Hard Tackle

#GameOfTwoHalves Ep 88: Setting Lion City Sailors Football Academy apart from others

12:39 mins

Synopsis: #GameofTwoHalves is The Straits Times' weekly sports podcast that is out every Tuesday.

Money FM's Rachel Kelly calls up ST sports correspondent Sazali Abdul Aziz, as well as a special guest, Tan Li Yu, who is the general manager of the newly-launched Lion City Sailors Football Academy.

In the first half of this podcast, Kelly asks Tan what sets the Lion City Sailors Football Academy apart from other private academies and club youth set-ups in Singapore.

In the second half, she then discusses with Sazali about the English Premier League that will return on Wednesday, after over three months, with two matches.

Which teams could hit the ground running or struggle?

Produced by: ST Sports Desk

Edited by: Aw Yao Feng, Nadiah Koh & Penelope Lee

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#GameOfTwoHalves Ep 87: Difficulties faced as sports begin to restart around the world

11:22 mins

Synopsis: #GameofTwoHalves is The Straits Times' weekly sports podcast that is out every Tuesday.

Money FM's Rachel Kelly calls up ST sports reporter Nicole Chia and sports correspondent Sazali Abdul Aziz.

They discuss the following topics in the first and second halves of this episode:

1. Singapore sport is beginning to emerge from the Covid-19 break with some of the country's Olympics and Paralympics-bound athletes resuming training last week. How different were the training conditions for the athletes fortunate enough to get back into action last week? What was their reaction to the safe distancing measures in place and were there any other difficulties that the athletes faced?

2. The football fraternity faces a list of challenges as it tries to get the SPL restarted. What are some of the main challenges and what are players and officials saying about the resumption?

Produced by: ST Sports Desk

Edited by: Aw Yao Feng, Nadiah Koh & Penelope Lee

Follow #GameOfTwoHalves podcasts and rate us on:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWRE

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Spotify: https://str.sg/JW6N

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Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

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#GameOfTwoHalves Ep 86: Post-circuit breaker scenarios for Singapore's September F1 Grand Prix outcome

12:22 mins

Synopsis: #GameofTwoHalves is The Straits Times' weekly sports podcast that is out every Tuesday.

Money FM's Rachel Kelly calls up ST assistant sports editor Jonathan Wong and sports correspondent Sazali Abdul Aziz.

They discuss the following topics in the first and second halves of this episode:

1. It is a tricky time for sport in Singapore; the government has begun to ease up on circuit breaker restrictions, but there is little to suggest the Republic's battle against the coronavirus pandemic will end anytime soon. This puts events like the Singapore Grand Prix, scheduled for Sept 20, in serious doubt. What are the likely scenarios?

2. Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong last week said the move to Phase Two of post-circuit breaker measures could happen before the scheduled date of July 2. Sport Singapore has just announced that athletes who have qualified or are close to qualifying for the Olympics and Paralympics, can return to training on June 2 under "controlled conditions". What does this mean for athletes?

Produced by: ST Sports Desk

Edited by: Aw Yao Feng, Nadiah Koh & Penelope Lee

Follow #GameOfTwoHalves podcasts and rate us on:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWRE

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Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

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#GameOfTwoHalves Ep 85: Reality of sports events behind closed doors

13:16 mins

Synopsis: #GameofTwoHalves is The Straits Times' weekly sports podcast that is out every Tuesday.

Money FM's Rachel Kelly calls up ST assistant sports editor Rohit Brijnath and sports correspondent Sazali Abdul Aziz. 

They discuss the following topics in the first and second halves of this episode:

1. Among the top European football leagues, the German Bundesliga was the first to return to action behind closed doors. Sports elsewhere saw a charity golf match featuring world No.1 Rory McIlroy. How did they turn out? What are the downsides to sports events without fans and is there a silver lining for now?

2. Why can't Singapore's Formula One Grand Prix be held behind closed doors? We find out the reasons so far.

Produced by: ST Sports Desk

Edited by: Aw Yao Feng, Nadiah Koh & Penelope Lee

Follow #GameOfTwoHalves podcasts and rate us on:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWRE

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRa

Spotify: https://str.sg/JW6N

Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRR

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

#GameOfTwoHalves Ep 84: Merits of closed UFC 249 fight; Michael Jordan Netflix documentary storming success

14:09 mins

Synopsis: #GameofTwoHalves is The Straits Times' weekly sports podcast that is out every Tuesday.

Money FM's Rachel Kelly calls up ST assistant sports editor Rohit Brijnath and sports correspondent Sazali Abdul Aziz. 

They discuss the following topics:

1. Mixed martial arts is back in the form of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, which held its UFC 249 event over the weekend in Florida. Was the event considered a success and will it pave the way for the return of other major sports?

2. The sports documentary that has taken the world, and Singapore, by storm: The Last Dance. The miniseries, centered around Michael Jordan and his last season with the Chicago Bulls in 1998, is among the top 10 most-watched Netflix shows in Singapore. Why is it so compelling?

Produced by: ST Sports Desk

Edited by: Aw Yao Feng, Nadiah Koh & Penelope Lee

Follow #GameOfTwoHalves podcasts and rate us on:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWRE

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRa

Spotify: https://str.sg/JW6N

Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRR

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

#GameOfTwoHalves Ep 83: Can Singapore be the best in chess; solving incomplete football leagues

12:42 mins

Synopsis: #GameofTwoHalves is The Straits Times' weekly sports podcast that is out every Tuesday.

Money FM's Rachel Kelly calls up ST sports correspondents Sazali Abdul Aziz and David Lee.

They discuss the following topics:

1. That unassuming young kid in your neighbourhood could be a chess whiz, as some pre-teens here already have international acclaim. But what separates them from that elusive Grandmaster status?

2. Several European football leagues have ended their campaigns with various debatable approaches, including the point-per-game method in the French Ligue. When will Asean leagues resume, if at all, and what are the repercussions on the respective national teams?

Produced by: ST Sports Desk

Edited by: Aw Yao Feng, Nadiah Koh & Penelope Lee

Follow #GameOfTwoHalves podcasts and rate us on:

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Playlist: https://str.sg/Ji3k

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

Thank you for your support! ST and BT Podcasts picked up a silver medal for Best Digital Project to engage younger and/or millennial audiences at 2019 Asian Digital Media Awards by Wan-Ifra: https://str.sg/Jw5T

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

#GameOfTwoHalves Ep 82: S'pore sport loses trailblazer in Pennefather; e-sports thrives through coronavirus

12:04 mins

Synopsis: #GameofTwoHalves is The Straits Times' weekly sports podcast that is out every Tuesday.

Money FM's Rachel Kelly calls up ST sports correspondent Sazali Abdul Aziz and ST sports reporter Kimberly Kwek.

They discuss the following topics:

1. On the morning of Monday (April 27), Annabel Pennefather - a trailblazer for women in Singapore sport and a prominent sports administrator - died. The podcasters talk about her contributions to Singapore sport, as well as what made her so admired by the fraternity.

2. Singapore-based mixed martial arts organisation One Championship announced its first official athlete rankings for select weight divisions across MMA, muay thai and kickboxing. What does this move mean for athletes and fans?

3. The coronavirus pandemic has halted major sports and emptied arenas all over the world, but sports fans have found an alternative - e-sports. Just how big has the boom been and can it continue?

Produced by: ST Sports Desk

Edited by: Aw Yao Feng, Nadiah Koh & Penelope Lee

Follow #GameOfTwoHalves podcasts and rate us on:

Spotify: https://str.sg/ovjR

Apple Podcasts: http://str.sg/o8MK

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Playlist: https://str.sg/Ji3k

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

Thank you for your support! ST and BT Podcasts picked up a silver medal for Best Digital Project to engage younger and/or millennial audiences at 2019 Asian Digital Media Awards by Wan-Ifra: https://str.sg/Jw5T

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

#GameOfTwoHalves Ep 81: SPL footballers get pay cut reprieve; initiatives aiding S'pore sports, fitness and wellness professionals

11:43 mins

Synopsis: #GameofTwoHalves is The Straits Times' weekly sports podcast that is out every Tuesday.

Money FM's Rachel Kelly calls up ST sports correspondent Sazali Abdul Aziz and ST sports reporter Nicole Chia.

They discuss the following topics:

1. Almost two weeks after ST reported that some Singapore Premier League (SPL) clubs were mulling pay cuts for players as a result of disrupted revenue during the league's suspension because of coronavirus, the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) announced that all club employee salaries would be retained in full. What led to the call being made?
2. With the entire sports industry grinding to a halt because of the Covid-19 virus, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu took some time to speak to the local sporting community over Facebook, and shared initiatives available to those in the sports and health and wellness industry, such as freelance fitness coaches and private gym owners, whose livelihoods have been affected.

Produced by: ST Sports Desk

Edited by: Aw Yao Feng, Nadiah Koh & Penelope Lee

Follow #GameOfTwoHalves podcasts and rate us on:

Spotify: https://str.sg/ovjR

Apple Podcasts: http://str.sg/o8MK

Google Podcasts: http://str.sg/oXeS

Playlist: https://str.sg/Ji3k

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

Thank you for your support! ST and BT Podcasts picked up a silver medal for Best Digital Project to engage younger and/or millennial audiences at 2019 Asian Digital Media Awards by Wan-Ifra: https://str.sg/Jw5T

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

#GameOfTwoHalves Ep 80: How national athletes stay fit at home; coronavirus effects on Singapore athletes

12:46 mins

Synopsis: #GameofTwoHalves is The Straits Times' weekly sports podcast that is out every Tuesday.

Money FM's Howie Lim calls up ST sports correspondent David Lee, ST sports reporter Nicole Chia and Olympian shooter Jasmine Ser.

They discuss the following topics:

1. The Singapore Government's circuit breaker measures have led to national athletes finding creative ways to work out while at home. Find out how the likes of Olympian shooter Jasmine Ser and netball Aqilah Andin are using household items to exercise.
   
   
2. How has the coronavirus pandemic affected Singapore athletes both here and overseas? 

Produced by: ST Sports Desk

Edited by: Aw Yao Feng, Nadiah Koh & Penelope Lee

Follow #GameOfTwoHalves podcasts and rate us on:

Spotify: https://str.sg/ovjR

Apple Podcasts: http://str.sg/o8MK

Google Podcasts: http://str.sg/oXeS

Playlist: https://str.sg/Ji3k

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

Thank you for your support! ST and BT Podcasts picked up a silver medal for Best Digital Project to engage younger and/or millennial audiences at 2019 Asian Digital Media Awards by Wan-Ifra: https://str.sg/Jw5T

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

#GameOfTwoHalves Ep 79: Should professional footballers take pay cuts? Coronavirus effects on Singapore sports

11:36 mins

Synopsis: #GameofTwoHalves is The Straits Times' weekly sports podcast that is out every Tuesday.

Money FM's Bernard Lim calls up ST sports correspondents Sazali Abdul Aziz and David Lee.

They discuss the following questions:

1. Top football professionals in Spain, Italy and Germany have accepted pay cuts during the global coronavirus epidemic, but the Professional Footballers’ Association in England has been slow to act. Will players in Singapore, on much smaller wages, face the same fate?
2. The Singapore Government's new circuit-breaker measures effectively bring sports to a grinding halt in the country, as almost all sports and recreational facilities will be closed for at least a month. What is the reaction and how can people still exercise and stay active in Singapore?

Produced by: Bernard Lim & ST Sports Desk

Edited by: Aw Yao Feng, Nadiah Koh & Penelope Lee

Follow #GameOfTwoHalves podcasts and rate us on:

Spotify: https://str.sg/ovjR

Apple Podcasts: http://str.sg/o8MK

Google Podcasts: http://str.sg/oXeS

Playlist: https://str.sg/Ji3k

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

Thank you for your support! ST and BT Podcasts picked up a silver medal for Best Digital Project to engage younger and/or millennial audiences at 2019 Asian Digital Media Awards by Wan-Ifra: https://str.sg/Jw5T

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.