Growing up in China, Xinyi Hua was an avid fan of the local soccer club, Shanghai Shenhua. While she had no athletic ambitions of her own, Xinyi dreamed of a future as a sports journalist so she could one day cover her favorite team. At the age of 22, she was hired by Xin Min Evening News, where she has worked for the past 20 years. Outside of her own professional success, Xinyi credits sport for uniquely opening her eyes to the world. On one occasion, her job might take her to cover a Wimbledon Final, but on another occasion, she might be visiting a local hospital in South Africa during a break from World Cup coverage to see children being treated for HIV. “For me, sport is a culture and the power of the mind, and life, coming together,” she says.

Xinyi is now the Editor of Sports and Culture at Xin Min Evening News and was named to Forbes’ list of Most Powerful Women in International Sports. She also publishes a weekly column in the newspaper where young women can share their sports-related life stories.