New boss off to flying start with One promotion
Former fighter pilot Teh Hua Fung is planning to take One Championship to new heights in China, his ancestral country.
Teh was introduced as the new chairman of the Singapore-based martial arts promotion’s China division on Wednesday.
The Singaporean businessman is tasked with expanding the organization’s presence in China, an emerging market for all combat sports.
Teh will also continue in his role as One’s chief financial officer.
“It is an honor to be appointed chairman of One Championship in China, a country with a long and respected tradition of martial arts going back thousands of years,” said Teh, who helmed private equity firm TPG Capital’s business investments across Greater China and Southeast Asia for over six years.
“I have a deep personal affection and respect for China, having spent a lot of time and made many friends there. My late grandparents were from southern China, so there is a personal connection for me as well,” added Teh, who is fluent in Mandarin and English.
The 39-year-old boasts a black belt in taekwondo, represented his secondary school and university on the basketball court and helped bring Formula One to Singapore in 2008 as a part of the government team that secured the rights to the race.
He was also an aviator with the Republic of Singapore Air Force, piloting F-16 fighters from 2003-05.
“Sitting in the cockpit of a fighter jet is obviously not the same as being an executive in a sports business,” Teh told The Straits Times in April.
“But there are many similarities — the rush, the physicality of being around sportsmen and sportswomen.”
With One Championship’s 11th China show just around the corner, Teh is enthusiastically diving into his new duties.
The event will be held at Shanghai’s Baoshan Arena on Sept 8, with local favorite Xiong “The Panda” Jingnan topping the bill in a defense of her strawweight world title against Samara Santos of Brazil.
Also on the 10-bout card is Chinese Muay Thai boxer Han Zihao’s bantamweight battle with Stergos Mikkios of Greece and Filipino contender Honorio Banario’s lightweight clash with Amir Khan of Singapore.
Since its China debut in 2014 in Beijing, One Championship has signed about 100 Chinese fighters to multi-bout contracts, with many more waiting in the pipeline.
“Teh’s dedication to growing our brand while delivering fans a unique and authentic martial arts experience has changed the game for us,” said Chatri Sityodtong, chairman and CEO of One Championship.
“I have full confidence that he can lead our operations in China and bring it to the next level.”