Sports Minutes with Zia-ul Raushan

Now you’d think that on a weekend that saw 24 goals across 4 games - football would take centre stage on this episode of Sports Minutes, but alas it’s not…because it was marred by an unsavoury incident - with allegations of racial abuse by fans targeting French forward Salif Cisse emerging.  The two clubs that are involved have since released statements on social media, stating their zero tolerance stance towards racism - and the Football Association itself has said investigations into the matter have commenced. Deepanraj Ganesan, who broke the story for the Straits Times, has the latest on Sports Minutes. READ MORE: https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/monkey-chants-allegedly-directed-at-tanjong-pagar-s-salif-cisse-during-singapore-premier-league-game https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/from-the-sidelines-to-stardom-footballer-nur-ain-salleh-14-aims-to-make-her-family-proud Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! raushan@sph.com.sg

In 2021, Loh Kean Yew garnered the adulation of a nation when he won the BWF World Badminton Championships. Since then, the Singaporean shuttler has clinched three BWF World Tour wins - propelling himself into the public eye with his blend of hunger and humility. So how will he fare at the upcoming Paris Olympics? Sports Minutes checks in with 27-year old to find out how he's preparing for his second appearance at the Olympics. Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! raushan@sph.com.sg

For years, Japanese coach Kazuaki Yoshinaga was synonymous with an all-conquering Albirex Niigata, delivering 4 league titles, 2 Singapore Cups, 1 League Cup, 3 Community Shields in his two stints as head coach at the club. But following a poor start to the 2024/25 season, the defending champions announced on July 13 that they have parted ways with the four-time Coach of the Year by mutual consent. Why and how did it amount to this, and what now for the White Swans? Deepanraj Ganesan, sports reporter with The Straits Times, weighs in. READ MORE: https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/albirex-niigata-part-ways-with-spl-winning-coach-kazuaki-yoshinaga Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! raushan@sph.com.sg

A Monday of congratulations and commiserations, as Spain conquered the continent to be crowned champions of Europe while the wait goes on for England as alas, it DIDN’T come home. On today’s Sports Minutes, Zia-ul Raushan speaks to two fans - Alberto Ramon Siles, a Spanish journalist who hails from Murcia, and Jod Gill, a lifelong England fan and a partner with Deloitte SEA reviewing the final that kept football fans in this region up in the wee hours of Monday night. Were you one of them? Then you’re going to want to tune in! Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! raushan@sph.com.sg

The Singapore Women’s National Team are set to play their FIRST match on home soil in more than a year, when they take on Macau on July 16th at the Jalan Besar Stadium. So have you got your tickets to go support Team Singapore? Well if you haven’t - allow Dorcas Chu, who has battled the odds to overcome an ACL injury and returned to the National Team squad, to convince you. Tune in as Sports Minutes gets the latest on how the Lionesses are preparing for the upcoming test, and why you should make a date to go cheer on the girls! Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! raushan@sph.com.sg

The Singapore Aquatics has recently been in the headlines for the shock omission of 3-time Olympian Quah Ting Wen from it’s swimming contingent heading to the 2024 Paris Olympics. Described by some as a ‘baffling and confusing’ decision, just how and why did it amount to this for the 31-year old - who up until 5th July 2024 was expecting to be on the plane to Paris? Ting Wen herself joins us on Sports Minutes to clarify the ifs, buts and hows.  READ MORE: https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/singaporean-swimmer-quah-ting-wen-fails-in-appeal-for-paris-olympics Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! raushan@sph.com.sg

FOUR is the magic number on this episode of Sports Minutes - as the Euros reaches the semi-final stage and the FINAL FOUR tussle it out for a place in Sunday’s final. Who is most deserving of their spot, and who will conquer the continent? Plus, the top FOUR in the Singapore Premier League all clinched victories over the weekend, but who was MOST impressive? Deepanraj Ganesan weighs in! Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! raushan@sph.com.sg

Long labelled as 'a man's game', the gender inequality connundrum in football goes beyond just the pitches - extending to roles in management and even administration. It's no wonder then that the appointment of 35-year old Bernice Wong as the General Manager of Geylang International, the FIRST female general manager of an SPL club, has raised more than a few eyebrows. Just how did Bernice overcome the odds (and stereotypes) to land the role, what is she doing differently and how is she going to use it to pave the way for others? We speak to her on Sports Minutes to find out! READ MORE: https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/geylang-international-s-bernice-wong-is-singapore-premier-league-s-1st-female-general-manager Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! raushan@sph.com.sg

The Kampung Buangkok futsal team is set to make history as the first Singaporean futsal team to compete in an overseas league. The team will compete in the Brunei Futsal League 2024, which is expected to kick off in August 2024. Impressed? Wait, there's more! Their participation will be completely self-funded and is expected to cost approximately SGD$90,000. So why are this team putting their money where their mouth is, hoping to "showcase the potential of futsal in Singapore and inspire others to take up the sport"? We speak to Luis Lim, team captain and Kenneth Kwang, team goalkeeper & spokesperson, to find out! Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! raushan@sph.com.sg

Another weekend of football action at the Euros as well as the Singapore Premier League has sieved out the contenders from the pretenders. Can England ‘pretend’ their way through the comeptition to bring it home? Or will the swashbuckling Spainish team reingn supreme? Closer to home, Tampines and Geylang continue to take the fight to the star-studded Lion City Sailors…but is the East side truly the best side? Deepanraj Ganesan, sports reporter with The Straits Times, is in the Sports Minutes hot seat to answer those questions and more! Got a story to tell? Get in touch with us! raushan@sph.com.sg