Sports Minutes with Zia-ul Raushan

With two Deloitte Women’s Premier League titles for the Lion City Sailors' in the bag, Venetia Lim is no stranger to success. Buoyed by her exploits on home soil, the 20-year old is now embarking on a brave new adventure to Australia -  to join Boroondara-Carey Eagles FC for the 2024 National Premier League Women’s Victoria (NPLW) season. How did the move down under come about, and how is she feel...

With football’s lawmakers looking to introduce blue cards and sin-bins, with trials expected later this year - we discuss the merits of this latest 'innovation'. Also could Arteta's Arsenal crash the Manchester City-Liverpool Premier League duopoly?  Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg |  raushan@sph.com.sg See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ronaldinho, Thierry Henry & Mesut Ozil are amongst the stars who are set to headline a blockbuster line-up for an Over-35s World Cup, which is set to be hosted in England this June. The competition is set to feature eight past champions of the FIFA World Cup: England, Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Uruguay.  Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg |...

Chelsea responded to a troubling week that has mounted the pressure on Pochettino by beating Aston Villa 3-1 in the FA Cup. But will it be a catalyst for the Blues' to turn their fortunes around? If not, will Pochettino last the rest of the season? We discuss that, and also preview the upcoming football fixtures with the Asian Cup and AFCON finals on the calendar for this weekend. Got a story to t...

Having shocked the world with the decision to swap the Silverarrows for the Scuderia in 2025, Lewis Hamilton has taken a massive gamble in search of a sensational swansong. Was this a calculated punt, and what were the deciding factors? And will the 7-time World Champion clinch that elusive 8th title in the famous red of Ferrari? Matthew Marsh, ex-racing driver and F1 analyst, weighs in! Got a sto...

Arsenal's 3-1 win over Liverpool has blown the Premier League title race - with 3 teams now in the mix. Reigning champions Manchester City, who have a couple of games in hand, remain the favourites amongst bookmakers - but can the Gunners spring a surprise? Plus Chelsea's season hit a brand new low after yet another defeat. Will Pochettino last the season?  Got a story to tell? Get in touch with u...

Unveiled as the new director for both Singapore’s senior and Under-22 men’s teams, Tsutoma Ogura will be looking to buck the trend of his two compatriots who last filled the hot seat. So why have FAS got down the Japanese route again? And what are the challenges that lie ahead for the 57-year old? Deepanraj Ganesan from The Straits Times weighs in! READ MORE: https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/foo...

With greater policing of FFP & Profitability and Sustainability, clubs across Europe have had their purse strings tightened. Heading into the final day of the window, only 17 players have been signed by Premier League clubs in January, with 10 permanent transfers, seven loan deals and disclosed fees of about £50m. The outlay in January 2023? A a record-breaking £843m! We speak to James Walton,...

Having led Balestier Khalsa to a top-four finish in the Singapore Premier League, equaling the team's highest ever finishing position, in his first full season at the helm - Tigers' head coach Peter de Roo is already plotting to do better in 2024. We caught up with the Dutchman on how his revolution is taking shape, new signings for the new season and on the vacant managerial position of the Singa...

In 2023, Nathan Mao became the youngest player to make his debut in the Singapore Premier League - aged just 15 years and 5 days old. And since then he's been earmarked as one of the brightest talents to emerge from the Lion City, even before completing his secondary school education! So what is in the works for Nathan in 2024? We spoke to him to find all about his aims, aspirations & resoluti...

The news that Jurgen Klopp is set to leave Liverpool at the end of this season has undoubtedly rocked the football world. What is the legacy the enigmatic German leaves, will his team finish the season strong to give him a fitting farewell, and how will the Reds' hierachy replace their seemingly irreplaceable manager? We caught up with Liverpool legend John Arne Riise to canvass his thoughts! Got...

For those looking to get active as part of their new year’s resolutions for 2024, there is a nagging worry as they return to the gym, football field and badminton hall. The risk of injury looms for all, whether they are student-athletes or weekend warriors. We speak to Dr Cormac O’Muircheartaigh, medical director of the Sports Medicine Lab, for his expert insights into common sports injuries and h...

The HSBC Women's World Championship returns to Singapore in February 2024 for a 16th edition. Featuring the world's best, the four-day festival of golf will be a platform to celebrate the sport of golf, all the brilliant women competing, and many inspirational women from all facets of life around the world. We speak to Becky Harding, Tournament Director of HSBC Women’s World Championship & loc...

Manchester United have persuaded Omar Berrada - one of the architects of Manchester City's success under Pep Guardiola - away from the Etihad to become their new CEO. But who is the 46-year old Spaniard? And what will he bring to the table to rescue the ailing red half of Manchester? We speak to ex-Singapore footballer Sasikumar, who worked with Berrada during his time in Spain, to find out more!...

Having secured her card on the prestigious Ladies European Tour in 2024, Singaporean Shannon Tan has made a remarkable start to live as a professional golfer - finishing runner-up in her maiden event. So what next for the hotshot, who at just 19 years of age seems to be on the fast track to success? We spoke to her to find out! READ MORE: https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/singapore-golfer-shannon...

Singaporean rower Saiyidah Aisyah reflects on her 2016 Olympic debut and THAT return to Rio de Janeiro - the one that sparked her comeback to professional rowing. Why is she mounting this comeback at the age of 35? And what are the challenges that lie ahead as she seeks to qualify for Paris 2024? Tune in to find out! READ MORE: https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/eight-years-after-rio-olympics-sing...

With AS Roma becoming the SIXTH club to sack Mourinho, questions are being raised about Jose’s credentials. Where to from here for the once self-proclaimed 'Special One'? International management? Saudi Pro League?  Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg |  raushan@sph.com.sg See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lionel Messi pipped Erling Haaland to clinch the FIFA BEST men's player of the year award, with the final decision falling to national team captains the world over. So who did Singapore skipper Hariss Harun root for? And is Messi deserving of the award if it's meant to EXCLUDE the 2022 World Cup triumph? Tune in to find out! Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg |  raushan@...

Having clinched MULTIPLE gold medals representing Team Singapore, you'd think national swimmer Toh Wei Soong gets the recognition he deserves for his heroics. Not quite. Tune in as he tells us about his battle overcoming transverse myelitis to emerge as a champion in the pool, the lack of support for para-athletes like himself and his aspirations for 2024! Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us...

Kevin De Bruyne marked his return to full fitness with a sublime showing off the bench to inspire City's 3-2 comeback win against Newcastle. Could the Citizen's talisman returning click the reigning champions into the next gear? We discuss this and all the rest of the weekend's results! Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg |  raushan@sph.com.sg See omnystudio.com/listener...

A town council’s decision to partially cordon off the void deck of a public housing block in Singapore to prevent ball-playing has caused quite the stir on social media. A staple of most of us who grew up in the 90s, what are kids of today being robbed off - beyond just outdoor play? Sazali Abdul Aziz, assistant editor with The Straits Times, joins us to discuss this trending debate. READ MORE: ht...

Haas team principal & Netflix's 'Drive to Survive' star Guenther Steiner has left his role after 10 years leading the US-based team. The 58-year-old Italian, who will be replaced by the team's former director of engineering Ayao Komatsu, leaves an immeasurable void in the F1 Paddock - with his charisma and candid comments. So could we see him make a return, if not for the purpose of racing but...

It's a mixture of excitement and anticipation in the air across the causeway, as Malaysia prepare to make a long-awaited return to compete with the continent's best  in the Asian Cup. We caught up with Keeshaanan Sundaresan aka Keeshmatstats, Malaysian broadcaster t o get up to speed with everything we need to know...and also ponder about what can Singapore learn from our arch causeway rivals? Got...

Having lost the most part of 2023 due to an injury, Ikhsan Fandi tells us all about the lessons he learnt that has equipped him with fresh new vigour for 2024. He also weighs in on his aims, aspirations & resolutions for the year ahead. Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg |  raushan@sph.com.sg   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the transfer window open, we discuss the potential ins and outs in the Premier League. Will Arsenal get the additional firepower they crave? And will we see the INEOS takeover take effect at Manchester United? Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg |  raushan@sph.com.sg   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.