Golf Saudi continued its commitment to advancing women’s sport through its flagship thought leadership platform, Change With Conversation, a recurring feature of the PIF Global Series.
The latest edition,
held at the Aramco China Championship at Mission Hills this week, brought
together influential voices from sport, media, and business to explore how
representation and storytelling can shape the future of women’s sport in China.
The panel,
titled The Power of Representation: The Media’s Role in Shaping
Perception of Women in Sports in China, featured:
- Smile Xu, Business Owner & Golf Advocate
- Stephanie Ho, Ex-Professional Golfer Turned Singer and
Media Celebrity
- Zhou Dao, Media Director, World Table Tennis (WTT)
- Simin Feng, Former LPGA Player and Business Graduate
The discussion focused
on the evolving role of women in sport, the importance of visibility, and the
media’s responsibility in shaping public perception.
Gill Zhou:
“Celebrate the Journey, Not Just the Podium”
A highlight of the
event was a post-panel interview with Gill Zhou, former Global VP of IBM,
ex-President of Condé Nast China, and Chair of Shenzhen Fashion Week.
Zhou offered a
compelling perspective on how media can elevate women’s sport by focusing on
the full spectrum of athlete experiences.
“Every player has a
beautiful story, [they] have their own life experiences,” Zhou said. “Do we
just promote the winners, or do we actually promote those who aspire to be a
winner?
She emphasised the
importance of storytelling that goes beyond results, highlighting the value of
perseverance, growth, and personal transformation. Zhou also called for a more
inclusive approach to coverage, one that reflects the diversity of women’s journeys
in sport.
“Life is not just
about the winning and losing,” she added. “It’s about how much you participate
and how much you learn from that to become a better being.”
Three Themes for
Change: Access, Storytelling, and Self-Representation
The panel explored
three key themes that align with Golf Saudi’s global strategy:
- Access and Affordability
Golf Saudi’s
grassroots programs offer free access, equipment, and coaching were highlighted
as a model for growing the game in China and beyond.
- Storytelling with Substance
Speakers urged media
to spotlight not just champions, but the character and resilience of those
striving to succeed. “Every player has a story worth telling,” said
Smile Xu.
- Empowered Digital Presence
Stephanie Ho
emphasised the power of social media. “It’s not just about traffic,” she
said. “It’s about discovering new audiences and giving players the tools to
tell their own stories.”
Golf as a Cultural
Platform
Zhou also highlighted
the potential for women’s golf in China to become a platform for cultural
expression, innovation, and sustainability. Drawing on her experience in
fashion and media, she encouraged a vision of golf that reflects modern Chinese
identity.
“Golfing for AI.
Golfing for sustainability. Golfing for culture,” she said. “Let’s make women’s
golf not just a sport, but a stage for modern Chinese identity.”
Golf Saudi: A
Global Catalyst for Change
The Change With
Conversation series continues to serve as a platform for cross-border dialogue,
bringing together diverse voices to explore the future of sport.
At the Aramco China Championship, that conversation focused on the power of representation and the role of media, athletes, and institutions in shaping a more inclusive future for women in golf. -TradeArabia News Service