Towards Sporting Glory

The year was 1949. In the lighted interiors of Queen's Hall in Preston, England, an unassuming, pioneer team of badminton players from Malaya surprised spectators by winning the first ever Thomas Cup international badminton tournament. It was one of the most memorable sports victories for our nation and since then, Malaysia has gone on to achieve numerous more milestones in sports. From the glory days of M. Jegathesan and Marina Chin to the rise of the Sidek brothers; from the achievements of Nurulhuda Abdullah and Jeffrey Ong; to the ongoing successes of Shalin Zulkifli and Nicol David. All of Malaysia's finest athletes have inspired the nation's sports industry and the Malaysian public.

With a strong commitment and clear vision towards further strengthening the nation's athletic prowess, Malaysia also incidentally positions itself as a hotbed for sports tourism. Sports have the potential to offer a sizeable contribution to the national tourism industry. The income associated with these games comes not only from foreign spectators, but also from athletes and the accompanying entourages, sponsors and media - one of the reasons why countries vie to become the chosen venue of international sporting events such as the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games.

Malaysia is no stranger to hosting large sporting events. Since 1965, five South East Asian Games have been held in Malaysia, the latest of which took place in 2001. In 1998, Malaysia hosted the 16th Commonwealth Games, becoming the first Asian commonwealth country to be given the honour to host this prestigious event.

Today, some of the world's most exciting and prestigious events, including the Le Tour de Langkawi, the F1 Grand Prix, the KL International Tower Jump, the Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon and a host of triathlon events are held regularly in Malaysia. Gradually, the world will begin to appreciate the advantages this country offers as a venue, and recognise its accompanying leisure appeal. With close cooperation between the sports and tourism industries, it is hoped that Malaysia's bid to become one of the foremost destinations for world-class sports in Asia will be realised in the near future.

The following pages present an overview of some of the hottest sports events in Malaysia.

Flaming F1 in Sizzling Sepang

Guess, what's the hottest spot in Malaysia in March? Racing fans are sure to know the answer: the Sepang International Circuit (SIC), where the high-speed adrenaline rush of an event called the Sepang Formula One is held annually.

Last year, Michael Schumacher pulled up to a first place finish in his spanking red Ferrari at the Sepang Formula One leg. He's been there four times already, a streak spoilt only by McLaren-Mercedes prodigy Kimi Raikkonen in 2003.

Raikkonen suffered transmission failure in 2004. The Williams-BMW star Ralf Schumacher suffered engine problems and Jaguar-Cosworth's Mark Webber had his car spun. The previous year, David Coulthard encountered electrical troubles. The year before that saw a string of super racers submitting to engine, electrical, hydraulics, gearbox, fuel pressure and clutch problems as well as overheating.

Such is the gruelling track of the Sepang International Circuit. A total of 5.546km circuit length, 310,405km race distance and 15 turns. Temperatures upwards of 40 degrees.

This notorious track dubbed the 'car-killer' is all and everything that stands in the way of the fastest and most talented racers in the world in the second leg of this year's Formula One, which promises to be the most dramatic and gut-wrenchingly exciting super car sagas in the world.

Among the challengers taking on the track this year will be veteran racers from Ferrari, McLaren-Mercedes, BAR-Honda, Renault, Williams-BMW and Toyota.

Navigating this unforgiving track requires exact precision and a true racer's instinct. From tyre choices (dry, wet or intermediate - Schumacher's choices) to strategic gear shuffling to steering the unpredictable hot and humid weather, the Formula One crowns only the best, for only the best are put to the test.

Michael Schumacher quips that the facilities at the Sepang Circuit are among the best in the world. Sepang offers up to 70 percent of seats with full visibility and is known to be one of the most affordable in terms of tickets and bottled water.

Because of its close proximity to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, foreign tourists flock by the busloads to Sepang just to witness the annual Formula One races. Seats and accommodation are snapped up early in anticipation of the event.

This year's Sepang F1 will be held from 18-20 March. See ya'll there!

Challenging the Ocean

Every year, an exciting event called the Labuan International Sea Challenge (LISC) takes place on the star-shaped island of Labuan, which is located off the coast of Sabah and Brunei. What started out as part of an effort to boost the economy of this strategically located port through tourism now draws hundreds of participants and spectators from Malaysia, as well as Singapore, Brunei and Indonesia every year.

The LISC, which is the biggest event in Labuan, is organised by the Labuan Tourism Action Council and the Labuan Corporation with the support of the Ministry of Tourism. The event has been held annually since 1999, spanning a week each time. It brings together three anchor competitions - the Labuan Kayak Race, the Cross-Channel Swimming Competition and the Labuan International Game Fishing Tournament - as well as a host of other supporting competitions and activities, including the Labuan Jetsports Challenge and the relatively new Labuan Traditional Boat Race.

The game fishing tournament, probably the most popular segment of the event, is recognised by the International Game Fishing Association (IGFA) as one of the official competitions on the Rolex/IGFA Championship Tournament Circuit, drawing avid anglers from around the region, and some from as far as Japan and Australia. This year, the tournament is being held in the waters of Layang-Layang island, which is known for its beautiful dive sites rich with marine life.

Though they are already physically demanding events, the co-organisers of the kayak race, cross-channel swimming, jetski competition and traditional boat race ensure that participants face new challenges each year to keep things interesting.

By opening all events in the LISC to international participation, the organisers hope that the LISC will be better known among the world's marine sports enthusiasts, with a little help from both local and foreign media.

Getting Wet 'N' Wild

Here's some great news for those who enjoy discovering new ways to thrill and be thrilled: kiteboarding, the hottest, wildest new extreme water sport that's rapidly growing in popularity around the world, has now arrived in Malaysia.

In kiteboarding - also called kitesurfing or flysurfing - the power generated from a large, controllable kite (which resembles a paraglider to the layperson) is used to propel one across water, while riding a board. A highlight of the sport must be the sensation of flying as one soars over the water, as gracefully as a bird.

This year sees the introduction of kiteboarding in four out of five legs of the annual Asian Windsurfing Tour (AWT), with the intention of developing kiting events in the region and paving the way to an Asian kiteboarding tour.

The AWT is Asia's most dynamic sporting tour, travelling through some of the most exotic locations in the region and presenting quality Asian sporting events and destinations to the world through its own TV series. The show is broadcast on many television networks across the globe, including STAR Sports throughout Asia, the Outdoor Life Network in North America, Sky Sports in the UK and Astro Star Sports in Malaysia.

The first leg of the AWT, the Monsoon Madness was held on the golden sands of Kuantan's Balok Beach in Pahang (Malaysia) from January 19 to 22, followed by the rest of the tour in Bintan (Indonesia), Boracay (Philippines), Saipan (Micronesia), and new venue entry, Ulsan (Korea).

Every year since its establishment in 1998, the Monsoon Madness draws windsurfing competitors from around the world, and in the 2005 event, there was representation from the UK, Thailand, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Malaysia.

As kitesurfing is a brand-new event in the AWT, all competitors in the Malaysian leg were local apart from the sole foreign participant from Switzerland. The organisers of the Monsoon Madness however predict that kitesurfing will soon prove to be very popular
in Kuantan - particularly on Balok Beach, which is known as one of the best beaches in the world for kitesurfing due to its ideal wind conditions and landscape.

The Monsoon Madness 2005 had the support of the Pahang State Tourism Board, the Malaysian Tourism Board, the Ministry of Tourism and the Pahang Sports Council, and various sponsors, including Neil Pryde, Cabrinha, Banana Boat and Harpers Trading.

4WD Rainforest Challenge

One of the toughest 4WD challenges in the world is to be right here in the lush tropical jungles of Malaysia. What started out as a modest competition with international participation from seven countries in 1997 gradually grew in size and intensity each year and by 2004, the Rainforest Challenge 4WD competition attracted 350 participants representing 29 countries, including the United States, Canada, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Holland, Indonesia, China and Australia.

Since 1997, the Rainforest Challenge has witnessed participants braving tricky and sometimes dangerous routes through the jungles of Pahang, Terengganu, Johor and Perak. Only the fittest and most experienced make it through to the end of the 10-day Rainforest Challenge adventure, which is held annually in November or December.

Navigating each route requires experience, problem solving skills and airtight teamwork, making this one of the most mentally and physically demanding sporting competitions. Winding their way through punishing 4WD treks, participants and their vehicles battle their way through heavy monsoon rains, muddy landslides, swollen rivers, and at times, the pitch-black darkness of the forest interior. Broken cars and broken spirits are not uncommon in some of the more difficult routes, such as the one in 2002, where less than 10 vehicles made it to the finishing line.

To ensure that the crème de la crème gets to represent each participating country, preliminary qualifying rounds are conducted in each country before the final list of participants is forwarded to the organising committee in Malaysia.

As a nation that has always prized its natural heritage, the organising committee of the Rainforest Challenge has always sought the advice and assistance of government agencies such as the Forestry and Wildlife Department and the Malaysian Police, who provide their support and expertise to help the competition proceed smoothly. But more importantly, such agencies also work to ensure that the effects of the event on the natural environment is kept to a minimum. The points system used in determining the winner of this 4WD competition takes into account the participants' sensitivity to the surrounding environment, reminding them that they should also have nature's interests in mind.

A winner of the Top Ten awards for Malaysia's Most Spectacular Sports Tourism Events in 2004, the Rainforest Challenge is also acclaimed worldwide as one of the most challenging 4WD competitions in the world. Though not a spectators' event, the Rainforest Challenge attracts solid international media coverage each year and draws in a growing number of 4WD enthusiasts eager to have a first-hand look at the country where their home team will be competing.

Riding on Adrenaline

Action-packed water sports like jets skiing have an uplifting effect on the beach, turning its breezy languor into a healthy frenzy. The rumbling sounds of machines cutting the waves and the sight of riders hitting the furious tracks on the water are enough to jolt up an adrenaline rush in any sunbathers.

Held just end last year, the inaugural Penang International Offshore Race (Penjet 2004) was a fair and safe ground for jet ski enthusiasts in the region to compete. Seventy-five jet pilots from USA, Great Britain, Scotland, Thailand, Indonesia, France, Singapore, Kuwait and host country Malaysia gathered at Batu Ferringhi beach in Penang over a period of three days for a splashing good time racing and conversing towards the improvement of the sport.

This exciting competition, sanctioned by the International Jet Sports Boating Association was sponsored and endorsed by the Tourism Ministry of Malaysia, the Ministry of Youth & Sports of Malaysia and the Penang Tourism Action Council. Made up of two intense races, the participants at Penjet 2004 put up a spectacular show in overtaking each other to reach the finishing line.

The offshore race assigned the riders to an endurance task of four laps totaling at 120km. The next race, which was the close-course race, was packed with even more heart-stopping actions as the riders had to skillfully maneuver their jet skis around a series of turns without sacrificing speed.

Blessed with a long coastline sporting readily available shores and beaches, Malaysia has just the right capacity to hold such events. With positive encouragement from both local and foreign participants, plans are underway to not just make Penjet an annual affair but also to organise it in conjunction with the ASIAN PWC (Personal Watercraft) circuit.

More Than Just Pretty Boys in Tights

In 1995, former Prime Minster Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had a vision and a dream: to bring the prestigious Le Tour series to Malaysia, and to watch it blossom into the most celebrated multi-staged bicycle race in the region.

The first few years, of course, saw a string of glitches with grave lessons on logistics and event organisation. But as they say in the sports arena, it is determination and perseverance that matters in the end.

Ten years on, the Le Tour de Langkawi has metamorphosed into one of the world's richest multi-staged bicycle road race, the highest ranked outside Europe, and undeniably one of the most highly anticipated by both local and foreign racers. Today, the race is sanctioned by the Asian Cycling Confederation and the Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF). It has also been awarded the esteemed Hors Category status by the Union of Cycliste Internationale (UCI) on the new Asia Tour.

The Le Tour de Langkawi has brought to our lands bicycle racing kings such as Tom Danielson, Gianni Bugno, Andrea Tafi, Stuart O'Grady and Paolo Bettini, presenting an opportunity for Malaysia to pit our best cyclists against these world legends.

This year, Tour de Malaysia champion Suhardi Hassan led a promising Proton T-Bikes International squad proudly into the race. Home support has just been tremendous and the home squad is confident of their competent potentials.

This year's Le Tour took an East Coast route, exposing participants to the tranquil beauty and rugged terrains of Northern Perak, Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang, then passing through Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Putrajaya before finishing at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur.

The Le Tour de Langkawi is an important mark in the local sports events calendar because cycling is not yet as big in Malaysia as it is in Europe. Over the decade, however, the sport has seen a surge in popularity, which has gained the interest of a number of talented young athletes in Malaysia.