Sara Merican

Sara Merican is a journalist, athlete and storyteller from Singapore whose career spans business journalism, entertainment, communications and sport. A Gates Cambridge Scholar, she holds an MPhil in Film and Screen Studies from the University of Cambridge (2024).

Sara has represented Singapore internationally in both cricket and football. She has earned over 20 T20I caps in international cricket, competed at the 2023 Southeast Asian Games, and previously played in the Asian Cup Qualifiers for Singapore’s national football team. During the 2024/2025 season, she was part of Wigan Athletic’s first-ever women’s team, which went on to become league champions and secure promotion.

Beyond sport, Sara is an international voter for the Golden Globes and has reported on the global film and television industry for outlets including Deadline, Forbes, The Telegraph, the British Film Institute’s Sight & Sound, and NME.

As an IOC Young Leader for 2025-2028, Sara seeks to bring visibility to women’s sports across Southeast Asia – amplifying voices, stories and opportunities that often go unseen.

SEA Women’s Sports is a platform dedicated to spotlighting the journeys of Southeast Asian women in sport – not only athletes, but also the wider ecosystem that supports them: coaches, physiotherapists, scientists, sponsors, brands and administrators.

The initiative will also improve access to information about women’s sports leagues around the region, offering results, standings and viewing options to fans and media alike. By building visibility and storytelling around women’s sport, the project aims to inspire greater investment, partnerships and representation – nurturing a new generation of Southeast Asian sporting heroes.