA, Formula One’s new American boss John Malone (6), Indian Premier League cricket chief Hemang Amin (7) and Ricky Vargas (10), of the Philippine Basketball Association.
Thai entrepreneur Chatri founded Asia’s ONE Championship MMA circuit in 2011 and it is now the main rival to UFC globally. ONE fights are broadcast to more than 1 billion people in almost 130 countries and is said to be Asia’s biggest-ever media property with a value of US$1 billion.