Hard Tackle

A Game Of Two Halves Ep 32: Why Liverpool's EPL failure isn't the end; Singapore Slingers a step from national basketball glory 

12:45 mins

Synopsis: A Game of Two Halves is The Straits Times' weekly sports podcast that is out every Tuesday.

Straits Times sports correspondents Sazali Abdul Aziz and David Lee are joined by The New Paper's digital editor Jonathan Roberts, and they dissect the recently-concluded English Premier League season and its incredible title race that went down to the final day.

Resident Liverpudlian and Reds fan Roberts explains why he is in a zen mode even after his favourite football team could not end its 29-year domestic title drought.

In the second half, they discuss the Singapore Slingers. They are in the endgame now - they play Indonesian side CLS knights in the deciding Game 5 of the Asean Basketball League finals at the OCBC Arena on Wednesday (May 15).

With the tie finely-poised at 2-2, Lee - who travelled to Surabaya with the Slingers for Games 3 and 4 - sets the scene and shares why winning the regional title would be an outstanding achievement.

Produced by: Sazali Abdul Aziz and David Lee

Edited by: Adam Azlee

Subscribe, like and rate A Game of Two Halves on:

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU 

iTunes: http://str.sg/o8MK

Google podcasts: http://str.sg/oXeS

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected] 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Game Of Two Halves Ep 32: Why Liverpool's EPL failure isn't the end; Singapore Slingers a step from national basketball glory 

12:45 mins

Synopsis: A Game of Two Halves is The Straits Times' weekly sports podcast that is out every Tuesday.

Straits Times sports correspondents Sazali Abdul Aziz and David Lee are joined by The New Paper's digital editor Jonathan Roberts, and they dissect the recently-concluded English Premier League season and its incredible title race that went down to the final day.

Resident Liverpudlian and Reds fan Roberts explains why he is in a zen mode even after his favourite football team could not end its 29-year domestic title drought.

In the second half, they discuss the Singapore Slingers. They are in the endgame now - they play Indonesian side CLS knights in the deciding Game 5 of the Asean Basketball League finals at the OCBC Arena on Wednesday (May 15).

With the tie finely-poised at 2-2, Lee - who travelled to Surabaya with the Slingers for Games 3 and 4 - sets the scene and shares why winning the regional title would be an outstanding achievement.

Produced by: Sazali Abdul Aziz and David Lee

Edited by: Adam Azlee

Subscribe, like and rate A Game of Two Halves on:

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU 

iTunes: http://str.sg/o8MK

Google podcasts: http://str.sg/oXeS

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected] 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Game Of Two Halves Ep 31: Mental toughness matters for Liverpool in EPL and Shanti Pereira ahead of 2019 SEA Games 

8:09 mins

Synopsis: A Game of Two Halves is The Straits Times' weekly sports podcast that is out every Tuesday.

Nicole Chia hosts assistant sports editor Rohit Brijnath in this episode as they talk about why potential champions always dig deep and display mental toughness in the final stages.

Have Liverpool shown that so far as the pressure increases on them as leaders at the top of the English Premier League? 

With just a few games left, is it tougher for the chasing Manchester City in second spot?

They also discuss the mental toughness of a stronger and faster Shanti Pereira. After her injury woes last year, she has bounced back to rewrite her own 100m national athletics record in her first official 100m race of the year at the Asian Athletics Championships in Doha.

She clocked 11.58 seconds in the heats to rank eighth overall and qualify for the semi-finals. The record is pending ratification by Singapore Athletics.

With the 2019 South-east Asia Games looming at the end of the year, Shanti's 11.58sec effort currently ranks her top in the women's 100m in the region this year, with Kristina Knott of the Philippines posting 11.64sec last month and Malaysian Zaidatul Husniah Zulkifli clocking 11.65sec in February.

Even for a world-class tennis player like Rafael Nadal, mental toughness matters more than ever as he ages and heads into the clay court season with the French Open held in late May and early June.

Produced by: Nicole Chia

Edited by: Adam Azlee

Subscribe, like and rate A Game of Two Halves:   On Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU   On iTunes: http://str.sg/o8MK
On Google podcasts: http://str.sg/oXeS
On website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts
Feedback to: [email protected]  

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Game Of Two Halves Ep 31: Mental toughness matters for Liverpool in EPL and Shanti Pereira ahead of 2019 SEA Games 

8:09 mins

Synopsis: A Game of Two Halves is The Straits Times' weekly sports podcast that is out every Tuesday.

Nicole Chia hosts assistant sports editor Rohit Brijnath in this episode as they talk about why potential champions always dig deep and display mental toughness in the final stages.

Have Liverpool shown that so far as the pressure increases on them as leaders at the top of the English Premier League? 

With just a few games left, is it tougher for the chasing Manchester City in second spot?

They also discuss the mental toughness of a stronger and faster Shanti Pereira. After her injury woes last year, she has bounced back to rewrite her own 100m national athletics record in her first official 100m race of the year at the Asian Athletics Championships in Doha.

She clocked 11.58 seconds in the heats to rank eighth overall and qualify for the semi-finals. The record is pending ratification by Singapore Athletics.

With the 2019 South-east Asia Games looming at the end of the year, Shanti's 11.58sec effort currently ranks her top in the women's 100m in the region this year, with Kristina Knott of the Philippines posting 11.64sec last month and Malaysian Zaidatul Husniah Zulkifli clocking 11.65sec in February.

Even for a world-class tennis player like Rafael Nadal, mental toughness matters more than ever as he ages and heads into the clay court season with the French Open held in late May and early June.

Produced by: Nicole Chia

Edited by: Adam AzleeSubscribe, like and rate A Game of Two Halves: On Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU On iTunes: http://str.sg/o8MK

On Google podcasts: http://str.sg/oXeS

On website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]  

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Game Of Two Halves Ep 30: Tiger Woods' great comeback at 43; Can badminton do more to be a truly global sport?

16:42 mins

Synopsis: A Game of Two Halves is The Straits Times' weekly sports podcast that is out every Tuesday.

Host David Lee hosts assistant sports editor Rohit Brijnath (left above) in this episode. 

After a 11-year wait, Tiger Woods has won a golf major again, claiming victory in the Masters at Augusta National over the weekend, winning his 15th career major. His last triumph had been the 2008 US Open.

What is the impact of this victory and can he win three more to match Jack Nicklaus' record of 18?

In the second half of the podcast, what were the highlights from the star-studded Singapore Badminton Open and what can be done for the sport to become truly global?

Produced by: David Lee

Edited by: Adam Azlee

Subscribe, like and rate A Game of Two Halves:

On Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU

On iTunes: http://str.sg/o8MK

On Google podcasts: http://str.sg/oXeS

On website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Game Of Two Halves Ep 30: Tiger Woods' great comeback at 43; Can badminton do more to be a truly global sport?

16:42 mins

Synopsis: A Game of Two Halves is The Straits Times' weekly sports podcast that is out every Tuesday.

Host David Lee hosts assistant sports editor Rohit Brijnath (left above) in this episode. 

After a 11-year wait, Tiger Woods has won a golf major again, claiming victory in the Masters at Augusta National over the weekend, winning his 15th career major. His last triumph had been the 2008 US Open.

What is the impact of this victory and can he win three more to match Jack Nicklaus' record of 18?

In the second half of the podcast, what were the highlights from the star-studded Singapore Badminton Open and what can be done for the sport to become truly global?

Produced by: David Lee

Edited by: Adam Azlee

Subscribe, like and rate A Game of Two Halves:

On Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU

On iTunes: http://str.sg/o8MK

On Google podcasts: http://str.sg/oXeS

On website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Game Of Two Halves Ep 29: Senior and young Lions roaring again; Spygate in the Singapore Premier League

Time: 13m 59s

Synopsis: A Game of Two Halves is The Straits Times' weekly sports podcast that is out every Tuesday.

In an all-local episode of the podcast, ST sports correspondent Sazali Abdul Aziz and assistant sports editor Rohit Brijnath talk about Singapore football rediscovering its mojo, with the senior national team and Under-22 side punching above their weight by holding higher-ranked opponents during the international break.

Sazali and Rohit also discuss the "Spygate" saga that took place in the Singapore Premier League. Geylang International wrote a complaint to the Football Association of Singapore alleging two teams spied on their training sessions before games - and why such tactics should be frowned upon, even if a rule was not broken.

Produced by: Sazali Abdul Aziz and Ernest Luis

Edited by: Adam Azlee

Subscribe, like and rate A Game of Two Halves:   On Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU   On iTunes: http://str.sg/o8MK
On Google podcasts: http://str.sg/oXeS
On website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts
Feedback to: [email protected]  

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Game Of Two Halves Ep 29: Senior and young Lions roaring again; Spygate in the Singapore Premier League

Time: 13m 59s

Synopsis: A Game of Two Halves is The Straits Times' weekly sports podcast that is out every Tuesday.

In an all-local episode of the podcast, ST sports correspondent Sazali Abdul Aziz and assistant sports editor Rohit Brijnath talk about Singapore football rediscovering its mojo, with the senior national team and Under-22 side punching above their weight by holding higher-ranked opponents during the international break.

Sazali and Rohit also discuss the "Spygate" saga that took place in the Singapore Premier League. Geylang International wrote a complaint to the Football Association of Singapore alleging two teams spied on their training sessions before games - and why such tactics should be frowned upon, even if a rule was not broken.

Produced by: Sazali Abdul Aziz and Ernest Luis

Edited by: Adam AzleeSubscribe, like and rate A Game of Two Halves: On Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU On iTunes: http://str.sg/o8MK

On Google podcasts: http://str.sg/oXeS

On website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]  

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Game of Two Halves Ep 28: G.O.A.T Messi and Singapore's marathon record-setter Soh Rui Yong

11:51 mins

Synopsis: A Game of Two Halves is The Straits Times' weekly sports podcast that is out every Tuesday.

This week, Sazali Abdul Aziz and Wang Meng Meng pay tribute to Lionel Messi after the Barcelona man's stupendous hat-trick against Real Betis in the Spanish La Liga. They discuss whether it is the Argentinian superstar, or a certain Portuguese peacock, who is truly the "G.O.A.T" (Greatest of All Time).

In the second half of this episode, the ST sports correspondents also talk about national marathoner Soh Rui Yong breaking the 24-year-old national record in Seoul over the weekend, as well as new-fangled sports like breakdancing, kitesurfing, skateboarding and sport climbing, that will feature at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Produced by: Sazali Abdul Aziz and Ernest Luis

Edited by: Adam Azlee

Subscribe, like and rate A Game of Two Halves:   On Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU   On iTunes: http://str.sg/o8MK
On Google podcasts: http://str.sg/oXeS
On website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts
Feedback to: [email protected]  

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Game of Two Halves Ep 28: G.O.A.T Messi and Singapore's marathon record-setter Soh Rui Yong

11:51 mins

Synopsis: A Game of Two Halves is The Straits Times' weekly sports podcast that is out every Tuesday.

This week, Sazali Abdul Aziz and Wang Meng Meng pay tribute to Lionel Messi after the Barcelona man's stupendous hat-trick against Real Betis in the Spanish La Liga. They discuss whether it is the Argentinian superstar, or a certain Portuguese peacock, who is truly the "G.O.A.T" (Greatest of All Time).

In the second half of this episode, the ST sports correspondents also talk about national marathoner Soh Rui Yong breaking the 24-year-old national record in Seoul over the weekend, as well as new-fangled sports like breakdancing, kitesurfing, skateboarding and sport climbing, that will feature at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Produced by: Sazali Abdul Aziz and Ernest Luis

Edited by: Adam AzleeSubscribe, like and rate A Game of Two Halves: On Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2PwZCYU On iTunes: http://str.sg/o8MK

On Google podcasts: http://str.sg/oXeS

On website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]  

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.