15 hunk-some athletes to watch out for this SEA Games
Spoiler alert: 8 of them are Singaporeans
By the HerWorld Online team -
Alas! With the 29th Southeast Asian Games upon us, the responsibility of scouring the list of athletes for the 'hottest of them all' falls on our shoulders, of course.
By virtue of innumerable arduous training and punishing workouts, these young athletes have propelled themselves to true Adonis stature in all our eyes.
Here's a roundup of the hunkiest, most swoon-worthy men participating in this year's games for your visual pleasure.
READ MORE: SHOULD YOU DATE THAT GUY AT THE GYM? SINGAPOREAN FITNESS TRAINERS AND STUDENTS SHARE THEIR ADVICE
Who better than Irfan Fandi to start off the list? The eldest son of our lion city’s football legend Fandi Ahmad (who also happens to be the subject of nearly every woman’s fantasy in the late ‘80s) seems to have not only inherited his father’s outstanding football skills and passion, but his formal top-model mother, Wendy Jacob’s winning good looks as well.
Irfan’s stellar skills in football has amassed multiple victories for his club Home United. This strapping chap is one to cheer for during the SEA games. That is, if you’re not too busy ogling at that prepossessing face of his.
Photos: Instagram / Irfan Fandi, The New Paper
Malaysia’s very own national swimmer, ( and - proclaimed by us - winsome heartthrob) has everything you could possibly wish for in man-candy; muscular, charming, the list goes on and on.
Seriously, with a killer smile that’ll win you over in a New York minute, this sexy stud is sure one to look out for this upcoming SEA games. Welson has formally beaten Olympic champion Mark Horton of Australia by bagging first place at the Mare Nostrum Tour Swimming Championship last June. 'Impressive' might just be an understatement for the 20-year-old Sarawakian.
Photos: Instagram / Welson Sim
Our very own national sprinter claims his biggest accomplishment is holding the national record for the 400m sprint, but we beg to differ - it’s his exceptional chiseled abs and toned physique.
The athlete turns up the heat with his fetching hot bod, but underneath all that lies a true-blue family guy who enjoys reserving his Sundays for some family time. We don’t know about you, but that by itself has won him a soft spot our hearts.
Photos: Instagram / Zubin Percy Muncherji
The 28-year-old leading gymnast from Vietnam is one to watch closely this SEA Games as one of the top contenders to bring home a gold medal in gymnastics. He has, after all, taken home the gold medal at the 23rd and 24th SEA Games previously. He’s particularly strong in Parallel Bars, consistently outperforming his fellow Vietnamese gymnasts at the event.
There’s no doubt the 21 years of hard work spent dedicating his time to training has paid off - and thankfully for us, one of the results is a whole lot of hotness. To add, he’s also known to be a doting boyfriend; regularly showering us with affectionate #relationshipgoals photos of him and his girlfriend (Sorry, ladies) on Instagram. All eyes on him? Our pleasure.
Photos: Instagram / Pham Phuoc Hung
Do we even need an introduction for this boy wonder? Well, unless you’ve made a conscious effort to avoid all news mediums or online channels during the Rio Olympics last year.
The Marine Parade Milo-loving champ holds a special place in all our hearts as Singapore’s first ever Olympic gold medalist in 2016, and his devilish charms have got us ladies swooning ever since we’ve caught a glance at that perfectly-defined bod. And since then, it has progressively developed even further.
But what really bought us over was Joseph’s unabashed display of affection and appreciation for his parents countless times on Instagram through heartwarming captions proclaiming his love for them. A humble Mummy’s boy always takes the cake. Awww…
Photos: Instagram / Joseph Schooling
Harbour no doubt that this Filipino athlete's got a whole battalion of female fans back home cheering their hearts out whenever he's on the long jump track brandishing his athletic prowess.
The 23-year-old is quite a head-turner, and he's not lacking in the sports department as well; having won the Gold medal at the recent Malaysian Open Championship.
The heartthrob’s proven himself to be a jack of all trades; not only is he an avid traveller, but he’s also taken up photography and surfing as one of his many hobbies as well. Watching him clinch his next potential Gold medal at the SEA Games would definitely be a sight for sore eyes.
Photos: Instagram / Tyler Christian Ruiz
Mention the name Sarach Yooyen in Thailand and we'll guarantee you'll witness all the ladies breaking into a sheepish smile.
It's easy to see why, given the 25-year-old’s reputation as one of the more influential star players as a key Midfielder in the Thai League club Muangthong United and Thailand's very own national team to boot. Helping his club secure win after win just proves the consistency in his stellar skills on the field.
Despite relentlessly chasing his dreams on the football field for the past 4 years, he still manages to pursue an interest in modelling street fashion - as one could clearly see from his Instagram feed. One thing's for sure; he has stolen our hearts (and he can very well just keep it).
Photos: Instagram / Sarach Yooyen , The Straits Times / Lim Sin Thai
READ MORE: WHAT A FLIRT! 4 WAYS TO ATTRACT A MAN WITHOUT SPEAKING
The promising Swiss-Thai midfielder's a viral football sensation back in Thailand. We're not kidding, he's been dubbed as the 'Asian Cristiano Ronaldo' by his Thai fans on Twitter.
A definite hot subject back in his country, the football star has repeatedly reminded fans to not only focus on his looks, but also the football skills he has been working so hard to develop. To be fair, that request is very much justified; his top-notch combination of ball control and acute thinking is one to beat, having scored the winning penalty goal against Singapore during the 2014 Asian Games.
Photos: Instagram / Charyl Chappius
Bulge alert! This Brit-Filipino is a man for all seasons; apparent from his deft pursuit in studying and protecting marine life in The Philippines and of course, rugby.
He’s also known for starring in the Philippine romantic reality series I Do back in 2014 alongside Miss Earth Philippines 2012, Princess Manzon.
The frosting on top of the cake: he’s even opened a small Portuguese peri-peri chicken restaurant back home and instituting a start-up company to deal with waste management. If brains - as compared to brawns - are your thing, this iron man has got both.
Photos: Instagram / Harry Morris
At only 19, the Singapore National Water Ski member with boyish good looks and endearingly sweet smile has already won his first Asian Men’s Slalom Title (Singapore's first in 18 years, wow) and a gold medal during the 2015 SEA Games.
Having taken up the sport at age 13, Mark has proven to fulfil the attributes of a humble yet imposing young athlete.
He’s also a fitness junkie; dedicating himself to gyming, eating clean, and championing an active lifestyle. Water skiing has never been as captivating as when Mark Leong is running the show.
Photos: Instagram / Mark Leong
The second eldest of the Param brothers is the perfect embodiment of winning the genetic lottery - he’s cool, put-together and ever-so attractive.
The brainy cricket player is currently in his final year in Nanyang Technological University studying Accountancy & Business, but has expressed interest in dropping investment banking as a potential career and instead, solely devote himself to his true passion: cricket.
Not that we’re complaining, we’re looking forward to witnessing his athletic endeavors and accomplishments that’s to come.
Photos: Instagram / Prasheen Param, The New Paper / Gavin Foo
Quite evidently, excelling in cricket playing runs in the family based off of the brothers’ qualifications into the SEA Games. But the youngest of the Param brothers stands out with his sweet-natured, appealing disposition. As a fresh face in the national sporting scene, Navin’s impetuous ardour for cricket seems to be running on a endless supply of fuel.
As newcomers who were selected to represent Singapore in the SEA Games for the very first time, the gallant-looking sexy brothers promise to take on the games with gusto. The question is this: With more than one hunk to feast eyes on, which one would your line of vision chase?
Photos: Facebook / Navin Param
Prepare to lose buckets of drool when it comes to the suave 19-year-old Singaporean Muay Thai fighter. For 7 hours a day and 6 days in a week, his workout routine comprises of: a 15km run, 500 sit-ups and 300 squats.
He’s even told The New Paper that he has slept in the Muay Thai gym he trains in multiple times to further toil away in training.
The ITE student is diligent in his conquest to be a national champion, and he’s quite the sweetheart too; having been motivated to take up Muay Thai due to being bullied for his tiny physique at the age of 12. With a robust physique and washboard-abs to die for, Bryan is quickly climbing the list of hunkiest athletes in Singapore.
Photos: Instagram / Bryan Tee
Our very own resident water polo player (left) is so thoroughly toned, he sends shivers down our spines. The NUS undergrad describes his ideal day as one where he’s able to just rest in deep slumber during the day… Whose isn’t?
But we’d like to think that the endurance of the national water polo team’s infamously intense drills (think 12-hour full-body sets) 6 times a week is reason enough to rationalise such a desire.
And lest we forget to mention: he’s also an omnivorous reader, displaying his taste in books on his Instagram account. If there’s one thing we can’t resist, it’s a true aficionado of the books.
Photo: Instagram / Ooi Yee Jia, The Straits Times, Lim Sin Thai
The Paris-born right-back player for Thailand has expressed confusion towards his ethnic identity in his younger days. His father, being half Vietnamese-Thai, and his mother being French, Tristan grew up in France whilst being simply classified as the ‘Asian guy’ by his peers.
And when the window of opportunity opened in 2014 for him to embark on a professional football career in his father’s homeland, Tristan jumped at it. He has described football as a form of universal language that connects him to his fellow players, in light of his small grasp of the Thai language.
P.s. the player (who is totally dominating the athletic eye-candy game) is close friends with fellow hottie Charyl Chappius too. Talk about a power duo.
Photos: Instagram / Tristan Do
READ MORE: SINGAPORE OLYMPIAN, ACTOR AND OVERALL #CUTIE TIMOTHEE YAP TALKS ABOUT STYLE