Foul!

Image: National Sports Council, Malaysia The focus seems to be on the Podium Programme for obvious reasons. After all, those behind the programme had set high targets but have to date failed twice – failing to finish top ten in both the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. While the knives are out for those behind the Podium Programme, a programme under the National Sports Institute, let’s not forget another programme under the National Sports Council – Kita Juara . On Sept 7, 2015, The Star (in its article ‘ Kita Juara’programme launched in bid for SEA Games glory ') quoted former Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin as saying: “The ‘Kita Juara’ programme will lay the foundation for future success ... it’s not short-sighted. “There’s no point becoming overall winners at the 2017 SEA Games and then let it all go downhill once more.”  Malaysia became the overall winners at last year’s SEA Games – winning 145 gold medals, 92 silver medals and 86...

Just got off the phone with former Olympic Council of Malaysia secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi regarding his commentary on his Facebook page. Reproducing it here after obtaining his approval. Mid Term Review of the Podium Programme I am sure most Malaysians are aware Malaysia has won 6 Olympic Games silver medals and 2 bronze medals in badminton, one silver and one bronze medal in diving and one bronze medal in track cycling, since the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games. Unfortunately, Malaysia has yet to win its first Olympic Games gold medal. On the other hand, Malaysia’s neighbours, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam have already won Olympic Games gold medals. This, it has always been the top priority of Malaysia to win its first Olympic Games gold medal. The former Minister of Youth and Sports, Khairy Jamaluddin made it his target to win Malaysia’s first gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. In November 2014, the minister commissioned a team of Australia...

Nadi Arena Analisis Sukan Asia Jakarta-Palembang 2018 producer Lukman Salleh and I were searching for information regarding the Podium Programme on the National Sports Institute (NSI) website. And we couldn't find anything. After my show on Astro Arena (live 9pm-10pm daily till Sept 2 on channel 800 and 803HD), I tried visiting NSI's website again and still can't seem to find any info regarding the Podium Programme, unlike before. We tried clicking under Info Korporat followed by ' Program Podium ' (listed under the 'Bahagian' section) and were redirected to the landing page instead. Thankfully I have screened shot information regarding the Podium Programme's objectives, as documented in my previous articles: April 15, 2018: Walk the talk April 17, 2018: Sports programme galore - success of waste of tax payers' money? It's baffling that such crucial information is 'missing' from the website. It gives...

Another 'fairy tale' this week: 1) National athlete has a coach up until the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games. 2) The national athlete is then left on his own immediately after regional Games. 3) National athlete prepares for 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast without a coach. 4) National athlete appeals to the stakeholders, including Olympic Council of Malaysia, requesting if a coach can join the national contingent. Request denied. 5) National athlete was not too sure what was his KPI for Gold Coast. 6) Now national athlete is preparing for Asian Games - once again without a coach. 7) National athlete is once again unsure what is the KPI for the Games in Jakarta-Palembang. 8) Isn't it the onus of the stakeholders to ensure the national athlete has a coach? The national coach is after all under a programme initiated by an agency under the Youth and Sports Ministry. 9) And since some officials love playing the blame game and shooting the messenger, let's...

When Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein was the Youth and Sports Minister from 1999 to 2004, he brought the Asian X-Games to Malaysia. Extreme sports enthusiasts were elated with the initiative. A skate park was even built at Bukit Kiara. But there were those who questioned the need for the ministry to spend "millions" to obtain the hosting rights from 2002 to 2004 . Fast forward to today, skateboarding has been added to the upcoming Asian Games in Indonesia. The sport will also be contested at the 2020 Olympics. Last month, the Youth and Sports Ministry announced "skateboarding and climbing were also on the National Sports Council's agenda in expanding the scope of national sports" . The NSC is also tasked to organise a national championship for skateboarding. Some call it a missed opportunity. If officials within the ministry had followed through Hishammuddin's initiative, we could have a larger pool of talents today. We have the likes of Joe...

As published in Mailsport today. By Vijhay Vick     vijhayvick@mmail.com.my PUTRAJAYA — Malaysian sport needs a massive change and this could lead to a revamp of the National Sports Council (NSC). Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin conceded the Commonwealth Games and the on-going Asian Games were a failure and could result in Malaysia’s worst performances in 20 years. “We need to change. What that constitutes is to be decided. Any decisions made will be based on detailed reports,” said Khairy. “The Commonwealth Games post-mortem was done and another will be conducted after the Asian Games. We have also got the Australian Institute of Sports to audit our four-year programme. The full report should be ready by January.” It is learnt Khairy is already looking for individuals to fill key positions in NSC as the agency is tasked to look after elite athletes and their training programmes. A special unit could be set-up to oversee programmes for the...

As published in Malay Mail today. The back page on Sept 24, 2014 celebrating Nicol's success PETALING JAYA — Another day went by at the Asian Games in Incheon with the girls saving Malaysia the blushes. National shooter Nur Suryani Mohd Taibi celebrated her 32nd birthday yesterday by winning a silver medal in the individual 50m rifle prone after equaling her personal best of 620.6 points. She finished behind Mongolia’s Narantuya Chuluunbadrakh, who gunned down 624.1 points. She also helped Malaysia secure the team bronze medal. Nur Suryani, together with Nur Ayuni Farhana Abdul Halim and Muslifah Zulkifli, scored a total of 1,853.6 points — behind South Korea (1,855.5 points) and China (1,854.1). “I was disappointed in failing to reach the final in the 10m air event on Monday. But I put my emotions aside to concentrate on the remaining events,” the Royal Malaysian Navy officer told reporters. This is the first time a Malaysian had won a silver medal in shootin...

I must admit that the biggest surprise of the 2013 Budget was there weren't any surprises at all. Nevertheless, it is clear that the government recognises sports as a unify factor. Thus it came to no surprise that RM 15 million has been allocated to prepare athletes for SEA Games & ASEAN Para Games in 2013 and the 2014 Commonwealth Games & Asian Games. The other allocations include; - RM50 million for the next four years in preparation for the 2016 Olympic under the Road to Rio programme. -  A covered velodrome in Seremban and a badminton academy in Bukit Kiara with an allocation of RM80 million. A covered velodrome in Seremban would surely be music to the ears of cyclist. But I still remember the words of national cycling coach John Beasley who had, during dinner in Melbourne, told me that; "It is better to have many mini velodromes all over the nation then to have one big expensive velodrome." The BA of Malaysia (BAM) would surely be extremely pl...