Timesport On The Beat

KL City captain Paulo Josue joins Timesport: On the Beat to discuss why he believes Brazilian football has lost part of its identity in the modern era. The Malaysian international reflects on the decline of creative playmakers, the growing focus on tactical systems and athleticism, and the pressure facing Brazil’s current generation. Josue also looks back at Brazil’s iconic 2002 World Cup-winning...

Football Coaches Association of Malaysia (FCAM) former vice-president Datuk Richard Scully breaks down how the expanded 48-team 2026 World Cup could reshape global football. From fixture congestion and travel headaches to the rise of smaller nations like Jordan and Uzbekistan, he explains why success is now built on structure rather than size, and what Malaysia can learn from football's changing l...

In this episode of Timesport: On the Beat, former FIFA World Cup referee Subkhiddin Salleh warns that modern officiating technology, including the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), is making on-pitch officials lazy. Subkhiddin says the technology reduces the alertness of referees during matches, as they rely too much on VAR to correct their mistakes instead of making the right call immediately. The v...

In this episode of Timesport: On the Beat, critic Pekan Ramli says the Malaysian league is using cosmetic "makeup" to hide unpaid wages, document forgery scandals, and plummeting attendance. Pekan says gag orders on clubs and systemic failures have turned an 11-year professionalisation effort into a failing, abandoned project.

Former Thomas Cup winner Kwan Yoke Meng said Malaysia’s key to winning the prestigious men’s team tournament lies in Lee Zii Jia. He felt that the independent shuttler is arguably the strongest third singles in the competition starting on Friday in Horsens, Denmark, therefore making him a powerful weapon for Malaysia. Yoke Meng, who had trained Zii Jia during his junior days, even went as far as t...

The FA of Malaysia will not want to hear this. Football critic Zakaria Rahim says the national men’s team are no longer respected by their rivals in Southeast Asia. He claims that from the way “opponents talk about us”, Malaysia have become easy target. Zakaria also says Malaysia’s national team project is quietly losing its connection with local players.

Is replacing the national men's hockey coach really fixing anything or just masking long-standing issues? In this episode, we break down Sarjit Singh’s exit and Brendon Carolan’s arrival, as former international Maninderjit Singh questions a system that has cycled through dozens of coaches with little to show for it. From grassroots development failures to a shrinking pool of quality coaches and o...

Is replacing the national men's hockey coach really fixing anything or just masking long-standing issues? In this episode, we break down Sarjit Singh’s exit and Brendon Carolan’s arrival, as former international Maninderjit Singh questions a system that has cycled through dozens of coaches with little to show for it. From grassroots development failures to a shrinking pool of quality coaches and o...

Timesport’s Fadhli Ishak sat down with national women’s sevens head coach Faiz Samsukhidhir and team manager Tan Thiam Jin (TJ) to discuss the team’s historic SEA Games silver medal, the push for greater athlete career stability, and the urgent need to address the medical insurance gap in high-risk contact sports.

Timesport: On the Beat goes to the heart of Malaysian football to ask what truly matters and what’s been holding it back. Football critic Sayf Ismail offers a frank, no-nonsense reality check.

Veteran hockey writer Aftar Singh insists Malaysia have no excuses heading into the Hockey World Cup Qualifiers in Ismailia, Egypt, with the Speedy Tigers expected to reach the final based on ranking and experience. In this episode of Timesport: On The Beat, we assess Malaysia’s chances against Austria, Pakistan and China, and examine concerns over tactics and whether the national team can finally...

Timesport's Fadhli Ishak sat down with Malaysia Pro Cycling founder and team principal Sayuti Zahit to discuss the team's direction and also take a broader look at what it takes to succeed in road cycling.

WHAT has led to the decline in Malaysia’s men’s badminton singles? Since Lee Chong Wei’s retirement, we have no one really capable of carrying the torch in this department. Lee Zii Jia did show some promise but the former All England champion is now a pale shadow of his former self, and no one else has been able to step up to the breach. Chong Wei Feng, who is a former SEA Games champion and membe...

Former Thomas Cup winner Datuk James Selvaraj speaks to K. M. Boopathy on the Timesport: On The Beat podcast about the performances of the Malaysian pairs, led by women’s doubles world No. 2 Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, at last month’s World Tour Finals, and what is expected of them at the Malaysia Open.

On Timesport: On the Beat, host Faizal Salim sits down with sports science specialist Dr Ahmad Fadzlee Ahmad Idriss to take a hard look at Malaysia’s SEA Games campaign in Thailand. Forget the 231-medal headline. This is about uncomfortable questions - safe targets, athlete pressure, and the steady drain of local coaching talent. Progress, or just another familiar cycle?

Malaysia’s countdown to the 2025 SEA Games comes with a harsh reality check as sports critic Datuk Dr Pekan Ramli warned that the nation could no longer afford another slip-up. After finishing seventh in the 2023 Phnom Penh edition, he insisted Malaysia must target at least fourth place in Thailand — or risk further embarrassment ahead of hosting duties in 2027. In this episode of Timesport: On th...

Ex-national shuttler Vivian Hoo shares her take on what Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah’s World Championship silver means for Malaysian women’s badminton, and why it could spark a new golden era. The two-time Commonwealth Games champion also talks about the pair’s fight to challenge China’s dominance, the hunger driving Malaysia’s next wave, and how her VH Academy is grooming future champions.

Former footballer and coach Lim Chan Yew joins Timesport: On the Beat to unpack Harimau Malaya’s 3-0 and 5-1 wins over Laos and what they really mean for Malaysian football. In this candid chat, Chan Yew explains why results don’t tell the full story, how the seven-player suspension exposed Malaysia’s lack of depth, and why the nation’s rise depends on developing players with both “size and brains...

Spartan Race ambassador Jayden Tian shares why Malaysians shouldn’t wait until they feel ready to join the obstacle race. He talks about the sport’s growth in Malaysia, the unique mix of endurance and strength it demands, and inspiring stories such as a contestant who completed the race with his 60-year-old mother.

The Peter Cklamovski era with Harimau Malaya began under scrutiny over a perceived reliance on foreign-based heritage players, but recent victories over Singapore and Palestine have eased those doubts. In this episode of Timesports: On the Beat, Datuk Richard Scully discusses how Cklamovski’s faith in local talent is reshaping the national team and building a winning culture.

Datuk Razif Sidek says Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei’s world title is more than just gold — it marks a turning point for Malaysian badminton. He believes their win could inspire more players to pursue mixed doubles and drive Malaysia’s push for Olympic gold in 2028.

Datuk Razif Sidek is backing world No. 2 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik to capture the men’s doubles crown at the World Championships in Paris from Aug 25-31. The badminton legend shares his predictions and Malaysia’s prospects in an exclusive interview with Timesport: On the Beat.

Renowned sports analyst Datuk Dr Pekan Ramli sat down with Timesport's Fadhli Ishak to discuss the recent World University Games and World Aquatics Championships as well as what to expect at the upcoming Thailand Sea Games following Malaysia's disastrous outing at the 2023 Phnom Penh Sea Games.

In this episode of Timesport: On the Beat, KL City’s Giancarlo Gallifuoco shares his thoughts on the 2025-2026 Super League season, calling it one of the most competitive yet, with stronger squads and a longer schedule set to test every team’s depth. The former Australia Under-23 international also reflects on KL City’s rebuilding phase, their new identity under a fresh coaching setup, and his hop...

National tennis players Koay Hao Sheng and Darrshan Kumar sat down with Timesport's Fadhli Ishak to discuss their recent success in the Davis Cup, collegiate tennis in the United States as well as their future plans