Sports Minutes with Zia-ul Raushan

Famed for being much more than just about car racing, the Singapore Grand Prix has long prided itself on providing a blockbuster weekend of glitz, glam and entertainment. But is the Lion City losing it's lustre with the likes of Las Vegas and Miami now on the F1 calendar? JJ Lin & the fans weigh in! Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg |  raushan@sph.com.sg   See omnys...

Vying for an unprecedented 11th consecutive win, Max Verstappen is seemingly on course for an inevitable third world title. All-conquering as the Dutchman maybe, did you know that he's never stepped onto the top step of the podium here in Singapore? Will that change in 2023? Yuey Tan, Singaporean racing driver, weighs in with his predictions for the race weekend!   Got a story to tell? Get in touc...

What is sports without fans? The age-old question was answered in emphatic fashion at the Singapore Grand Prix - and that's even before the cars hit the track! Tune in as we speak to two SUPER FANS who had their lifelong dreams come alive, as they met their racing heroes in the flesh! Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg |  raushan@sph.com.sg   See omnystudio.com/listener...

As Singapore's prepares to host the 14th edition of the Formula 1 Night Race, we hit the paddock to check in with the drivers. Verstappen and Redbull Racing maybe the leaving the chasing pack in their wake all season long, but could the unforgiving street track in the Lion City - that has undergone some tweaks for this edition - prove to be a leveller to the playing field? Tune in to find out! Got...

As the fastest men in the world hit the streets of Lion City this weekend, did you know there will be a Singaporean amongst them? Racing in the The Super Series, a support race at the Singapore GP, Yuey Tan will be competing for the 13th time on home soil. And we caught up with the 40-year old ahead of his race weekend.  Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg |  raushan@sph....

Double delight for Singapore football, as the senior men's team and under-23s clinched important results - with a 3-1 win over Chinese Taipei and last-gasp 2-2 draw against Vietnam respectively. But have the celebrations been over-zealous? Deepanraj Ganesan weighs in on this, and the road ahead - as we also hear from head coach Takayuki Nishigaya, and Lions' defender Lionel Tan. Got a story to tel...

Paul Pogba has been provisionally suspended from playing because of an anti-doping offence, after tests revealed him to have elevated levels of testosterone in the aftermath of Juventus' 3-0 win at Udinese on 20th August 2023. If found guilty of doping, he could face a ban of between two and four years. We hear from Fabrizio Romano and Mario Melchiot on the latest chapter of the Paul Pogba. Got a...

Singapore's Lion City Sailors begin their second foray into the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL) later this month, placed in Group F (East Zone) along with two-time ACL champions and 2022 K League runners-up Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, 2022-23 Thai League 1 runners-up Bangkok United, and 2022-23 Hong Kong champions Kitchee SC.  How will the Sailors fare on the continental stage? We...

Eight members of the 2022 Singapore national women’s tchoukball team have decided to give back to their association after they were named Team of the Year for the first time at the Singapore Sports Awards - pledging to donate their share of the $10,000 prize money. Why? Tune in to find out as Delane Lim, President of the Tchoukball Association of Singapore, and Irene Tan, team captain join us on S...

FAS' acting President Bernard Tan is in the hot seat on this episode, as we talk about the return of the Lion City Cup after a 7-year hiatus. Why now, and what does this do  in line with the Unleash the Roar campaign to spruce up the football scene here in Singapore? Tickets available here: https://www.fas.org.sg/tickets/ Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg |  raushan@sph...

Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood will leave the club by mutual agreement after a six-month internal investigation into his conduct. Greenwood was arrested in January 2022 following allegations surrounding material which was published online. Charges against the 21-year-old England international, including attempted rape and assault, were dropped in February 2023.  Did the club make the ri...

Spain reigned supreme to be crowned World Champions down under, but the true winners of the 2023 Women's World cup could be more than just La Roja. Sara Merican, former National Footballer and Singapore women's premier league champion, joins us to discuss and dissect the tournament and it's far-reaching impact on the women's game. READ MORE: https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/why-is-women...

Asian esports organisation Team Flash has announced a partnership with Vietnamese football club Hai Phong FC.The organisation and the club have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) enabling the two parties to collaborate on a range of activations. What exactly are these collaborations? Mark Chew, CEO of Team Flash joins us to shed some light. Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanke...

Despite being the lowest-ranked team at the 2023 Netball World Cup, Team Singapore gave a glowing account of themselves as they beat world No.15 Sri Lanka, who are six-time Asian champions, twice in Cape Town. With the Nations Cup and Asian Netball Championship on the horizon, how will Netball Singapore continue to grow from strength to strength? Annette Bishop, Head Coach of Netball Singapore, an...

How did it come to this? Liverpool were not long ago renowned for their efficiency and effectiveness in the transfer market. Now they have been usurped by Chelsea not once, but twice! Where does this leave Klopp & co.? Plus will City be in the hunt for a new midfielder too, after De Bruyne's latest injury?  Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg |  raushan@sph.com.sg   S...

Cristiano Ronaldo may have sat out the opening weekend of the Saudi Pro League due an injury, but that didn't stop the stars from shining bright in the Middle East. With the likes of Allan Saint-Maximin, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Jordan Henderson all making their league debuts, what can we expect in this brave new football frontier? Deepanraj Ganesan, sports reporter with The Straits Times,...

A household name in local football, Hassan Sunny became the first footballer to win FOUR league titles with FOUR different teams as his all-conquering Albirex Niigata team sealed a SIXTH championship in eight years. What is the secret to the White Swans supremacy, and what is the secret behind Hassan's longevity? Superman himself tells us! Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com...

With the brand new Premier League season almost upon us, we weigh out who looks ready to do battle and who looks a little undercooked. Plus with the transfer window still in full-swing, we could see plenty more movers and shakers before it slams shut! Tune in as Elliott and Raushan gear you up for another breathtaking season of football ahead! Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph...

Diving into the complex world of Harry Maguire: From captain to controversy, fame to struggle, and changing perceptions. Exploring the highs, lows, and complicated journey of the world's most expensive defender. As the much maligned defender edges closer to departing Manchester United - Deepanraj Ganesan, sports reporter with The Straits times, joins Raushan and Elliott on this tasty debate on Mag...

Ahead of Singapore's 58th birthday, we commemorate National Day in conversation with the Lions' skipper Hariss Harun. Embodying Singapore’s spirit of resilience, the 33-year old talks to us about juggling life as a pro-footballer, a dad, a friend and a full-time student.  Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg |  raushan@sph.com.sg   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...

Arsenal gave their hopes of beating Manchester City to the Premier League title a mental  boost as they defeated Pep Guardiola's side on penalties to win the 2023 Community Shield. But is this merely a glorified pre-season friendly? Or will the psychological impact give the Gunners a upper hand in the season ahead? Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! edanker@sph.com.sg |  raushan@sph.com.sg...

The 2023 summer transfer window has seen big-name players such as Sadio Mane, Ruben Neves, Karim Benzema and Roberto Firmino all move to clubs in Saudia Arabia for lucrative offers. Are you afraid your team's best player may be the next to follow suit? 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.

A 7-goal thriller between European powerhouses Bayern and Liverpool proved a fitting ending to the two-week long Festival of Football here in Singapore. Listen in as Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel have their say on the tournament, while fans weigh in on the price and pain points of the fiesta! READ MORE: https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/fans-make-liverpool-feel-at-home-even-as-bayern-sp...

Tiger Woods has joined the PGA Tour's Policy Board as a player director in a move which will give golfers a bigger say in major decisions. Woods' appointment follows the merger between the Tour, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and the DP World Tour in June that left players blindsided. The 15-time major winner becomes the board's sixth player director, joining Rory McIlroy and four others. W...

Premier League players have been warned they face harsher punishments for harassing referees as part of a raft of measures aimed at stamping out bad behaviour on the pitch. English football’s authorities aim to “reset” the attitude of players and managers towards officials in the coming season.  The new ‘Participant Charter’ empowers referees to take tougher action against unacceptable behaviour,...