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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.

Image credit: maybank.com

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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.

Image Credit: Nazim Azman's Facebook

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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.

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: Shutterstock

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