A martial arts empire: How one man is revolutionising Asia’s sporting scene
ONE Championship founder, Chatri Sityodtong, is on a mission to make his martial arts media property bigger than the NFL.
Who is Chatri Sityodtong?
Chatri grew up in Thailand before moving to the US and, despite significant financial lack, he managed to get into Harvard. Later, he established the US$500 million hedge fund company Izara Capital Management. But what Chatri truly had a passion for was martial arts and that led him to eventually create ONE Championship.
What is ONE Championship?
- Founded in 2011.
- Headquartered in Singapore.
- Sports media property that showcases a full spectrum of martial arts.
- Broadcasts to 1.7 billion viewers both through television and online.
- Has nearly seven million Facebook likes.
- Has more than 400,000 Twitter followers.
- Available in 136 countries.
- Will hold 52 events in 2018.
As the cover star of The CEO Magazine Asia’s June issue, we chat to Chatri to discover how he rose from poverty, followed his passion and created a sports media empire that celebrates Asia’s greatest cultural treasure.
Pearls of wisdom from Chatri:
On the value of martial arts
"If you think about all the values you inherit from martial arts, those are all the key ingredients for a successful life."
On how to live a good life
"A life well-lived is not about what kind of car you drive or house you own. It’s the impact you make on your loved ones, on your friends, on your community, and if you're lucky, the world."
On helping the less fortunate
"Having lived through poverty and being very blessed in the situation I'm in today, I feel a deep sense of responsibility to help all those who don't necessarily have the opportunity or chance."
The full story on Chatri Sityodtong and his ONE Championship empire is in The CEO Magazine Asia’s June 2018 issue, released 24 May. Subscribe today.