Boxing champ Manny Pacquiao, centre, leads Team Philippines in Physical: Asia. Photo: Netflix
Boxing champ Manny Pacquiao, centre, leads Team Philippines in Physical: Asia. Photo: Netflix
Boxing champ Manny Pacquiao, centre, leads Team Philippines in Physical: Asia. Photo: Netflix
Boxing champ Manny Pacquiao, centre, leads Team Philippines in Physical: Asia. Photo: Netflix

All the eight teams on Physical: Asia, Netflix's international spin-off series


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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

Mixed martial artist Dong-hyun 'Stun Gun' Kim, centre, leads Team South Korea. Photo: Netflix
Mixed martial artist Dong-hyun 'Stun Gun' Kim, centre, leads Team South Korea. Photo: Netflix

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

Boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, left, and powerlifter Ray Jefferson Querubin in Physical: Asia season one. Photo: Netflix
Boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, left, and powerlifter Ray Jefferson Querubin in Physical: Asia season one. Photo: Netflix

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.

Team Japan

Mixed martial artist Yushin Okami, centre, is the team lead for Japan. Photo: Netflix
Mixed martial artist Yushin Okami, centre, is the team lead for Japan. Photo: Netflix

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

Team leader Superbon, centre, is currently the second best kickboxer in the world. Photo: Netflix
Team leader Superbon, centre, is currently the second best kickboxer in the world. Photo: Netflix

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

Bodybuilding champion Igedz the 'Executioner', centre, leads Team Indonesia. Photo: Netflix
Bodybuilding champion Igedz the 'Executioner', centre, leads Team Indonesia. Photo: Netflix

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.

Team Mongolia

Mongolian wrestler Orkhonbayar Bayarsaikhan, centre, is his country's team leader. Photo: Netflix
Mongolian wrestler Orkhonbayar Bayarsaikhan, centre, is his country's team leader. Photo: Netflix

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

Oil wrestling champion Recep Kara, centre, leads Team Turkey. Photo: Netflix
Oil wrestling champion Recep Kara, centre, leads Team Turkey. Photo: Netflix

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

Mixed martial artist Robert Whittaker, centre, also known as The Reaper or Bobby Knuckles, leads Team Australia. Photo: Netflix
Mixed martial artist Robert Whittaker, centre, also known as The Reaper or Bobby Knuckles, leads Team Australia. Photo: Netflix

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

TOURNAMENT INFO

Fixtures
Sunday January 5 - Oman v UAE
Monday January 6 - UAE v Namibia
Wednesday January 8 - Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 - Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 - UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia

UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid, Darius D’Silva, Karthik Meiyappan, Jonathan Figy, Vriitya Aravind, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Chirag Suri

The Bloomberg Billionaire Index in full

1 Jeff Bezos $140 billion
2 Bill Gates $98.3 billion
3 Bernard Arnault $83.1 billion
4 Warren Buffett $83 billion
5 Amancio Ortega $67.9 billion
6 Mark Zuckerberg $67.3 billion
7 Larry Page $56.8 billion
8 Larry Ellison $56.1 billion
9 Sergey Brin $55.2 billion
10 Carlos Slim $55.2 billion

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

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Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

Quick pearls of wisdom

Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”

Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.” 

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Andy Murray - hip

Novak Djokovic - elbow

Roger Federer - back

Stan Wawrinka - knee

Kei Nishikori - wrist

Marin Cilic - adductor

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How to tell if your child is being bullied at school

Sudden change in behaviour or displays higher levels of stress or anxiety

Shows signs of depression or isolation

Ability to sleep well diminishes

Academic performance begins to deteriorate

Changes in eating habits

Struggles to concentrate

Refuses to go to school

Behaviour changes and is aggressive towards siblings

Begins to use language they do not normally use

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid

When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid

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Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong

Rating: 4/5

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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

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Tamkeen's offering
  • Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
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Our legal columnist

Name: Yousef Al Bahar

Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994

Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers

Another way to earn air miles

In addition to the Emirates and Etihad programmes, there is the Air Miles Middle East card, which offers members the ability to choose any airline, has no black-out dates and no restrictions on seat availability. Air Miles is linked up to HSBC credit cards and can also be earned through retail partners such as Spinneys, Sharaf DG and The Toy Store.

An Emirates Dubai-London round-trip ticket costs 180,000 miles on the Air Miles website. But customers earn these ‘miles’ at a much faster rate than airline miles. Adidas offers two air miles per Dh1 spent. Air Miles has partnerships with websites as well, so booking.com and agoda.com offer three miles per Dh1 spent.

“If you use your HSBC credit card when shopping at our partners, you are able to earn Air Miles twice which will mean you can get that flight reward faster and for less spend,” says Paul Lacey, the managing director for Europe, Middle East and India for Aimia, which owns and operates Air Miles Middle East.

Updated: October 27, 2025, 11:43 AM