challengers
n. countablen. people or teams that compete against a champion or a leader to take their place. You often see this in sports or politics.
n. individuals or groups that enter a competition to contest a title or position held by another. Often implies an underdog status or a direct confrontation with an established authority.
The young tennis player is one of the top challengers this year.
After years of dominance by one party, several new challengers have emerged to contest the upcoming local election.
The incumbent CEO faces several internal challengers who argue that her conservative fiscal policies have stifled the company's ability to innovate in a rapidly shifting market.
Commonly used in the plural to describe the field of competitors in a tournament or election.