Bar None: Recent Episodes

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As a momentous year in Malaysian sports nears to a close, we look back at some of the biggest sporting stories that happened this year.

We revisit Sivasangari Subramaniam's historic win at the London Squash Classic that marked the first time a Malaysian had won a gold-level PSA tournament since Datuk Nicol David in 2015, the horrific attacks on footballers Faisal Halim and Akhyar Rashid that shook Malaysian football, Malaysia's bid to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games that drew mixed reactions and heated debates, the thrilling bronze medal matches fought by national shuttlers Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and Lee Zii Jia at the Paris Olympics, and the performance report card of the Malaysian contingent at the world's biggest games.

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In this episode of That's A Sport, we shine a spotlight on World Chase Tag, the first and only global league for competitive parkour tag- an exhilarating fusion of skill, strategy, and athleticism inspired by the game of cops and robbers. Drawing some of the world's best parkour athletes, the sport sees two teams battling it out in an obstacle-filled arena called The Quad in an intense game of speed and agility where athletes race against the clock with one goal in mind: Don't get caught!

We speak to one of the founding members of the sport, Christian Devaux, to discover how World Chase Tag has transformed one of the oldest games in the world into the fast-paced, high-octane viral worldwide phenomenon it is today.

That's A Sport is a monthly series where we look to explore and discover some lesser known sports from around the globe.

Photo credit: World Chase Tag

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This week, we're joined by young dance-sport athlete Cherry Yeo, who recently made history as Malaysia's first champion at the World DanceSport Federation’s World Cup Solo Latin. The 19 year old shares her inspiring journey as a hobbyist to competitive dancer, highlighting her recent victories in Serbia and Spain. She also breaks down the challenges she faces and her dedication to mentoring younger dancers in the future.

Photo Credit: Cherry Yeo on Facebook

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The fast-growing global padel phenomenon has hit Malaysia in full force as the racket sport ramps up in the region. With a team headed by former national squash player Delia Arnold, team manager and Joy Divison Padel’s Rajay Singh and Maurice Noone have set their sights on a Malaysian team taking the sport by storm on the world stage as it's on track to be included in the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. We get a look behind the scenes into Malaysia's first competitive padel team – fresh off finishing fourth at their first outing at the inaugural Asia Pacific Padel Cup 2024 – to find out what it's taking to develop the sport locally, padel in the region, and where they hope to take the team in the future.

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The LPGA Maybank Championship is set to take place this week, running from October 24th to 27th at the prestigious Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC). Defending champion Celine Boutier, who triumphed in a thrilling nine-hole playoff last year, leads the field. She'll be joined by top contenders like Lilia Vu and Yin Ruoning, all vying for the $3 million purse.

One of the golfers representing Malaysia is 23-year-old Liyana Durisic, a newly-minted professional golfer eager to make her mark. After qualifying through the inaugural ASEAN Qualifier, this will be her second LPGA Tour appearance, following her debut as an amateur at the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia in 2017. Liyana joins us on the program this week as we dive into her journey from amateur to professional, and discuss her role in growing women’s golf in Malaysia and the region.

Photo Credit: Iowa State University Athletics

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Dutch wingback Mats Deijl's eligibility for the Malaysian national football team sparked considerable excitement among local football authorities and fans, especially after the FAM president hinted at Go Ahead Eagles captain’s potential as the latest naturalised player. Despite FIFA’s strict and well-defined regulations, FAM pressed forward with their pursuit of Deijl, raising concerns about the association’s recruitment strategy and its impact on future player naturalisation efforts. In the end, their attempt fell short, leaving FAM facing criticism. We dissected the issue with T.Avinesh.

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In this episode of That's A Sport, we dive into the world of Competitive Excel, where spreadsheet enthusiasts showcase their creativity, speed, and problem-solving skills through nail-biting timed challenges of complex data problems - all using the world's best puzzle-solving tool.

Today, the Microsoft Excel World Championships is quickly becoming the next big thing in esports, bringing together the world's foremost Excel experts to battle it out head-to-head in spectator-friendly showdowns in packed arenas and watched by millions online. Andrew Grigolyunovich, founder and CEO of the Financial Modelling World Cup, takes us behind the scenes of the spreadsheet spectacle.

That's A Sport is a monthly series where we look to explore and discover some lesser known sport around the globe.

Photo credit: Robert McMillan/The Wall Street Journal

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National women's doubles shuttlers Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan celebrated Malaysia Day as they made history with their win at last weekend's Hong Kong Open as the first Malaysian women's pair to win the Super 500 tournament in its 42-year history. Their 37-minute defeat of world No. 3 pair Liu Sheng Shu-Tan Ning ended their two-year title drought and four-match losing streak to the Chinese opponents, and secured the duo their first title since the 2022 French Open - the third World Tour title under their belt since pairing up in 2021.

Journalist Fabian Mark Peter breaks down their spectacular performance, examines their careers so far and post-Olympics, and what we can expect from the pair at this week's China Open and on their road to the finals.

Photo credit: Badmintonphoto

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This episode, we shine the spotlight on an innovative martial art created in 2020. Car-Jitsu combines Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) with the unique constraints of a car’s interior, where fighters use seats, steering wheels, seat belts, and mirrors as tools for submission. Designed as a fun experiment to push BJJ’s boundaries, it has since gained viral attention online for its unorthodox and exciting nature. We dive into the sport’s origins with its founder, Vik Mikheev.

That's A Sport is a brand new monthly series where we look to explore and discover some lesser known sport around the globe.

Photo Credit: CarJitsu Championship

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As the dust settles on Paris 2024, Malaysia is celebrating the two bronze medals under our belt and lamenting the near misses at the podium, in what has been a tumultuous Olympics journey for our athletes and the nation. In our post-Games report card, we review the performance of the Malaysian contingent at the world's biggest games and get into what the failed gold medal target will mean for our athletes now and looking forward at Los Angeles 2028.

Photo credit: BERNAMA

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Badminton at the Paris Olympics has kept the nation on the edge of its seat this week, as we witnessed nail-biting bronze medal matches that clinched two highly-anticipated medals for Malaysia's medal tally, with Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik defending their Tokyo 2020 bronze title in the men's doubles after wrestling back four match points in a tight second set and forcing an even closer rubber game, and Lee Zii Jia's hard fought victory against India's Lakshya Sen in a much-needed second wind that showed us all why he's one of the country's best.

Keeshaanan Sundaresan joins us on the show to break down the action on the court and what this means for Malaysian badminton come Los Angeles 2028.

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All eyes are on Malaysia's shuttlers - the country's biggest prospects to bring home that elusive gold medal - as the fight for the podium heats up in Paris. They've proven their mettle against the stacked competition so far in the group stage; with a victorious start from Lee Zii Jia, men's doubles pair Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik quickly securing their quarter-final slot, duo Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan smashing their way through the notorious "group of death", and a remarkable comeback and Olympic debut from singles shuttler Goh Jin Wei as she vies for her own spot in a fast-intensifying quarter-final.

Journalist Fabian Mark Peter breaks down their performances so far, sizes up the competition our shuttlers will be facing as they enter the quarter finals, and gives us his take on their medal prospects and what we can expect to see on the courts of La Chapelle Arena.

Photo credit: AFP

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"I doubt it" says Twentytwo13's Haresh Deol as this week on the program, we preview the Paris Olympics set to kick off this weekend. Team Malaysia's 26-strong roster - the smallest contingent since Athens 2004 - is a mix of experienced Olympians & athletes making their maiden appearance. It's been an eventful lead-up to the Games so far for our nation's athletes, marred with qualification uncertainties, uniform design woes, and lofty medal targets - will Paris 2024 be the main event or a stepping stone to our long-term LA 2028 prospects?

Haresh gives us a rundown of what our athletes are up against, their chances at the podium, and what we can expect to see at the 33rd edition of the world's biggest games.

Photo Credits: AFP

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In recent days, KL City FC's captain, Paulo Josué, has highlighted the issue of unpaid salaries within the team, criticising the club’s management for their lack of transparency. Despite potential risks, he disclosed his own seven-month salary delay and the financial difficulties faced by his teammates and staff.

As the new season is well underway, Malaysian football still grapples with an age-old issue on salary disputes. The FA of Malaysia (FAM) and Malaysian Football League (MFL) now may face repercussions from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) if these issues persist. Sports journalist T. Avinesh joins us to discuss these ongoing challenges.

Photo credit: HAIRUL ANUAR RAHIM

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In this episode of our Road To Paris series where we shine a spotlight on a Malaysian contingent heading to the upcoming Summer Olympics, all eyes are on 24-year-old Malaysian professional golfer Ashley Lau. Starting her career on the University of Michigan All-American women’s team, Ashley qualified for the Epson Tour and the Race for The Card to play in the LPGA before being the 22nd Malaysian athlete to qualify for the 2024 Summer Olympics. From being the first Sarawakian woman to turn professional here in Malaysia to beating out former world No.1 South Korea’s Shin Ji Yai by one stroke, Ashley joins us here this episode to share about her career journey and experiences, along with her goals for the future.

Photo credit: Epson Tour

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Last week, national bowler Sin Li Jane carved her name into sporting folklore by triumphing at the US Women's Open in Indianapolis, becoming the first Malaysian and only the second Asian to claim this illustrious title. A revered luminary in the bowling community, before this historic feat, she has accumulated a treasure trove of medals from the Asian Games and World Championships, establishing her as one of the country's best athletes. After a significant five-year hiatus from the PWBA tour, she made a sensational return this season 2024 - so far winning three titles & her very first major in the US Women's Open. She's currently ear-marked to win the PWBA Player of the Year award. In this episode, she shares her reflections on this historic victory, her inspiring return to the tour, and the profound impact her success is having on aspiring athletes in Malaysia.

Photo credit: PWBA TOUR

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On our Road To Paris series, we're shining a spotlight on the Malaysian contingent heading to the upcoming Summer Olympics. This week, we hear from 22-year-old weightlifter Aniq Kasdan - reigning Commonwealth Games gold medalist, current national record holder, and ranked eighth in the world in the Men's 61kg category - as he prepares for his maiden Games. We find out about his weightlifting journey so far, how he's training to break that 300kg mark for his shot at the podium in Paris, and carrying the weight of the sport on his shoulders.

Photo credit: Bernama

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In March, it was reported that Formula E's return to Malaysia was in its advanced stage with a proposal between Sports Tech Holdings and Formula E - which aimed for Malaysia to host the season finale until 2030. A move that would potentially boost the economy by RM6.73 billion over the decade, creating over 10,000 jobs.

However, the plan fell through due to high costs and financial demands from Formula E. Now, Thailand has emerged as the prime candidate to host the season finale. Was this a missed opportunity for Malaysia or simply a futile effort?

Joining us on the program to discuss this further is Twentytwo13’s Haresh Deol.

Photo credit: cjmac / Shutterstock.com

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Jombola, a homegrown sport developed in 2006, was designed to be versatile. The unique game combines the skills of tennis, squash, and ping pong and the points system of badminton to create a sport anybody can play - all you need to start exercising is pick up the racquet. Founded by Sukdev Singh, the sport utilises the badminton courts already found in schools, playgrounds, and parks, and features a specially designed racquet and foam ball that players can slow down or speed up to suit their playing style.

That's A Sport is a monthly series where we explore and discover lesser known sports from around the globe.

Photo credit: Jombola | Facebook

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After two decades in diving, national athlete Wendy Ng Yan Yee announced her retirement from top-level competition just last month. Wendy began as a rhythmic gymnast before being recruited into the national diving team at the age of 13. Excelling in the sport, her last competition was at the World Championships in Doha in February, a final qualifying event for the upcoming Paris Olympics. Unfortunately, she did not qualify for the women's 3-metre springboard solo and synchronized events, missing the chance to compete in her fourth consecutive Olympics. Shortly after, she announced her retirement and hinted at a possible future in coaching. Throughout her career, she has under her belt eight gold and seven silver medals across the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and SEA Games, as well as representing Malaysia in three Olympic Games.

Photo credit: BERNAMA

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Recent incidents involving two national team players, Akhyar Rashid and Faisal Halim, have shocked the football community, with Akhyar being robbed and sustaining injuries, while Faisal suffered severe burns in an acid attack. This has raised concerns on safety just before the Super League - which is set to start this weekend. Speculation has been rife on social media regarding whether these assaults were random or targeted, and furthermore the threat against Selangor FC CEO prompts discussions on personal security measures like bodyguards. Sportswriter T Anivesh joins us, as we dissect.

Photo credit: Facebook/Selangor FC | Facebook

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After a five month break anticipation mounts as the Malaysian Super League prepares to resume action this weekend with the highly anticipated clash in the Piala Sumbangsih (Charity Shield) featuring perennial contenders Johor Darul Takzim against Selangor. JDT's decade-long dominance, poised to potentially secure an impressive 11th consecutive league title - adds a layer of familiarity to the proceedings - however significant changes loom on the horizon with the introduction of Video Assistant Referees (VAR) and Financial Fair Play (FFP).

Photo credit: Facebook/Malaysian Football League

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In the second episode of our Road To Paris series, where we're shining a spotlight on the Malaysian contingent heading to the upcoming Summer Olympics, we set our sights on national shooter Johnathan Wong. As he prepares to compete in the Men's 10m air pistol event for his sophomore Games, having previously competed in 2016 in Rio, he speaks to us about his almost-20-year career, the impact of facility woes on Malaysian shooters' training, his aspirations for himself and the sport in the country, and how he'll be shooting his shot at the podium this July.

Photo credit: Johnathan Wong (@johnnywg92) / X

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This week we dive into the electrifying realm of street luge, a pulse-pounding sport that marries the edgy vibes of the X-Games with the rebellious spirit of skateboarding. Picture this: athletes laying flat on custom luge boards, racing down sleek, paved tracks at mind-blowing speeds that can eclipse 100 km/h. A heart-stopping fusion of skateboarding, sledding, and sheer bravery.

Born in the free-wheeling '70s, street luge exploded onto the scene when visionary skateboarders discovered that going horizontal could supercharge their velocity, and by the mid '90s, it had become a headline act in extreme sports arenas, with the Street Luge World Cup and the X-Games.

Meet Abdil Mahdzan who's been tearing up the international circuit for 26 years. He made his mark in 1998 while studying in the US and has since clinched the world title seven times, putting Malaysia firmly on the street luge map.

Photo credit: Miko Montifar Photography via Abdil Mahdzan | Facebook

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History was made in the past day or so, an achievement that marks a significant milestone not only for national athlete Sivasangari Subramaniam but also for Malaysian squash. In the inaugural London Classic Squash event, defying all expectations, Sivasangari made history by clinching the title, defeating world number two Hania El Hammamy of Egypt in the final match. Ranked 13th globally at the time, she had to overcome formidable opponents including the world number one and number four on her path to victory.

It's been nearly a decade since a Malaysian claimed the title at a gold-level PSA tournament, last achieved by Datuk Nicol David in 2015. To delve deeper into this remarkable feat, we are joined on the program by former professional squash player and vice-president of SRAM, Sharon Wee.

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In our Road to Paris series, we cast a look at the Malaysian contingent heading to the upcoming Summer Olympics. In our first episode, we shine a spotlight on diver Bertrand Rhodict Lises as he sets off for his first ever Games after being the first Malaysian athlete to secure his spot at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships. He joins us to discuss his diving career, how he's preparing for Paris 2024, his aspirations beyond the Olympics, and his hopes as part of the next generation of Malaysian diving.

Photo credit: REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth

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Malaysia has been offered the opportunity to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games by the Commonwealth Games Federation. The announcement has drawn mixed reactions from both the public and sports associations as we await Cabinet's decision on whether we'll be hosting the 23rd edition of the Games. We speak to Twentytwo13's Haresh Deol to discuss the potential benefits of hosting the Games or whether it's squandering resources.

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What do you get when you combine football, volleyball, gymnastics, sepak takraw, a trampoline, and Bossa nova music?

Invented by Filip Eyckmans in Spain in 2005, Bossaball is a one-of-a-kind sport that aims to combine sports, music, and positive vibrations. Played on an inflatable court with a trampoline on each side of the net, two teams of four players aim to ground the ball on the opponent's field using either volleyball or soccer touches, all while keeping creativity and changes in gravity in mind. With players striking the ball from extreme heights, overhead kicks, and dramatic dives, Bossaball games are a unique balance of athletic competition and performance sport where body movements flow harmoniously to the rhythm set by the game's samba referee- a referee, MC, DJ, and percussionist all at once.

We speak to Filip about developing the unique sport into an international phenomenon, taking it worldwide, its presence in the region, and the sport's future.

Photo credit: Bossaball International

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The spotlight has fallen on Malaysia's shuttlers following their failure to clinch the Badminton Asia Team Championship (BATC) titles earlier this month. With criticisms of the players' performances mounting up from the likes of Rexy Maniaky, coaching director of the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM), and Malaysian badminton great Lee Chong Wei, who claimed "drastic changes have to be made" so the sport doesn't get "left far behind", the aftermath of the competition has left concerns over the Malaysian team, especially with the Paris Olympics drawing nearer.

Sports journalist Fabian Mark Peter gives us a lay of the land on and off the court, whether or not it really is time to "give up on Malaysian badminton", and gives us a look ahead at the upcoming Thomas Cup and Paris Olympics.

Photo credit: Amir Khalid

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For the first time in its 34-year history, The Asian Classic Powerlifting Championship 2023 was held in Malaysia on 10th-18th December 2023. With over 453 athletes from 27 countries across the Asian continent participating, the event saw the Malaysian men's team come in third, with the women's team in fourth place.

We take a look behind the curtain of the inaugural event, the overall performance of the Malaysian team, and what we can look forward to in the country's powerlifting scene in 2024 and beyond. Dato' Dayalan Jeevan, President of the Malaysian Association For Powerlifting, tells us.

Photo credit: Facebook | Asian Powerlifting Federation - APF

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Harimau Malaya may have been knocked out from the Asian Cup in Qatar, but Kim Pan Gon’s men made it a memorable exit by securing a thrilling 3-3 draw against football giants South Korea. This marked Malaysia's first point in the tournament since the 1980 edition with Faisal Halim's goal in this tie ended the country's 39-year goal drought against the Koreans, who are ranked over 100 spots higher than Malaysia in the FIFA rankings. In this episode, we are joined by Keeshanan Sunderasan to discuss this weekend's result, a draw that felt like a win.

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With the appointment of Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar as Malaysia's new king, our second story in this week focuses on the rise of Johor Darul Takzim, the most dominant club in the super league for over a decade.The Southern Tigers have not only left a significant impact domestically but have also emerged as a formidable presence in the region. One of the biggest milestones was becoming the first Southeast Asian team to lift the AFC Cup in 2015. Joining us in this episode is Keeshaanan Sundaresan, as we start by delving into the early origins of the club.

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This week on the program, we are joined by R Sharmendran who holds the record as the most successful karate practitioner in the SEA Games, securing the gold medal four times consecutively, with the latest triumph occurring in Phnom Penh last year. After a 12-year career at the pinnacle of this martial art, R Sharmendran, aged 31, decided to retire from active competition last month.

The possibility of Sharmendran taking on a coaching role in the national setup remains uncertain, however over the course of nine years,he underwent six major surgeries, with the most recent being an ACL surgery on his left knee. This injury was sustained during a training camp in Egypt in June last year, compelling him to miss major competitions & world meets.

Image Credit: Berita Harian

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After a 42-year long years, Harimau Malaya has finally qualified for the Asian Cup based on merit, with all attention being on Qatar in the coming weeks as the national squad aims to make a significant impact in the competition for football supremacy in the region. As the third-lowest-ranked nation, just behind Hong Kong and Indonesia, the national squad enters the tournament as underdogs. In the groups, Kim Pan Gon will lead the team against difficult opposition in the form of Jordan, Bahrain, and two-time champions South Korea.

Since taking over in 2022, head coach Kim Pan Gon has played a central role in the revitalization of Malaysian football. The team's FIFA rankings have surged, climbing 15 places in the calendar year to 130th in the world, making Malaysia the most improved Asian country in 2023. With anticipation brewing, this week on the program we are joined by sports journalist T Avinesh as we preview & predict Malaysia’s chances in Doha.

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Conceived by Dutch artist Iepe Rubingh in 2003, chessboxing, as its name implies, is an improbable fusion of chess and boxing. This unique sport challenges participants to alternate between rounds of chess and boxing, putting both their mental acuity and physical endurance to the test. While strategically manoeuvring chess pieces on the board, players must simultaneously muster the strength and agility needed to engage in boxing matches. With its groundbreaking blend of intellect and athleticism, chessboxing has evolved into a captivating spectacle, drawing enthusiasts from the chess and boxing communities and pushing the boundaries of traditional sports.

Joining us to shed more light on this intriguing sport is Montu Das, the current president of the World Chess Boxing Organisation and the founder of Chessboxing India.

That's A Sport is a monthly series where we look to explore and discover some lesser known sport around the globe.

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This episode, we’re joined by our new bowling world champion 27-year-old Natasha Roslan who she recently etched her name in bowling history by securing her first-ever singles world championship and an individual gold at the IBF World Championships in Kuwait. In a thrilling best-of-three format, Natasha emerged victorious over her compatriot Sin Li Jane with a 2-1 score.

This triumph in the Middle East brings an end to Malaysia's 12-year title drought, dating back to 2011. The last time a Malaysian claimed victory in the singles category was in 2011 when Jacqueline Sijore won the women's singles gold medal in Hong Kong, after Esther Cheah's win in 2005.N atasha now joins the ranks of elite Malaysian women who have seized the global championship, marking her second gold at the world meet. Previously, she was a crucial part of the team that secured the team gold in Las Vegas in 2017.

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A cause for concern arising from the Hangzhou Asian Games centered around the disappointing performance and outcomes of the national men's hockey team. The speedy tigers concluded the competition in sixth place, suffering three consecutive losses to lower-ranked teams during the tournament.

Expectations for at least a medal were not met, and securing a positive result would have automatically qualified the speedy tigers for the upcoming Paris Olympics. The Asian Games campaign also resulted in the national team's world rankings dropping from 10th to 12th, leading to the Olympic Council of Malaysia removing the sport from the Road to Gold program.

I.Vikneswaran, the president of Kuala Lumpur Hockey Association and manager of the U21 national hockey team, joins us on the line to analyse the Hangzhou performance and discuss the challenges on the path to qualifying for the Paris Olympics.

image credit: Malaysian Hockey Confederation

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Squash and flag football will be in the 2028 LA Olympics after years of dedicated efforts by their respective organisations, with this announcement generating considerable excitement within the sports community, as both aim to make a significant impact in five years time.

Turning our attention to squash by the time 2028 arrives, the top male and female players will be at the pinnacle of their performance. Judging by the impressive showing of the squash team at the recent Asian Games, the dream of winning an Olympic gold medal may not be as far-fetched as it once seemed. Joining us on the line is Sharon Wee, a former national squash player and the current vice president of the Squash Rackets Association of Malaysia, as we begin our discussion by exploring whether this news has been a long time in the making.

After that, we set our sights on flag football, a non-contact version of american football, which has been steadily gaining popularity over the years, with the scene in Malaysia no exception. Just this past weekend, the inaugural IFAF Asia-Oceania Continental Flag Football Championship took place in Shah Alam, with Thailand and Japan emerging as champions. Leading the way is the Malaysia American Football Association, and we are joined by its vice president, Kelly Khor, as we delve into the details of this recent development.

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This week's episode, we delve into the intricacies of the 2024 sports budget allocation, which has been hailed as a ‘game-changer’. Among the highlights of this budget includes a substantial RM20 million allocation for the "Road to Gold" program, leading up to the Paris Olympics next year. Moreover, it maintains tax relief for personal sporting equipment and introduces additional tax incentives for sports training fees. To provide insights and analysis on the budget allocation for sports next year, joining us is Datuk Dr. Ramlan Aziz, the Founding CEO of the National Sports Institute of Malaysia, who also serves as a technical advisor on the "Road to Gold" committee.

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During the recent Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games, the Malaysian team exceeded their initial goal of winning 27 medals, consisting of 288 athletes managed to secure a total of 32 medals, including six gold, eight silver, and 18 bronze medals. Besides squash, water sports emerged as a significant highlight in Hangzhou, achieving notable success with one silver and four bronze medals. Although the entire medal haul was won by the diving team, the swimming squad demonstrated promising progress by meeting their target of reaching two finals. Joining us on the program to review the events is Marilyn Chua, an Olympian and Vice President of the Malaysia Swimming Association.

Image credit: Malaysia Swimming Federation Facebook

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Korfball, an unconventional team sport, combines athleticism, strategy, and teamwork. Originating in the Netherlands during the early 20th century, it has been likened to a fusion of basketball, netball, and handball. What sets korfball apart from many other team sports is its strong commitment to gender equality. Unlike most team sports, korfball promotes physical education while allowing both men and women to play on equal footing. This core principle not only emphasizes inclusivity but also introduces an intriguing layer of strategic complexity to the game. International competitions were established, leading to the formation of the International Korfball Federation (IKF) in 1933, responsible for overseeing the sport's global growth. Back home, the Malaysian Korfball Association (MKA) has been established for several years with the aim of promoting the sport. Lim Hui Qi, the association's secretary, joins us on the program this week to discuss their efforts in growing korfball in the region.

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A new generation of athletes and seasoned professionals will be showcasing their talents at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games in China starting this weekend. This event is the second-largest multi-sport competition globally, after the Olympics - and additionally, this year's edition of the Asian Games is tied for the second-largest in history featuring a total of 40 sports and offering 481 gold medals.

The Malaysian team is sending 289 athletes to compete in 22 different sports, a decrease from the 417 athletes at the 2018 Palembang edition. With a target 27 medals, together with Haresh Deol from twentytwo13, we analyze the prospects for each event while emphasizing the significance of the Asian Games, especially in the context of the upcoming Paris Olympics.

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In anticipation of the upcoming Asian Games scheduled to commence at the end of this month in Hangzhou, China, joining us this week is one of the emerging talents within the national delegation: 21-year-old swimming sensation Steve Khiew Hoe Yen who has rapidly established himself as a key figure in the swimming team, thanks to his record-breaking performances. Notably, he etched his name in history by securing Malaysia's inaugural gold medal in swimming at the 2021 Southeast Asian Games, all while holding several national records. As he gears up for his debut at the Asian Games, Steve is also harbouring his loftiest aspiration – to secure a spot in the Paris Olympics next year.

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Once again, the badminton scene in Malaysia finds itself entangled in controversy, a situation that doesn’t come as a surprise anymore. The recent cause of turmoil put in the spotlight a rule imposed by the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM), requiring professional players to wear attire without conflicting sponsors while training at ABM. This decision prompted shuttler Lee Zii Jia and his coach Wong Tat Meng to use social media to accuse BAM of mistreating professional players. This move by Lee and Wong has led to reactions from prominent figures in the sport, including Datuk Lee Chong Wei and Datuk Seri Jalani Sidek. We dissect.

After that, we review the weekend’s BWF World Championships - where a contingent of 22 Malaysian athletes aimed for victory in Copenhagen, Denmark. However, the outcome was a solitary medal, earned by the top men's pair, Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik. Unfortunately, they were unable to defend their title, bowing out in the semifinals and settling for a bronze medal.

photo credit: BAM's Facebook

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This episode, we're joined by Kelly Tan, the top-ranked golfer in the nation and a prominent figure in the LPGA, has gained widespread recognition over the years and has become a house-hold name internationally. She achieved significant accomplishments as an amateur, a three-time winner of the Malaysian Ladies Amateur Open . As the Maybank Championship, now the most lucrative LPGA event in Asia, made its comeback, Kelly was designated as the ASEAN Ambassador where in this role, she takes charge of organizing junior clinics and providing guidance through mentorship programs within the country. This week, we are pleased to have her join our program as we delve into her journey and learn more about this initiative and her career so far.

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The Porsche Carrera Cup Asia is currently in progress, which has reached its midpoint, with races to be held in Malaysia, Singapore, and China. Among the participants is Nazim Azman, a local driver, who marked his GT debut with the Sime Darby Racing team. The well-traveled 22-year-old was the first Malaysian to compete in the FIA championship in the F3 category. Someone who is poised for a successful future, he joins us on this week's program to discuss what has been an eventful season so far.

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In our monthly series titled "That's A Sport?", this episode will be exploring the sport of underwater rugby. Originated in Cologne, Germany during the 1960s ,the game was designed to keep scuba divers fit during the winter season. As the name suggests, it is a full-contact game played in a deep pool with two teams of six players each. The objective is to score goals by placing a negatively buoyant ball (filled with saltwater) into the opponent's basket located at the bottom of the pool on either end of the playing area.

Underwater rugby stands out as the only genuine 3D-team sport where both the ball and the players can utilize all three dimensions, akin to flying underwater. While underwater rugby has yet to establish itself in Malaysia with no active clubs, Asia's first underwater rugby club was formed across the causeway in Singapore. In this episode, we're joined by Genevieve Yeo, who serves as the club's president, along with Issac Tan, to delve into the fascinating world of underwater rugby, chart its rise in popularity in the region, as well as hopes for the future of UWR.

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Last weekend saw a historic moment in tennis as the prestigious Wimbledon tournament saw the young 20-year-old Spaniard & world number one Carlos Alcaraz, securing his maiden title. Despite facing the formidable seven-time champion and world number two, Novak Djokovic in the finals, Alcaraz emerged victorious after a gruelling five-set match that lasted nearly five hours, a battle now regarded a classic.

For the past two decades, the men's singles at Wimbledon had been dominated by the renowned "Big 4" in the sport - Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Andy Murray, and Rafa Nadal. However, Carlos Alcaraz's triumph has broken this pattern, with the last non-Big 4 winner being Lleyton Hewitt in 2002. To shed light on how Alcaraz claimed his first Wimbledon championship and second Grand Slam title, we have ex-national tennis player Adam Jaya joining us this week as we explore the dawning of a new era in professional tennis.

photo credit - AP Photo/Alastair Grant

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In light of the recent statement by Scott O'Donell, the technical director of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), who expressed his view that the NFDP (National Football Development Program) and AMD (Akademi Mokhtar Dahari) should be solely managed by FAM, rather than being under the authority of the National Sports Council and dependent on government funding, this week we discuss the possible implications of granting FAM complete autonomy over these programs & on underlying issues concerning the welfare of the trainees. Twentytwo13’s Haresh Deol joins us.

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It's been more than a decade since fencing was dropped from NSC's development program with private clubs and gyms playing a huge factor in keeping the sport alive at the grassroots. At the recent SEA Games in Cambodia, the national contingent brought home four bronze medals, and while meeting the target set - it's a far-cry from the glory days of the 2011 Indonesian SEA Games where a 22 year wait came to an end with two gold medals. Apart from one-off financial aids, can the sport relieve its glory days with more support & attention? We explore.

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Founded in 1969 by Enrique Corcuera, Padel is a unique racket sport played on a smaller court surrounded by walls. It combines elements of tennis and squash, offering a thrilling and fast-paced experience. Today, Padel has gained significant popularity worldwide, attracting both professional athletes and enthusiasts alike. Notable athletes such as Andy Murray, David Beckham, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic have even invested in the sport, showcasing its growing prominence. Joining us is Daniel Liljekvist, Managing Director of Ascoro Padel Malaysia - the first and only padel club in the country, as he shares with us about the sport, the padel community in Malaysia as well as plans to bring the sport to the masses.

That's A Sport is a brand new monthly series where we look to explore and discover some lesser known sport around the globe.

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This episode, we focus on the recent Asean Para Games held in Cambodia. The national team, consisting of 144 athletes, had an outstanding performance, with 62 athletes making their debut at the Games. Surpassing their initial goal of 33 gold medals, they brought home nearly double that number, achieving 50 gold, 38 silver, and 28 bronze medals. This remarkable achievement positioned them fourth overall in the final standings.

Among the standout performers in the team was a young woman who exceeded expectations at the Asean Para Games. Despite being born with a rare birth defect called amelia, which results in the complete absence of one or more limbs, para swimmer Carmen Lim won the admiration of many and earned three gold and one bronze breaking yet another record (100m breaststroke SB8 category) with a time of 1:41.32s.

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In a recent parliament session, Youth & Sports minister Hannah Yeoh revealed that the federal government has decided to cancel its plans to construct dedicated drag racing circuits in each state. Instead, the ministry will prioritise the improvement and renovation of existing sports facilities.

This move, which was initially introduced by the previous administration under ex-Prime Minister Ismail Sabri during the presentation of this year's budget in August, received significant criticism. The proposal aimed to bolster the development of motorsports in the country, facilitate the discovery of new talents for participation in motor racing at the state and national levels while addressing the issue of illegal street racing. We explore what could have been.

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For the third time in Sudirman Cup history, the Malaysian contingent came home with a bronze medal finishing in a commendable third place. Despite not being able to reach the historic final, there were plenty of positives to take away from the campaign in Suzhou, China where the squad cruised into the knockout rounds after advancing in what's been dubbed as the 'Group of Death' with India & Chinese Taipei. In the quarterfinals, Denmark twere the next opponents & the national squad came away with a 3-1 win (Axelson's retirement notwithstanding) before putting up a fight, eventually going out against a dominating South Korean side. This week, we review individual performances from our shuttlers & key moments from the tournament - as well as some talk on a disastrous SEA Games campaign in Cambodia.
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Founded by three Hungarians in 2012, Teqball is a sport that combines elements of table tennis, football...and to a certain extent, sepak takraw. One that has been regarded as the 'fastest growing sport on the globe with footballing icons such as Paul Pogba, Kylian Mbappé, and Roberto Carlos among the current and former players who have their own customized teq tables. At the recent SEA Games in Cambodia, teqball made its debut as an exhibition sport with the Malaysian contingent taking home two bronzes in both the men's & women's singles category. Helmed by the Malaysian Teqball Association who has plans to further introduce teqball to the Malaysian mass with a goal of making the country a powerhouse in the region - and then, the world. MTA president KJ Siva joins us this week as we explore more.

That's A Sport is a brand new monthly series where we look to explore and discover some lesser known sport around the globe.

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Regarded as one of the great football minds & the most decorated football manager of all-time, this week marks the tenth year since Sir Alex Ferguson stepped away from the beautiful game. A historic 26-year reign at the helm of Manchester United saw him win 38 trophies with the club while fulfilling his ultimate goal of knocking Liverpool off their perch. He made the decision to retire at 71 years old after securing United’s 20th league title at the end of the 2012/2013 campaign on the 8th May 2013. To celebrate the iconic coach, we take a look back at his leadership style and the different facets that made him a living legend not just for the club, but for modern football as a whole.

(Image: 2013 AFP)

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A little more than a year out to the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Youth & Sports ministry had recently come out with a blueprint as the nation chases the elusive Olympic gold medal. The new and improved 'Road To Gold' project is described as a “long-term roadmap” which would cover not just next year’s Paris Olympics but looks beyond as well to Los Angeles 2028. A top-up to the Podium Programme, a total of 15 athletes joined the programme so far with national shuttlers making up the majority of the list. With long-time servant Datuk Dr Ramlan Aziz roped in as technical advisor to the committee, he joins us on the programme as we uncover the plan & ambitions for at least the next two olympic cycles.

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Fresh of another race win in Estonia, national & world #1 tower runner Soh Wai Ching adds yet another record under his belt, where in conjunction with World Health Day last Friday, the 28 year old conquered the "Farthest Simulated Distance Climbed on a Stair Machine in One Hour". He climbed a distance of 1.64km in 60 minutes, which to put it in perspective is almost four times the height of the KL tower.

Pending confirmation from the Guinness World Records, this would be his second GWR achievement after gaining the "Greatest Vertical Height Stair Climbing" accolate a couple of years back. He joins us on the programme as we recount the feat while previewing what's to come in 2023.

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With origins dating back to 1950s Italy, Finswimming is an underwater swimming sport where athletes race against each other with the use of floating and breathing equipment like masks, fins, snorkels and a scuba diving set. Known as the F1 of swimming due to its increased speed as compared to conventional swimming, a sport that's been recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and is a part of the World Games. In Malaysia, it's still very much in its infancy with the Malaysian Finswimming Association (MFSA) only founded just before the Hanoi SEA Games last year. Ravivarma Sanmugam, President of the MFSA gives us the low-down about this fast-paced highly competitive underwater sport.

That's A Sport is a brand new monthly series where we look to explore and discover some lesser known sport around the globe.

image credit: Utusan/ Mohd. Shahjehan Maamin.

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The badminton season is well underway now with the recently concluded 2023 All England Open as one of the major tournaments of the season. The Malaysian contingent went in with high hopes of reversing their poor run of form this year, however only managed a semis & quarters spot while the rest crashed out early in the prestigious Super 1000 tournament. In an event which marked the comeback of powerhouses China, we break down each category analyzing the downfalls and pick out silver linings in a pretty lacklustre outing.

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Local women's football has been picking up in the recent years, however still light years away from reaching the widespread coverage & fandom of the men's game. Social leagues have helped give aspiring (as well as professional) women a platform to express themselves through the beautiful game - and one of the biggest tournaments is the Women's Super League helmed by the FA of Selangor. This weekend mark the climax of the tournament as two teams take to the pitch to claim the second editon's crown. City-council side MBSJ FC will face off against university outfit UPNM as their captains Steffi Sidhu & Azurin Mazlan -- both also represent Malaysia at the international level - join us as we preview the finals.

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For over 20 years, Sharon Wee had ruled supreme on the squash court, a former national #1 & world #18. After she retired in 2010, she wanted to remain with the national setup by lending her experience with senior coaching - however, that wasn't meant to be. Enter TV and sports broadcasting, as she took the plunge and made a successful endeavor diving into sports punditry and hosting. She also has since taken up the post of vice-president at Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia and was recently appointed as deputy chef de mission at the upcoming SEA Games in Cambodia. She joins us on the programme as we talk about her accomplished career, challenges moving into broadcasting, as well as uncover her passion to champion many youth and women empowerment programs.

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At the recent 21st Asian Junior Team Championships held in India, the Malaysian juniors performed superbly with the women's squad bagging their tenth crown & fourth consecutive title beating Hong Kong 2-0 while in the men's team event - Malaysia ended up joint third, going out in the semi-finals to eventual champions Pakistan. A big part of that success is through the guidance of longtime Juniors coach Andrew Cross who in 2019 was made National Assistant Head coach of the Senior squad. He joins us on the programme this week as we review the recent championships while charting the landscape of Malaysian squash in the near future.

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For the upcoming season of local football, the MFL has teamed up with Astro as they return to be the official broadcaster of MFL’s Liga Malaysia six competitions - which includes the big three, Liga Super, Piala FA, and Piala Malaysia. Also included in the wide-ranging three-year deal is the curtain raiser in the Piala Sumbangsih, MFL Challenge Cup, and MFL Cup. With this comes a large sum of TV money pouring back into the top tier of local football, with clubs getting an injection of funds from this deal - which could mean that long-standing issues like unpaid wages could be eradicated. Joining us to dissect this partnership is twentytwo13's Haresh Deol.

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We've all heard of the Olympic Games & the Paralympics, but little is known about the Special Olympics World Games - the largest sporting event that promotes and advances a world of full inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities. Founded in 1968, the global movement now provides a safe space for over five million athletes from 174 different countries.

On the horizon is the World Games happening in Berlin in June, with the Malaysian contingent of 22 athletes who will represent the country in a variety of sports. This week, we find out more about Special Olympics Malaysia's mission to empower athletes & how sport can be the catalyst for inclusion & acceptance.

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In our worst showing at a home tournament since 2015, the national contingent had an underwhelming performance at the recently concluded Petronas Malaysia Open, with not one national shuttler making it to the semi-finals. The home-favorites of national ace Lee Zii Jia, World #3 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik & French Open champions Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah all sent packing in the early stages of the tournament. Having being elevated for the first time as a Super 1000 tournament, the last time we saw gold was when Datuk Lee Chong Wei picked up his 12th Malaysia Open title in 2018. A massive disappointment in front of the home-crowd, is this merely a blip for Malaysian badminton or a sign of things to come in 2023? Dissecting the action is sports journalist & badminton correspondents Nicholas Anil & Fabian Mark Peter.

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In light of the recent viral video where a U14 coach was filmed slapping two of his players, an incident that's only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to protecting children's welfare as well as the safety of grassroot sport. Enter the Safe Sport Act - a nationwide initiative that aims to create a safe space where participants can train, compete and thrive without fear of physical, psychological or sexual misconduct. A project helmed by ex-gymnast Sarina Sundara Rajah, she joins us on the programme as we dissect & explore how incidents like this can be curbed moving forward.

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International football is set to go on after a climatic Qatar World Cup, with what's billed as the "ASEAN World Cup" - the 14th edition of the recently rebranded AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup set to run tonight all through mid-January. With Malaysia kick-starting their campaign v Myanmar - the narrative heading into the tournament was disheartening to say the least. With it not being in the FIFA footballing calendar, national stalwarts either weren't allowed to link up with the squad or rejected call-ups due to personal reasons. This resulted in head-coach Kim Pang-gon choosing an exciting but left-field 23-man squad with the likes of naturalized/heritage players such as David Rowley, Lee Tuck, Sergio Aguero alongside fresh young local faces like KL City ace Haqimi Rosli raring to make their major tournament debut. How deep a run can KPG bring this team especially with the likes of Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia all traditional heavyweights? This episode, we preview the tournament & dissect the Malaysian selection.

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As we wind down the year, we pick out some of the biggest sporting stories to happen in 2022. We explore sports-washing in these modern times in conjunction with Qatar WC 2022, go into the nitty-gritty of what goes behind taking up the post of Youth & Sports minister & wrap up with a story on the iconic Stadium Shah Alam.

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This week, we head to the world of triathlons with engineer by day, triathlete by night Kuok Yuen Teh - who broke the national triathlon record in Italy with a record of 9 hours and 28 minutes, a record which was previously set in 2000s at 9 hours 50 minutes. The experienced 35-year-old is currently working towards becoming the first Malaysian man to go under 9 hours (sub9) in triathlons by the age of 39. He joins us on the program, as we talk about his experiences, goals & hopes for the long-distance running scene locally.

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Qatar is set to be the centre of the planet this weekend making history as the first middle-east country to host the World Cup. However, for over 12 years since FIFA awarded them, the state had to answer to reports of worker abuse, homophobia, sexism & racism which are well documented with exposés in the media. On the money side, Qatar has spent over $300 billion on the event, which is over fifty times more than what Germany allocated in 2006 - money that could've been better used to fix the internal issues in the country. Will these be still remembered after the first ball is kicked and have they successfully sports-washed their global image? Sports writer Bob Holmes joins us on the programme this week.

Photograph: Marko Đurica/Reuters

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With the general elections looming, post GE-15 will see the fourth Youth & Sports minister in a little over five years. Long-term policies and consistent plans are ideal, however not always the case where incoming ministers come with new ideas, often derailing the plans of their predecessors. This week on the programme, we explore the role of a Youth & Sports minister and the different nuances that come with the post - should the sports minister be an ex-athlete? Should youth and sport - though overlapping in certain aspects, be separate entities? Sports lawyer & member of the panel of experts at KBS, Richard Wee joins us this week.

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With amazing track records in junior racing, 20 year old Syarifuddin Azman or commonly known as Damok, was recently announced to be competing for a full season of Moto3 with the MT Helmets-MSI team next year. Last weekend - after a two year hiatus - he raced and claimed the 16th position as a wildcard rider in Moto3 race at the Petronas Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit, attracting almost 165,000 motorsport fans who brought life back to the SIC. He joins us on the programme this week as we go through his career & journey so far while exploring what lies ahead for him in the future.

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After budget allocation for sports was cut by almost 70% in 2022, the 2023 Budget promises more goodies in all sectors of the ecosystem with RM332million allocated to the industry. Notwithstanding the fact that the budget will be retabled/tweaked following the dissolution of parliament & the upcoming general elections - this week, we dive deeper into the allocation covering all facets of the industry - from the elites, grassroots, esports, parasports, as well as sports operators/associations. We also ask the age old question, will there be transparency with the trickling of funds?

Noraseela Khalid from MOA (Malaysian Olympians Association) & Haresh Deol from twentytwo13 joins us.

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Over the weekend, one of the deadliest stadium disasters happened in Malang, East Java when local rivals Arema FC lost to Persebaya Surabaya - the Arema's first home lost in this fixture for over 23 years. Fans stormed the pitch causing police & authorities to react firing teargas trapping fans and causing at least 125 fans their lives - including 32 young children - and hundreds more hurt in the aftermath. With Indonesian fans and police/security officials shifting the blame to each other in the days that followed, this week we dissect how and why this happened & how the Kanjurahan disaster would affect the landscape of Indonesian football.

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At the recently concluded 20th SUKMA (Malaysia) Games, one of the biggest controversies was on the news that three weightlifters (one from Perlis, two from Terengganu) tested positive for banned substances throwing the entire event into uncertainty. The Malaysian Weightlifting Federation (MWF) ultimately pulled out from conducting the event, leaving a group of weightlifting enthusiasts to run it.

One of the three sports - alongside sepak takraw and taekwondo - that were dropped from the list of core sports due to doping issues in 2017, this week on the programme, we explore why doping is still prevalent in sports with Datuk Dr Ramlan Aziz, the founding CEO of the National Sports Institute.

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After two years of inactivity, the World Dodgeball Championships returned with our men's national team capturing their third world title defeating Australia 10-5 in the final. Following their success in 2017, 2018 and as world #1 - the squad met all expectation as they were heavy favorites coming into the tournament in Edmonton. Joining us on the programe this week, is team captain Aaron Peck & coach Kent Lau as they recount their triumph in Canada.

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Onto its ninth season now, the all-electric racing series Formula E has been picking up steam with its mission to race through the streets of the most iconic cities in the world - to show just what sustainable mobility is capable of and how driving electric vehicles can make for a better, cleaner future. One of the top teams in the series, Jaguar TCS Racing - has been growing from strength to strength, ending up second in the driver's championship & fourth in the constructors championship in the 21/22 season.

With the electric revolution picking up for commercial vehicles, we get an insight into what Formula E is all about and the nuances of electric-motorsport by speaking to the major players from Jaguar TCS - first driver Mitch Evans, team principal James Barclay & technical engineer Phil Charles.

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Over the weekend, badminton history was made as national men's doubles Aaron Chia & Soh Wooi Yik etched their names into sporting folklore by becoming the first ever Malaysian world champions after their exploits at the 2022 BWF Championships in Tokyo. The much-maligned duo silenced their critics - shaking off the so-called 'semi-final' curse - by taking down the experienced Indonesians & 3-time world champions Mohammad Ahsan-Hendra Setiawan in straight-sets 21-19, 21-14.

With the duo now at the pinnacle of men's doubles badminton, we recount their historic feat and project what this would mean for the future of local badminton.

Photo: EPA

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Eight years after arriving on our shores, Australian coach Brad Maloney leaves Malaysia to be at the helm of the Australian U-17 team. Leaving with a wealth of experience, the 50 year old - who spent his playing career with top A-league clubs and has represented Australia alongside the likes of Mark Viduka - was primarily in charge of youth football development in Malaysia, having groomed the likes of Luqman Hakim, Safawi Rasid and more, during his tenure as the U-19 and U-23 national team.

He joins us on the programme, as this week we reflect on his time working in Malaysian football.

Photo: Goal

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At the recently concluded 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, the Malaysian team put in a solid shift - surpassing the six gold medal target set for the contingent - coming home with seven gold, eight silver & eight bronze. New stars were born too with names like Ng Jo Ee (rhythmic gymnastics) & Ng Tze Yong (badminton) introducing themselves onto the international stage to great effect.

The young squad - eight out of the 28 athletes under the age of 21 brought home medals - with Malaysia ending up 10th on the overall standings, being the second highest Asian team after India. Twentytwo13's Haresh Deol joins us on the program, as we review the Birmingham campaign.

Picture: Getty Images

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After winning the inaugural para-badminton gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, national shuttler Cheah Liek Hou has been going from strength to strength - currently on a 56 match winning streak & his eleventh consecutive championships, after his heroics at the at the 4 Nations Para Badminton International 2022 in Ireland.

Gaining national prominence after the Tokyo win, he joins us on the programme as we explore his 20 year career, the role his coach Dato Rashid Sidek played, para-badminton's debut at the paralympics and many more.

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For years now, Stadium Shah Alam has been plagued with structural issues due to a lack of proper maintenance, so much so that the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) deemed the iconic landmark unsafe, forcing their home team, Selangor FC to move out for this season's Super League. Amidst public uproar of an initial proposal to demolish the stadium - as revealed by Selangor MB Amirudin Shari - local football fans can breathe a sigh of relief now, as the state govt has announced a public-private partnership with Malaysian Resources Corporation Berhad (MRCB) to refurbish & enhance the historic sporting site.

With costs to the tune of RM787mil, Stadium Shah Alam and its neighbouring sporting complexes - namely Stadium Melawati - are set for a new lease of life, to restore the glory days of what was once the biggest stadium in Southeast Asia. Padangbola Sepak's Khalilul Rahman joins us on the program as we ponder on the future of the stadium.

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Recently, discussions at the highest level of sports administration revealed proposed plans to grade sports facilities & venues around the country. With an aim to make sports more accessible and to increase the number of grassroot talent, the plan takes a page out of restaurant/hotel grading which would suspend low-grade facilities forcing them to improve to a satisfactory level of quality. How would this impact patrons & operators alike? Twentytwo13's Haresh Deol joins us this week.

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After 18 long years donning the Jalur Gemilang at the highest level, national high-jumper Lee Hup Wei hung up his spikes in March, calling the curtain on his illustrious athletics career. The experienced 35 year old will be part of the national setup grooming the next generation of high-jumpers. He's the first Malaysian track and field athlete to reach the final at the 2019 Doha World Championships & a 4 time SEA Games gold-medalist. Hup Wei joins us on the program, as we reminisce on his years of service.

photo credit: YAZIT RAZALI / NSTP

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With the Hanoi SEA Games come & gone, our young Malaysian contingent surpassed the medal-targets with 39 gold, 45 silver and 90 bronze medals – however a feat that only put us in sixth-place in the standings - which is our worst results in the SEA Games for 40 years in terms of final-rankings. However, a campaign that had its silver-linings as well, sports journalist Nicholas Anil joins us on the program as we review this edition of the biannual Games.

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The golden-era of 1992 was the last time Malaysia lifted the prestigious Thomas Cup as part of only five nations that have won it. It's now six nations, where over the weekend - India created history clinching their first-ever Thomas Cup (and medal). The Zii-Jia led Malaysian contingent left much to be desired, going down to the eventual champions in the quarter-finals after a strong group-stage. We will have to wait another 30 years? Fabian Mark Peter joins us on the program this week as we dissect the Malaysia's performance in Bangkok at the Thomas/Uber Cup.

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The postponed SEA Games is now well underway in Hanoi. Malaysia have sent a huge contingent of 584 athletes, with over half of them being debutants. Alongside a bunch of fresh faces, national stalwarts such as divers Datuk Pandelela Rinong, Nur Dhabitah Sabri, Wendy Ng, recurve archer Khairul Anuar and others will be battling it out to reach our target of 146 medals. We preview the multisport tournament & pick out our medal prospects.

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After numerous accounts of sexual harassment & abuse at the elite level of sports came to light last year, a bill is being drafted that aims to ensure a safe environment in all levels of local sports. Backed by Youth & Sports Minister Datuk Seri Faizal Azumu, whose set out a goal to create a new standard of care when it comes to reporting, training, policies, procedures, and periodic safety system reviews affecting all sports organizations across the country. Looking to get it through to parliament by the end of the year, the Malaysia Safe Sport Act is spearheaded by Commonwealth and SEA Games champion, former gymnast Sarina Sundara Rajah, as she joins us on the show diving into what the bill entails.

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First hitting the mat at the age of three, artistic gymnast Farah Ann Hadi sat at the pinnacle of Malaysian competitive gymnastics for 25 years. With numerous accolades to her name, the 2019 SEA Games champion recently announced that she's taking a step back & retiring from the national team. The 28 year old isn't completely done with the sport however, as she joins us on the program to share her upcoming plans, reminisce over her storied career & project the future of national gymnastics.

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Not too different to last year's football European Super League drama, the prestigious PGA Tour over the last couple of weeks have weathered a Saudi incursion - with the proposed Saudi Golf League, which had aimed to poach the best golfers under the PGA tour, reportedly offers larger purses, guaranteed payouts and 54-hole, no-cut tournaments. Sports journalist, Bob Holmes joins us on the programme - as we discuss sportswashing, breakaway leagues and what the PGA Tour could possibly do better.

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In conjunction with International Women's Day, on the programe we have Datuk Leong Mun Yee, the first Malaysian - be it male or female - to compete in the Olympics five times, Sydney (2000), Athens (2004), Beijing (2008), London (2012) & Tokyo (2021). We take a deep dive into her career from her early beginnings as a budding swimmer to now being bestowed with a Datukship & continuing her diving career as a coach as part of the national setup. We discover what makes her tick & how her 27-year career inspired many girls and boys alike.

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Whatever foreign talents can do, Malaysians can do too. If not, even better. That's the sentiment of Dato' Sri Vijay Eswaran, the owner of a rebirthed Petaling Jaya City Football Club with their #YaKiniLokal campaign - where ahead of the upcoming Super League, PJCFC made it a point to employ a 100% local footballers & coaching staff. The only team in the top-tier of the Malaysian league without foreign players - DSVE joins us on the program as he shares his vision and mission to bring back the glory days of local football.

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Towerrunner Soh Wai Ching had an excellent 2021 winning the 2021 Empire State Building race, a feat that made him the second best towerrunner in the world. At that race, he scaled the 86-story mega New York structure - which is over a 1500 steps - in exactly 10 minutes 46 seconds. With a mission of bringing this niche sport to the masses, the co-founder of the Towerruning Association of Malaysia joins us on the program.

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For days, there was nationwide attention on the status of badminton ace Lee Zii Jia & former world junior's champion Goh Jin Wei as they were served with a 2 year ban from BWF sanctioned tournaments after leaving the national training set-up. However, after a fruitful meeting with BAM president, Tan Sri Dato' Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria early Tuesday evening - a deal was struck to lift the sanctions putting an end to an unwanted saga, which came before the start of a hectic badminton season. Is this drama a one-time thing or does it reveal an underlying issue with sports associations?

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Although 2022's national budget is the biggest to-date, funding for sports was significantly reduced by 70%. As a result, at the turn of the new year, the National Sports Council announced that they will be dropping 144 full-time athletes from their training program. With that number representing almost half of the roster, some big names were under the NSC's cross-hairs. Former world number 5 Low Wee Wern was one of those cut after 14 years with the national team, and the 31 year old joins us as we dig deeper into the manner she was dismissed & look forward to her future as an independent athlete.

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To open up 2022, this week on the program, we recap the biggest sporting-stories of the year that was. From local-sports legends retiring to the uncertainty over Tokyo 2020, we present snippets from our archives last year.

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Doubted by many to make an impact on Malaysian football, the rebirthed Kuala Lumpur City FC had a stellar 2021 - clinching sixth-place in the Super League & defied the odds to lift the prestigious Malaysia Cup beating the much-fancied JDT. With critics now silenced, KLCFC can look ahead to representing the country on the continental stage having qualified for the AFC Cup with the Malaysia Cup victory. We look-back on the campaign that was & preview what's to come next season.

Photo Credit: KLCFC FB

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Discus thrower & Sarawakian Queenie Ting etched her name into the record-books recently being the first woman to surpass the 50-metre mark. Bronze medalist at the 2019 SEA Games - the 24 year old is now aiming for the 55 meter mark to qualify for the 2022 Asian Games on merit, with the ultimate goal of making it to the 2024 Paris Olympics. She joins us as we dive deeper into her career & look forward to the hurdles ahead.

Image Credit: The Borneo Post

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This week marks the first time in over two years that a major international tournament is held in Malaysia with a triple header of squash events. Attracting a host of top players from around the globe - festivities will kick off with the Malaysian Open, followed by the Asian Team Championships on Nov 30-Dec 4 and the men's World Team Championships on Dec 7-11.

We preview these and lookback on the last 18 months with Major S Maniam, the director of the Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM).

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Forced to train in exile in Malacca, Filipino weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz shushed her nay-sayers bringing home the Philippines' first ever gold-medal at the Tokyo Olympics. While she dominated the 55kg final and setting an Olympic record along the way, her road wasn't easy - training amidst the covid-19 restrictions with battle gym closures & lack of access to weightlifting equipment, and of course; this amidst the uncertainty of whether the Olympics will happen at all. She joins us on the programme this episode, as we pick the brains of Philippines' latest national hero.

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Modern football was set abuzz with the recent takeover of Newcastle United Football Club by a Saudi-led consortium. Money talks in football and now The Magpies are officially the richest club in the world with the consortium worth about £700 billion. For comparison, the next richest club is Man City - Emirati owner Sheikh Mansour is worth about £23 billion.

Will this deal change the landscape of modern football?

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This year marks the 100th year of the oldest cup competition in the ASEAN region, the Malaysia Cup - only suspended twice in history, during WWII and recently during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, for such a historic tournament, interest has dwindled over the years with more attention being paid on the Super League and the FA Cup. This week, Nazreen Izahar from Semuanya BOLA joins us on the program to reflect on the 100 years of the competition.

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Intense badminton action kept us up late over the weekend as Malaysia equaled their best run at the Sudirman Cup matching the 2009 record of a semi-final run -- beating a dominant Indonesian side for the first time in a team World Cup match. We review our young contingent's stellar performance in Finland and preview the leadup to the Thomas & Uber Cup in Denmark.

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This week on the program we turn our attention on road bicycle racing - a discipline in the most extensive form of cycling that requires more than just good pedals....or handlebars. Mohamed Harrif Saleh is a six-time SEA Games gold medalist, a professional racing cyclist who rides for an eminent cycling team, the Terengganu Cycling Team (TSG). He joins us on the show - sharing what it feels like to be racing again, his journey throughout his cycling career, and more. On The Good, The Bad & The Ugly - cash bonus for our national badminton players, racial abuse in football continues, and updates on the World Cup proposal.

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Fitness-junkies rejoice! Gyms in states under Phase 2 of the NRP are now allowed to run on 50 percent capacity and in a controlled environment for the fully vaccinated. But will things go back to the way they were - especially with virtual workouts being the pandemic status-quo? Founder of boutique fitness center DailyMuscle, Noel Chelliah joins us as he shares his reaction to the news and dissects the potential hybrid-future of the fitness industry.

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While the pandemic has halted traditional sports, esports and in particular sim-racing, has seen a growth in popularity with more eyes on it than ever before. With the latest season of the E1 Championships ongoing, we strap up and dive into the world of e-racing with the founder and race director, Alex Yoong - a man who's no stranger to Malaysians having done it all at the highest level.

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With Tokyo 2020 - an Olympic Games like no other - done & dusted, we review the Malaysian contingent's performance who managed to achieve two-thirds of the medal targets with a silver and bronze. Will Paris 2024 be the year the elusive gold finally reaches our shores?

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The Summer Olympics may be about sports but it has been a tradition where countries showcase their national designs and cultural heritage at the opening ceremony. Our Malaysian contingent’s attire drew mixed reactions from the public as the Jalur Gemilang & Hang Tuah inspired design was paired with modern geometric patterns. The team behind it is led by UiTM fashion lecturer Khairulazlan Abdul Karim. He joins us on the show - bringing us behind the scenes of what goes into designing a national outfit.

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The Tokyo Olympics is in full swing, amidst protests with local public perception still very much against the Games. However, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshide Suga insists that the Olympics will serve as “proof that humanity has defeated the coronavirus” while IOC Chief Thomas Bach reiterates that the Olympics pose “zero” risk to the public. Is the choice to let the games go ahead an absurd decision or a show of sheer determination during these dark times?

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In the last episode of this series - we head out to the waters with Malaysian sailor Khairulnizam Affendy. Two-time Asian Games silver medalist and two-time Olympian, Khairulnizam is set to make his third Olympic appearance in Tokyo. This year will be a memorable one for Malaysia - being represented by four sailors in Tokyo, the biggest ever representation in Olympics sailing. Khairulnizam speaks to us from his training base in Langkawi.

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"Damn, I'm only 29!" were the first words out of Danish playmaker Christian Eriksen's mouth the moment regained consciousness after succumbing to a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) during the opening week of matches at the ongoing Euros. While occurrences are rare, young and fit athletes are not immune to heart problems and breaking down the risks of cardiac arrest in sport - Datuk Dr Ramlan Aziz, Founding CEO National Sports Institute Malaysia, 6-time Olympic Medical Officer - joins us on the programme this episode.

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In our sixth episode of the series, we check in with 24-year-old Malaysian Artistic Gymnast Jeremiah Loo Phay Xing. Due to an unexpected turn of events, 2017 SEA Games gold medalist is on the brink of making Tokyo Olympics this coming July, and if he qualifies - it will be the first time for Malaysia to send off two artistic gymnasts representatives. He shares his experience juggling between being a student and an athlete, aspirations for the sport in Malaysia, and his plans for his return after rehabilitation.

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As Harimau Malaya concludes their bittersweet campaign in Dubai, talks about player naturalization still remains a feisty topic. One of Malaysia’s greatest players, Datuk Santokh Singh recently spoke out against naturalised players, commenting on their under-par performance on the field. However, at the same time - we've seen how China, Qatar & countries in Europe have enforced it to great success. Is player naturalization a quick solution to fill the gaps, or is it a band-aid to an underlying grassroots issue? Twentytwo13's Haresh Deol and Khalilul Rahman of Padangbolasepak share their thoughts.

IMAGE SOURCE: FAM

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The opening ceremony for Tokyo 2021 is less than two months away, but the question still remains - is it even happening? When the games was postponed in March last year, there were a little more than a 1,000 active covid-19 cases in Japan. Today, Japan is experiencing a fourth wave that's bringing their numbers up drastically - to the tune of 70,000 active cases. The IOC remains adamant that the "Biggest Show on Earth" will go ahead as planned, but is this the right move? Olympic hurdler and President of the Malaysian Olympians Association Noraseela Khalid join us this week.

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This week, we turn our eyes to badminton with top women’s singles shuttler Soniia Cheah. The national #1 booked her spot at the upcoming Tokyo Games, although she got axed by BAM months prior. Now in the independent circuit, she talks nailing corporate sponsorships, DIY mentality, as well as hopes for a podium finish in Tokyo.

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On our fourth episode of the series, we speak to national diver and former World Champion Cheong Jun Hoong who made headlines at the 2021 FINA Diving World Cup after securing a spot in the Tokyo Olympics - marking her return after a three-year break due to an injury. Jun Hoong shares her journey of being a professional diver and what it takes to be part of the national squad.

IMAGE SOURCE: Cheong Jun Hoong / FACEBOOK

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With numerous championships under his belt including the FIA World Rally Championship Production Car title, Karamjit Singh - a racing veteran that needs no introduction, who's been taking the world of rallying by storm since 1985. He sets to make a return to the tracks after three years with the newly formed Cisco Racing Team this coming June. We take a look at his career thus far and what’s to come from this partnership.

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The announcement of the European Super League shook the football world, a plan that aims to replace the UEFA Champions League and revamp the European football pyramid. The short-lived proposal received enormous backlash from fans and left a mess behind with many more questions to be answered. How legal is this process? Richard Wee, sports lawyer and member of the Malaysian Bar explores the aftermath.

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Minifootball, a sport played on a small-sized soccer field with minimal number of players and different game rules, the sport drives to increase participation and provide opportunities for skill development in both male and female players across all age groups. With the formation of Mini Football Malaysia (MiFoM), the association is taking proactive steps to promote minifootball in our country with the assistance of Football Association of Malaysia (FAM). MiFoM General Secretary Datuk Yap Nyim Keong joins us to shed light on the topic of minifootball and share exciting plans the association has forging ahead.

IMAGE SOURCE: World Minifootball Federation

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Minifootball, a sport played on a small-sized soccer field with minimal number of players and different game rules, the sport is driven to increase participation and provide opportunities for skill development in both male and female players across all age groups. With the formation of Mini Football Malaysia (MiFoM), the association is taking proactive steps to promote minifootball in our country with the assistance of Football Association of Malaysia (FAM). MiFoM General Secretary Datuk Yap Nyim Keong joins us to shed light on the topic of minifootball and share exciting plans the association has forging ahead.

IMAGE SOURCE: World Minifootball Federation

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Over the weekend, 12 European clubs formally launched a new European Super League (ESL). A league that aims to ‘save football’ and eventually replace the UEFA Champions - a proposal that was met with an overwhelming backlash with players and fans alike. Football pundit Bob Holmes breaks it down.

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On our third episode of the series, we check in with our national number one golfer, 27 year old Gavin Green. A man who’s been sinking it in the European Tour for the past couple of years after being the first Malaysian to top the Asian Tour Order of Merit after the 2017 campaign. Well on track to make an appearance at the upcoming Tokyo Olympics, Gavin joins us on the show sharing his golfing journey so far.

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Former national swimmer and two-time World Masters Champion, Cindy Ong - who recently won five golds and two silvers in the 2019 FINA World Masters Swimming Championship proves her ability to fight the rankings even after a 10-year break from the sport. Cindy joins us on the show to share the early beginnings of her career, the journey of being a swimming coach, and what it takes for a Malaysian to compete on the world stage. On The Good, The Bad & The Ugly - updates on Tokyo 2021 Olympics torch relay and safe test events, Facebook's response to racial abuse on footballers & international teams' protest for human rights ahead of the Qatar FIFA World Cup.

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After a year of not having tournaments, Malaysian archer Khairul Anuar Mohamad puts his focus on the upcoming Tokyo Olympics as he adapts to the different training regimes and approaches leading up to the event. The Malaysian athlete fought his way up the rankings, making him the first Malaysian ever to win a medal at an individual World Cup event back in the 2011 FITA Archery World Cup. We speak to Khairul to understand his journey and early beginnings with archery, preparation as he makes a return to the targets coming July, and his hopes for the sport in Malaysia moving forward.

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22-year-old Kedah-born shuttler Lee Zii Jia put life back into Malaysian badminton after blazing his way to the All England title, which did not come off as an easy feat after having to go against two world best shuttlers, Kento Momota & Viktor Axelson. Looking ahead at Tokyo Olympics, can Zii Jia keep up the momentum? Dato’ Kenny Goh, General Secretary for Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) joins us to speak on Zii Jia’s recent winning and reveal strategic plans BAM has for the upcoming Olympics with one of their initiatives, “Project 24”.

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A rebirthed Kuala Lumpur City Football Club (KLCFC) is set to take the Super League by storm in this era of privatization. CEO Stanley Bernard, former city boy - who breathes and bleeds football - joins us on the show to share his vision & philosophy as a new chapter unfolds for the club. Can KLCFC be the new football kings of the Klang Valley?

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Tennis is still unable to make headway despite its advantages, a sport that is played on big-sized courts with covid 19-friendly distance between players but still faces long-standing challenges that date back pre-pandemic. Johnson Koh, Vice-President of Lawn Tennis Association of Malaysia (LTAM) and President of the Sabah Tennis Association discusses the current scene in the sport, updates on how the association is coping with the new normal, and vital decisions needed to be done regarding funding in order for the sport to operate and move forward.

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Hockey fans rejoice as competitive play is set to resume with the Malaysian Hockey League scheduled to start on the 11th of March. After a long hiatus & postponement, the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) was given the green light to host the league with strict SOPs and a bubble environment. Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal, President of MHC shares insights on the lead up to the tournament, foreseen challenges running the league, and plans MHC has moving forward amidst the pandemic.

IMAGE SOURCE: Malaysian Hockey Confederation

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On our brand-new series, we set our sights to Tokyo and delve into the lives and journeys of our national athletes who will be donning the Jalur Gemilang in Tokyo. Our inaugural episode features 26 year old diver Chew Yiwei - who bagged a bronze medal at the 2018 Asian Games and also was Selangor's Athlete of the Year in 2014.

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After 28 long years of grinding her way to the pinnacle of competitive bowling, Shalin Zulkifli has called time on her national career. A household name on the lanes, she leaves the scene with a total of 74 medals and a lasting legacy that'll be hard to replicate. She joins us on the programme to reflect an amazing career, struggles of her early beginnings, the sports' exclusion from the Olympics, the next-gen of national bowlers and more. Also is a Datukship on the horizon?

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Esports has been recently approved as a medaled sport for the upcoming Asian Games 2022 in China. This is following years of struggle to find legitimacy at major sporting events. But is this a one-off initiative or a road-test for the Olympics? On the line with us this week, Richard Wee who is a sports lawyer, a member of the Malaysian Bar, and an advocate for Malaysian esports as he breaks down this move by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).

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Recently, World Lacrosse made a tough decision to postpone its two World Championships initially scheduled to happen in 2021, but will instead stage the two major championships in 2022. This has put lacrosse associations across the globe in limbo, deciding on the next optimum move for their teams. This week’s episode, we check in with Putra Isyraq, the president of Malaysia Lacrosse Association (MLA) to understand how the association is adjusting to the new normal in regards to athlete's health and safety. Also, shedding light on the new game rules set by the World Lacrosse Association (WLA), what it means for the future of lacrosse as a sport and plans for MLA moving forward through this pandemic.

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The world of football mourns the loss of one of the sport’s renowned talents, Diego Armando Maradona who passed away at age 60. Regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, we pay tribute to the pint-sized attacker with Datuk George Joseph, a retired referee who had seen first-hand the early glimpses of Maradona’s career when he officiated the FIFA World Youth Championships match in 1979 - which Maradona’s Argentina won. He then met the man again in 1982 this time officiating Boca Juniors visit to face a Selangor selection at Stadium Merdeka. On The Good, The Bad & The Ugly - Romania's doping woes & English sports fans filling up stadiums again.

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Kabaddi, who alongside other contact-sports such as boxing, taekwondo, and even wrestling still remains some of the hardest hit sports due to the coronavirus pandemic. On the line with us this week, S.T Arasu - who serves as the Sec-Gen of World Kabaddi and deputy-president of the Malaysian Kabaddi Federation gives us an insight into the sport's plight & recovery plans moving forward ahead of the 2021 Kabaddi World Cup in Glasgow. On the Good, Bad & Ugly -- stories on the Tokyo Olympics, Farah Ann Hadi's Barbie Doll, Malaysian football season cut short with the cancelation of the Malaysia Cup, JDT's travel ban, the love-hate relationship with FC Barcelona & Neymar.

IMAGE CREDIT: PRO KABADDI

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With the scraped 2020 Thomas & Uber Cup -- the tournament many sports fans hoped would "save" competitive badminton - the uncertain future of national shuttlers is looming on administrators ahead of the Tokyo Olympics. On the line with us this week, Datuk Kenny Goh who tells of BAM's plans moving forward and how they intend to maintain the optimum form of our national athletes. On the Good Bad and Ugly, tennis spats, retirement funds for ex-nationals & Lewis Hamiltion holding the title as the F1 GOAT (Greatest of all Time) .

IMAGE CREDIT: INDIAN EXPRESS

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With the scraped 2020 Thomas & Uber Cup -- the tournament many sports fans hoped would "save" competitive badminton - the uncertain future of national shuttlers is looming on administrators ahead of the Tokyo Olympics. On the line with us this week, Datuk Kenny Goh who tells of BAM's plans moving forward and how they intend to maintain the optimum form of our national atheletes. On the Good Bad and Ugly, tennis spats, retirement funds for ex-nationals & Lewis Hamiltion holding the title as the F1 GOAT (Greatest of all Time) .

IMAGE CREDIT: INDIAN EXPRESS

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With the M-League suspended for months due to the covid-19 pandemic, it was always going to be a struggle getting players' form back to optimum. Unfortunately, that was the case for Selangor as the Red Giants ultimately wielded the axe on veteran coach B.Sathianthan who only managed a win, two draws and a loss since the resumption of play. However, things are not always as they seem as Coach Sathia - who is also the president of the Football Coaches Association of Malaysia - joins us on the line and pulls down the curtain behind the drama at FAS as well as gives us a sneak peek into his future endevours.

IMAGE CREDIT: FELDA UNITED

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With the M-League suspended for months due to the covid-19 pandemic, it was always going to be a struggle getting players' form back to optimum. Unfortunately, that was the case for Selangor as the Red Giants ultimately wielded the axe on veteran coach B.Sathianthan who only managed a win, two draws and a loss since the resumption of play. However, things are not always as they seem as Coach Sathia - who is also the president of the Football Coaches Association of Malaysia - joins us on the line and pulls down the curtain behind the drama at FAS as well as gives us a sneak peek into his future endevours.

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For over a year, Olympian and 400m hurdles record-holder Noraseela Mohd Khalid have been grooming Sarawak's next gen of athletic stars. With grassroot sports halted due to the pandemic -- she gives us the low-down on contingency plans & adapting to the new-normal.

On our weekly news-roundup on The Good, Bad and Ugly, we discuss Lewis Hamilton being on par with Michael Schumacher , CMCO's latest impact on sport and the EPL's proposed plan dubbed "Project Big Picture".

Image Source: grigoratg.blogspot.com

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For over a year, Olympian and 400m hurdles record-holder Noraseela Mohd Khalid have been grooming Sarawak's next gen of athletic stars. With grassroot sports halted due to the pandemic -- she gives us the low-down on contingency plans & adapting to the new-normal.

On our weekly news-roundup on The Good, Bad and Ugly, we discuss Lewis Hamilton being on par with Michael Schumacher , CMCO's latest impact on sport and the EPL's proposed plan dubbed "Project Big Picture".

Image Source: grigoratg.blogspot.com

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This week on the program, we check in with one of the fastest growing social rugby clubs in the Klang Valley. 600 member strong KL Tigers, who formed in 2014, are yet another grassroots effort affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Stephanie Kong, who's the captain of the women's team joins us in the studio to give us the lowdown on what's been going on since.

Image Source: kltigersrfc.com

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After eight long-years of fighting for his identity, esports athlete Muhammad Aiman Hafizi is finally a Malaysian. Born in Malaysia to an Indonesian mother and adopted by local parents, he has lived his whole life with a copy of a photostated birth certificate and has for the better part of the decade tried seeing the National Registration Department to seek help, but with no positive results.

Just earlier this month, he finally received his official citizenship and with renewed passion to represent the country in PUBG, he joins us on the line to tell us more.

Image Source : Lee Yee Woei/malaymail

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After eight long-years of fighting for his identity, esports athlete Muhammad Aiman Hafizi is finally a Malaysian. Born in Malaysia to an Indonesian mother and adopted by local parents, he has lived his whole life with a copy of a photostated birth certificate and has for the better part of the decade tried seeing the National Registration Department to seek help, but with no positive results.

Just earlier this month, he finally received his official citizenship and with renewed passion to represent the country in PUBG, he joins us on the line to tell us more.

Image Source : malaymail.com

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Rugby is traditionally a team contact sport - with bodies piled over each other, with face to face scrums & huddles inches away from the opposing team - definitely going against the notion of physical distancing, the theme of 2020. So how does one follow the rules when the sport doesn’t allow for it?

Datuk Shahrul Zaman Yahya, Malaysian Rugby Union president joins us on the show this week and delves into complexities of the sport amidst pandemic.

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One of the biggest ways Covid-19 has affected the world is the cancellation of all big sporting events but in recent weeks some countries are emerging out of some form of lockdown with a new normal.On today's episode we have Sean Selvaraj to share with us his thoughts on the changes in football as well as his crowd-funding initiative to help families in need. With the Super-League back in full-swing, what is the new-normal for local football?

Image Source: football-tribe.com

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The now defunct Merdeka Tournament which was first held in 1957, over the years has been generally seen to have lost its prestige as a major regional tournament. There are recent talks and glimmers of hope for reviving the competition, but the issue still remains on whether the tournament can return to its glory years.

On the show this week, we have N Thanabalan to take us back on a ride to the golden years of Malaysian football and to share his fond memories of the 1968 Merdeka Tournament. Nicknamed the "Liliput", he went on a scoring spree netting six goals in eight matches, and played the final againsts Burma on the eve of his wedding. He also talks about the perils of modern-day football and how the current crop of national players should "never sell the game".

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The pandemic has been leading to cuts and layoffs in multiple industries and with grassroots sports not spared going downhill ever since. To explore how social sports clubs stay alive, we have Sarina Sundra Rajah, former national gymnast, to discuss and share her thoughts on the challenges she faces on a daily basis while running the Sarina Rhythmic Gymnastics Club. We get the low-down on how she ensures the club continues to stay-afloat amidst financial troubles.

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On today's episode we have Lesley Lim , Captain of the KL Barbarians, Klang Valley's first open corporate dragon boat team which has been around since 2011. Dragon boating is very much known as a very colourful and competitive summer event.During this pandemic season, some sports are allowed to resume while some remain shut for 2020. Unfortunately dragon boating business has come to a halt due to the pandemic. This podcast covers the struggles the Malaysian dragon boat team has to face to ensure the team’s fitness is maintained throughout the entire MCO period.

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Our feature this week is MMA fighter prodigy, Colleen R. Augustin who has put Malaysia on the map by being the first Malaysian woman fighter to bag a gold medal in the 2019 Asian Open, which was impressively her first MMA championship. She shares her journey of getting into MMA – from ballet, to professional obstacle course racer to Muay Thai and more. Colleen also sheds a light on how MMA is adapting in times of Covid-19.

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This week, we have a chat with Malaysian skateboarding veteren, Ahmad Fadzil Musa a.k.a. Pa’din Musa. Having almost 30 years of experience in the skateboarding scene, he talks about landing his first ‘ollie’, winning two gold medals for Malaysia at the Asian X Games and helping to develop the local skateboarding community among many others.

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Although some other sports are allowed to resume, futsal still remains shut for 2020. Especially after FAM announced to cancel three major futsal tournaments – the President’s Cup, Youth Cup and Malaysian Premier Futsal League for this season. We speak to Coach Chiew Chun Yong, the head coach of futsal’s national team, on how he is adapting amidst this pandemic, among other impressive insights of his career and the local futsal scene.

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This week, we speak to Chuah Choo Chiang, senior director of communications at PGA Tour and Genevieve Ling, Malaysian pro golfer on the A - Z of the golfing world. Golf was one of the first sports to resume recreationally and professionally during the lockdown. They share on how they are coping post-MCO from the organiser’s and player’s perspective, among other updates. What’s the new normal like for golf?

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With the recent announcement of the recovery MCO, bowling centres are now allowed to reopen. We checked in with national bowler, Sin Li Jane on how she is coping this (C)MCO. As athletes’ schedules are usually hectic, this quarantine period has given Li Jane the time to relax and reflect with her family to come back stronger to the bowling arena.

On The Good, The Bad and The Ugly – The reopening of recreational activities, athletes and sports organisations uniting behind The Black Lives Matter movement and the deaths of national athletes not being given the tributes that they deserve.

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As sports are slowly reopening during this pandemic, local grassroots sports still remain stagnant. Khalilul Rahman, founder of Padang Bola Sepak and Rekreasi, organisations that advocates and organises grassroots sporting events, talks about the uncertainties and struggles during this difficult time. To safeguard livelihoods and to keep local level sports alive, he suggests the next best step to resume contact sports with the new normal.

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Sim racing has been seen to be on a rise during this quarantine period with the likes of F1 eSports Series and RaceRoom. This episode features the youngest professional racer to win the Formula BMW Asia, the first Asian to finish as vice-champion in the British Formula 3 Championship and is one of the board of directors at the Sepang International Circuit – Jazeman Jaafar. Jazeman shares an insider insight on international and local sim racing, its progress and exciting future among other on track motorsports updates amidst this pandemic.

On The Good, The Bad and The Ugly – the world is finally able to watch football again, officials’ visit to sports facilities should be reconsidered and confusion over the reopening of gyms.

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Brendan Gan is no stranger to Malaysian football – a household name especially after being awarded ‘best player’ in the 2018 Malaysian Cup and has been a star in the national team under Tan Cheng Hoe.

The Selangor FC midfield ace shares with Ali Johan how he is adapting with the MCO, his early days in Australian football, rekindling the epic Perak vs Terengganu match and more.

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This week we have producer and host of BFM’s On The Ball, Ross Yusof dissecting the issue of pay cuts in the football sphere during this world wide lockdown. Discussing several news reports like the UK’s health minister calling out Premier League’s players, star players donating their wealth, the local football scene adapting to the MCO and more.

On The Good, The Bad and The Ugly – It’s a booming business for e-sports, FAM pressured to make their upcoming league happen amidst the outbreak and Kedah FA against the world.

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On the line, from Melbourne is Tan Sri Dr M.Jegathesan - known as the "Flying Doctor" for his feat in athletics in the 70s - he shares his thoughts on how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting the sporting landscape worldwide and the best way to move forward. Also, he gives his tips on how athletes can keep fit at home pyschically and mentally.

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On the line, from Melbourne this is Tan Sri Dr M.Jegathesan - known as the "Flying Doctor" for his feat in athletics in the 70s - he shares his thoughts on how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting the sporting landscape worldwide and the best way to move forward. Also, he gives his tips on how athletes can keep fit at home pyschically and mentally.

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On the line, from Melbourne is Tan Sri Dr M.Jegathesan - known as the "Flying Doctor" for his feat in athletics in the 70s - he shares his thoughts on how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting the sporting landscape worldwide and the best way to move forward. Also, he gives his tips on how athletes can keep fit at home pyschically and mentally.

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This week we have a chat with one of the pioneers of free running in Malaysia, Abudi Alsagoff. He picked up the sport in university 13 years back as a hobby, then fell in love with the gravity defying and stunt filled sport. Fully immersing himself with this art of movement, he grabbed every opportunity that the free running sphere had to offer. For instance, moving to Dubai to promote the sport, where he also successfully attempted the first human flag on the world’s tallest residential building, the 101 Marina. He shares his journey of becoming a pro free running athlete and an entrepreneur behind his athletic brand, Alpha Movements.

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E-sports has garner major attention in the recent years with cult favourite games like DotA, League of Legends and PUBG. Malaysia is not far behind in the e-sports arena. Today’s episode brings in Lim Keat Kuang, the co-founder of Geek Fam, a local e-sport team, event organiser and e-sport academy. Its been five years since Geek Fam’s inception and they have achieved many commendable feats under their belt like qualifying for the LA majors. Keat Kuang shares on being one of the powerhouse teams in Malaysia, nurturing tomorrow’s talents and the future of esports among many others.

As for the news round up, it's all about The Ugly - it’s on Selangor’s football coach B. Sathianathan slamming back on racists remarks with the recent Selangor vs Perak game.

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E-sports has garner major attention in the recent years with cult favourite games like DotA, League of Legends and PUBG. Malaysia is not far behind in the e-sports arena. Today’s episode brings in Lim Keat Kuang, the co-founder of Geek Fam, a local e-sport team, event organiser and e-sport academy. Its been five years since Geek Fam’s inception and they have achieved many commendable feats under their belt like qualifying for the LA majors. Keat Kuang shares on being one of the powerhouse teams in Malaysia, nurturing tomorrow’s talents and the future of esports among many others.

As for the news round up, it's all about The Ugly - it’s on Selangor’s football coach B. Sathianathan slamming back on racists remarks with the recent Selangor vs Perak game.

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On today’s show, we talked to Imran Harith, the Co-Founder and CEO of Discover Muay Thai. Inspired, after a trip to Thailand to learn the “Art of Eight Limbs”, he had big plans to use Muay Thai to uplift troubled and underprivileged teenage boys in Malaysia. He left his previous job to establish Discover Muay Thai - a four-month intensive Muay Thai program to rebuild the lives of these youths. Discover Muay Thai isn’t your typical Muay Thai gym. It goes beyond that - changing lives, one boy at a time.

Also, on The Good, The Bad and The Ugly - M-league making history this season by appointing three female referees, the return of Faiz Subri - winner of the FIFA Puskas Award in 2016, and how political uncertainty is affecting the local sports landscape.

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On today’s show, we talked to Imran Harith, the Co-Founder and CEO of Discover Muay Thai. Inspired, after a trip to Thailand to learn the “Art of Eight Limbs”, he had big plans to use Muay Thai to uplift troubled and underprivileged teenage boys in Malaysia. He left his previous job to establish Discover Muay Thai - a four-month intensive Muay Thai program to rebuild the lives of these youths. Discover Muay Thai isn’t your typical Muay Thai gym. It goes beyond that - changing lives, one boy at a time.

Also, on The Good, The Bad and The Ugly - M-league making history this season by appointing three female referees, the return of Faiz Subri - winner of the FIFA Puskas Award in 2016, and how political uncertainty is affecting the local sports landscape.

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On today’s show, we talked to Imran Harith, the Co-Founder and CEO of Discover Muay Thai. Inspired, after a trip to Thailand to learn the “Art of Eight Limbs”, he had big plans to use Muay Thai to uplift troubled and underprivileged teenage boys in Malaysia. He left his previous job to establish Discover Muay Thai - a four-month intensive Muay Thai program to rebuild the lives of these youths. Discover Muay Thai isn’t your typical Muay Thai gym. It goes beyond that - changing lives, one boy at a time.

Also, on The Good, The Bad and The Ugly - M-league making history this season by appointing three female referees, the return of Faiz Subri - winner of the FIFA Puskas Award in 2016, and how political uncertainty is affecting the local sports landscape.

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After 124 years, Karate is finally making its debut at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Syakilla Salni, the Malaysian Kumite fighter gives us the scoop into the karate world. She unveils the many obstacles she faced in getting to the Olympics - from internal politics, lack of funding, bad training locations, difficulties adapting to different coaching styles, and more.

Even after quitting the national team late last year and missing many tournaments deemed vital to quality for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Syakilla is still hopeful and devoted to represent Malaysia on the international stage. BFM’s Sabrina Magdelene, uncovers.

Also on the The Good, The Bad & The Ugly - CIMB is partnering with the Malaysian Football League (MFL) for the upcoming season and the inspiring story behind Discover Muay Thai, The Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) hit by a coaching fiasco and an unfortunate high school archery incident in Kedah.

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The world was in utter shock at the sudden passing of basketball superstar, Kobe Bryant. A man who dedicated two decades of his life to the LA Lakers, won five NBA championships and is an 18-time all star. The 26th of January helicopter tragedy also took the life of his 13 year old daughter, Gianna and seven others.

Today’s episode of Bar None pays tribute to the extraordinary athlete and hero to many, including our guest for the week Rezhan Majid, an avid fan of basketball and the founder of social sports apps Sports Bandit and Huddle. We talked about his legacy, exceptional career, the Mamba mentality and how he inspires others.

As for The Good, The Bad & The Ugly – Dato’ Yeoh Choo Hock a.k.a the god father of Malaysian basketball chronicled his stories in a coffee-table book titled My Life, My Journey, JDT’s new promo kits sparked confusion among fans and the consequential effect of Corona virus on major sporting events.

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On the show today, we have 2010 Olympics gold medalist figure skater & former contestant on Dancing with the Stars, Evan Lysacek who was in town for the US Sport Envoy Program. We discuss his Olympic Glory Days, early life on the rink, his post-Olympics ventures and the future of figure skating.

Also, on The Good, The Bad & The Ugly - a bike project from The National Sports Institute that would propel the nation’s cycling industry to greater heights because Malaysia Boleh, issues surrounding The Malaysian Hockey League (MHL) and the sports official caught up in a drug party scandal.

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On the show today, we have 2010 Olympics gold medalist figure skater & former contestant on Dancing with the Stars, Evan Lysacek who was in town for the US Sport Envoy Program. We discuss his Olympic Glory Days, early life on the rink, his post-Olympics ventures and the future of figure skating.

Also, on The Good, The Bad & The Ugly - a bike project from The National Sports Institute that would propel the nation’s cycling industry to greater heights because Malaysia Boleh, issues surrounding The Malaysian Hockey League (MHL) and the sports official caught up in a drug party scandal.

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On the programe this week, 29 year old national Epee fencer Joshua Koh, who recently racked in a silver medal at the 30th SEA Games in Phillipines. He is the top national fencer and number 167 in the world, most famously winning gold at the Palembang SEA Games in 2011 — a victory that effectively ended Malaysia’s 22 year barren run in the sport. He talks about his career so far, the niche but growing fencing community in Malaysia, his quest to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and more.

Also, our news roundup on The Good, The Bad & The Ugly - a 17 year old sprinter tested postive for two banned steroids, Melaka United Soccer Association not paying up, Kento Momota's unfortunate accident and more.

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Leading up to the recent 2019 SEA Games in Phillipines, one of the major stories about the national football team was the possible inclusion of American-born midfielder Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal. And while he made the trip from the US to pre-season training here in Malaysia, he ultimately he didn’t make the final squad of 20 players to Manila due to “documentation issues”.

Wan Kuzain who plays his trade in the MLS with Sporting Kansas City, excited fans and became a hot topic among national football fans after he expressed interest to represent Harimau Malaya. A man many have called the "Malaysian Messi" made history by being the first player with Malaysian roots to score in the MLS — is on the program today as he gives us the low-down on his career so far.

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Leading up to the recent 2019 SEA Games in Phillipines, one of the major stories about the national football team was the possible inclusion of American-born midfielder Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal. And while he made the trip from the US to pre-season training here in Malaysia, he ultimately he didn’t make the final squad of 20 players to Manila due to “documentation issues”.

Wan Kuzain who plays his trade in the MLS with Sporting Kansas City, excited fans and became a hot topic among national football fans after he expressed interest to represent Harimau Malaya. A man many have called the "Malaysian Messi" made history by being the first player with Malaysian roots to score in the MLS — is on the program today as he gives us the low-down on his career so far.

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The 30th SEA Games in Philipines concluded recently with Malaysia raking in 55 gold, 58 silver and 78 bronze medals. Amidst logistical nightmares, scheduling conflicts, and weather disasters, we finished our last major campaign of the decade on an underwhelming note, placing 5th overall and falling short of our 70 gold target. Joining us on the program this week to dissect the outing, we have veteran sports administrator and former national water polo player Datuk Sieh Kok Chi, and Twentytwo13's Haresh Deol.

FURTHER READING

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After the Yayasan Telekom Malaysia (YTM) International Towerrun at Menara TM last November, a Malaysian named Soh Wai Ching was crowned the overall best towerrunner in the world. For those unfamiliar with competitive towerrunning or stair climbing, it began in the US and has been an unconventional but popular sport in the West; only recently has it gained popularity in Asia. Soh Wai Ching and Ravinder Singh, President and Vice President of the Malaysia Towerrunning Association respectively, gave us an insight on this up-and-coming sport and how it can be both a rewarding competitive challenge as well as a healthy activity for the urban population.

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After the Yayasan Telekom Malaysia (YTM) International Towerrun at Menara TM last November, a Malaysian named Soh Wai Ching was crowned the overall best towerrunner in the world. For those unfamiliar with competitive towerrunning or stair climbing, it began in the US and has been an unconventional but popular sport in the West; only recently has it gained popularity in Asia. Soh Wai Ching and Ravinder Singh, President and Vice President of the Malaysia Towerrunning Association respectively, gave us an insight on this up-and-coming sport and how it can be both a rewarding challenge for competitive runners as well as an exciting activity for the urban population.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After the Yayasan Telekom Malaysia (YTM) International Towerrun at Menara TM last November, a Malaysian named Soh Wai Ching was crowned the overall best towerrunner in the world. For those unfamiliar with competitive towerrunning or stair climbing, it began in the US and has been an unconventional but popular sport in the West; only recently has it gained popularity in Asia. Soh Wai Ching and Ravinder Singh, President and Vice President of the Malaysia Towerrunning Association respectively, gave us an insight on this up-and-coming sport and how it can be both a rewarding competitive challenge as well as a healthy lifestyle for the urban population.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.