Bar None

Despite being an active person, Kenneth Kaden Chin has never thought to lift heavy weights competitively until he stumbled upon a powerlifting competition at a local mall. Buoyed by the positivity shown by the crowd that’s very supportive to all the participants, he decided to give the sport a try. Now, he’s a powerlifting champion and the deputy president of the Malaysian Association for Powerlifting. Kenneth shares his journey in the sport and talks about the powerlifting scene in Malaysia, their trajectory moving forward and how the sport is not all about setting your best personal records.

Photo Source: Kenneth Kaden Chin

Cheri-Lee Atkinson, an Executive Committee member of New Zealand Football, joins Bar None to share how her country is planning to develop football, a sport that has a high participation rate among the community members, to one that can rival the All Blacks in its competitiveness and international stature. She also shares how New Zealand manages football at the grassroots level and the pathways available for young athletes to grow there.

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John Beasley, dubbed the “Father of Malaysian Track Cycling”, is a name that’s pretty synonymous with the cycling world here in Malaysia, producing talents such as Datuk Azizulhasni Awang, Fatehah Mustapa, Shah Firdaus Sahrom and Nurul Izzah Izzati. After coaching the track cycling team for 18 years, he has now moved upstairs to become the technical director of the Malaysian National Cycling Federation, tasked with the job to not only oversee other disciplines, but to also propel the Malaysian cycling scene to greater heights. He joins us to respond to the news of Datuk Azizulhasni’s plan to continue cycling, as well as share what his plans are for the local cycling fraternity moving forward.

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It's been a busy past few weeks in the world of Malaysian badminton. Last weekend, Aaron Chia & Soh Wooi Yik ended Malaysia’s 18-year drought at the Badminton Asia Championships with a resounding win in their category. That was a sweet moment to somehow get the squad in a good mood ahead of the upcoming Sudirman Cup. But the pain the national squad suffered at the All-England and other European tournaments last month means that there is still work to be done for the team. BAM has promised shake ups, and the immediate one we saw was the splitting up of our mixed doubles pair, Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei, though that didn’t last very long, as they are now reunited again. Sports journalist Fabian Mark Peter joins the show to help make sense of what’s been happening in the local circuit these past few weeks, including speculating on the future of Pearly Tan & M. Thinaah, and many more.

In our Peak Performance segment, former national cyclist Edwin Ng shares some tips on how to start cycling, and what gear and equipment you should have when starting out.

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For Edwin Ng, growing up as the son of the former national cyclist Datuk Ng Joo Ngan is a blessing that he took full advantage of. Inspired by his dad’s exploits, he started cycling with the same ambition and goals. While his career did not have the longevity that he wanted, his love for cycling remains, and these days, he continues his contributions to the cycling community via other means - from organising classes for children to learn the importance of safety, to teaching budding cyclists the right equipment to use for their rides. He joins us to share his story.

Photo Source: Edwin Ng

Jazeman Jaafar, a name that’s synonymous with the Malaysian racing circuit, clinched another victory recently. Jazeman and his team, 33R Harmony Racing came first at the 12 Hours of Sepang endurance race, ticking another box in a career that’s been pretty fulfilling and all-encompassing, ever since he started racing at the age of 6. He joins us on the show to share what that victory meant to him, how he achieved it, and the appeal of endurance racing, compared to other disciplines.

Harimau Malaya got off to a winning start in the 2027 Asian Cup Qualifier, with a comfortable 2-0 win against Nepal. New head coach Peter Cklamovski did not waste time to stamp his authority, playing with three at the back, and showcasing a playing style that’s fast and energetic. Sports journalist from The Star, T. Avineshwaran joins us on the show to share his thoughts on the match, and what he made of Cklamovski’s tactics, team selection, and coaching setup.

Later on the show, we also discuss the latest developments in the Malaysia Super League, including the status and future of Kedah and Sri Pahang, as well as the potential fallout from the scrapping of the MFL Cup and how it’ll affect clubs and their young players.

Image Source: Free Malaysia Today

National water ski athlete, Aaliyah Yoong Hanifah joins Bar None on the back of her recent success at the IWWF University World Championships in New Zealand. In a dominant display, Aaliyah bagged three gold medals in women’s jump, tricks, and the overall category. We catch up with Aaliyah to hear what life is like these days as both a student and an athlete and how she balances them.

Malaysian racing driver, Jazeman Jaafar then joins us on our Peak Performance segment to talk about how rookie drivers cope with the pressure of performing at the highest level, and why, at the end of the day, despite all the hype, they’re all human and should be viewed as such.

Photo Source: Hanifah Yoong Yin Fah

National track cyclist, Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri continues her upward trajectory in her sport, with fantastic performances at the recent Asian Track Cycling Championships held in Nilai, Malaysia. She bagged four medals (two golds, one silver and one bronze), breaking national and Asian records along the way. Izzah joins us on the show to share what it’s like to beat her idol at the tournament, her training regime, and how she handles the pressure of being one of Malaysia’s rising stars.

For fitness enthusiasts out there looking to continue their routine during this fasting month, how should you exercise safely and properly without stretching yourself thin? Consultant sports medicine physician Dr. Arvin Raj also joins us on the show to share some tips and the right way to approach fitness during this holy month.

Photo Credit: ADAM VAUGHAN/EPA Images