Netflix's first international spin-off of its South Korean hit Physical: 100 will debut on Tuesday. And this time, it's going to be a battle of nations, with eight countries competing.
In the original reality show, 100 contestants – women and men – known for their physical attributes, go head-to-head in challenges that test their strength, endurance, willpower and strategy. Contestants are eliminated with each challenge, with the last person standing named the ultimate victor. The show has run for two seasons, with a third one, as well as other international spin-offs, now in the works.
What is Physical: Asia about?
Physical: Asia is the hit show's first international spin-off and the first to feature a showdown of countries. A total of 48 athletes feature in the competition, six each from eight countries: South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Mongolia, Turkey, Indonesia, Australia and the Philippines.
The countries were chosen for their passion for sports and distinct characteristics, Netflix said. The show features new settings and quests, from sinking ships to fortress-style battles, each weaving elements of South Korean and Asian culture.
“We built the set across an area the size of five soccer fields, using 1,200 tonnes of sand and 40 tonnes of steel. This season delivers stories, quests and physical battles unlike anything audiences have seen,” said showrunner Jang Ho-gi.
“At its heart, the Physical series is about raw competition that transcends disciplines and generations. By bringing national pride into the equation, the battles will be more intense, more emotional, and more unforgettable than ever.”
Dream teams
Team South Korea
UFC star Dong-hyun “Stun Gun” Kim, who is in season two of Physical: 100, leads his country alongside season two winner Amotti and wrestler Jang Eun-sil, who appeared in season one. They are joined by skeleton racer and Olympic gold medallist Yun Sung-bin, CrossFit athlete Choi Seung-yeon and wrestling champion Kim Min-jae.
Team Philippines
Boxer Manny Pacquiao, the only eight-division world champion in history, is the team lead for the Philippines. He's joined by MMA star Mark “Mugen” Striegl, strongman Ray Jefferson Querubin, rugby star Justin Coveney, hurdler Robyn Lauren Brown and CrossFit athlete Lara Liwanag.
At the end of the the fifth episode, it was revealed that Pacquiao is exiting the show and returning to the Philippines. "I wanted to take a moment and apologise to everyone. I have to leave the competition because of another obligation in my home country," the boxing champ said in a recorded clip. "Also, I want to apologise to my team. We came here with one goal. To show the capacity and capability of Team Philippines."
Pacquiao was replaced by CrossFit athlete Justin Hernandez.
Team Japan
Japan is led by decorated MMA fighter Yushin Okami, who is joined by baseball player Yoshio “Superhuman” Itoi, swimmer Katsumi Nakamura, judoka Soichi Hashimoto, wrestler Nonoka Ozaki and another MMA fighter Kana Watanabe.
Team Thailand
Muay Thai champion Superbon, the current No 2 pound-for-pound kickboxer in the world, leads Team Thailand. He is backed by boxer James Rusameekae, rugby athlete Sunny Kerdkao Wechokittikorn, wrestler Anucha Yospanya, bodybuilder Ploy Nuannaree Olsen and CrossFit athlete Jar Uracha Teerawanitsan.
Team Indonesia
Indonesia is led by bodybuilding champion and Mr Indonesia 2018 Igede “Executioner” Dharma Susila. He will be joined by jiu-jitsu athlete Fina Phillipe, swimmer Glenn Victor, athlete Jeremiah Lakhwani, badminton player Marcus Gideon and basketball player Maria Selena.
Gideon exited the show earlier in the competition, having sustained an injury in the first challenge. He was replaced by bodybuilder Isai Kesek.
Team Mongolia
Wrestling champion Orkhonbayar Bayarsaikhan leads a team of super athletes, including MMA fighter Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu, judoka Adiyasuren Amarsaikhan, basketball player Dulguun Enkhbat, volleyball player Khandsuren Gantogtokh and contortionist Lkhagva-Ochir Erdene-Ochirn.
Team Turkey
Four-time oil wrestling champion Recep Kara is the team lead for Turkey. He is joined by freestyle wrestler Yasemin Adar Yigit, karate athlete Ali Sofuoglu, sailor Anil Berk Baki, rower Ogeday Girisken and athlete Nefise Karatay.
Team Australia
UFC middleweight champion Robert “The Reaper” Whittaker leads a team of top athletes for Team Australia. It includes rugby player Eloni Vunakece, fitness coach Alexandra Milne, strongman Eddie Williams, parkour star Dom Tomato and Hyrox athlete Katelin Van Zyl.
Physical: Asia will stream on Netflix from October 28
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
If you go
Flight connections to Ulaanbaatar are available through a variety of hubs, including Seoul and Beijing, with airlines including Mongolian Airlines and Korean Air. While some nationalities, such as Americans, don’t need a tourist visa for Mongolia, others, including UAE citizens, can obtain a visa on arrival, while others including UK citizens, need to obtain a visa in advance. Contact the Mongolian Embassy in the UAE for more information.
Nomadic Road offers expedition-style trips to Mongolia in January and August, and other destinations during most other months. Its nine-day August 2020 Mongolia trip will cost from $5,250 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, two nights’ hotel accommodation in Ulaanbaatar, vehicle rental, fuel, third party vehicle liability insurance, the services of a guide and support team, accommodation, food and entrance fees; nomadicroad.com
A fully guided three-day, two-night itinerary at Three Camel Lodge costs from $2,420 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, accommodation, meals and excursions including the Yol Valley and Flaming Cliffs. A return internal flight from Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad costs $300 per person and the flight takes 90 minutes each way; threecamellodge.com
Gulf Under 19s final
Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Where to buy
Limited-edition art prints of The Sofa Series: Sultani can be acquired from Reem El Mutwalli at www.reemelmutwalli.com
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo
Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic
Power: 242bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Price: Dh136,814
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
