S1E20: What is working in F1’s Red Bull Racing team like?
Season 1 · Episode 20
Tuesday, September 10, 2024 • Duration 22:38
Two Singaporeans share their experiences working for Red Bull racing.
Synopsis: The Straits Times tackles the talking points in sport every second Wednesday of the month.
The 2024 Singapore Grand Prix returns on Sept 22 when fans here witness exhilarating action over 62 laps of the 4.94-kilometre Marina Bay Street Circuit. And while the title race between Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen and McLaren’s Lando Norris heats up on track, The Straits Times’ Hard Tackle revs up for the race weekend by learning more about what happens behind the scenes at a F1 team.
In this episode, sports reporter Deepanraj Ganesan is joined by Singaporeans Charis Chua and Heng Yi-Hsin, students from Nanyang Technological University who look back on their 2½-month stint with Red Bull Racing and look ahead to the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix.
Highlights (click/tap above):
5:30 Finding out about winning the internship challenge to work for Red Bull Racing
7:45 What Yi-Hsin and Chua did during their stints with RB
11:25 Why Formula 1 is more than just about fast cars and the famous drivers
13:30 The standout moments from the internship with RB
S1E19: A look back at Paris Olympics 2024 with Max Maeder
Season 1 · Episode 19
Tuesday, August 13, 2024 • Duration 30:01
ST sports reporters and the SG bronze medalist look back at memorable moments in the Paris Olympics.
Synopsis: The Straits Times tackles the talking points in sport every second Wednesday of the month.
History was made on Aug 9, 2024, when kitefoiler Maximilian Maeder became Singapore’s youngest Olympic medallist after he clinched a bronze in the Formula Kite event.
In this episode, ST's sports reporter Deepanraj Ganesan is joined by assistant sports editor Rohit Brijnath and sports correspondent Kimberly Kwek for a look back on that historic moment while also assessing the Paris Games as a whole and Team Singapore’s overall performance.
We also bring you the full audio from ST’s conversation with Maximilian a day after his final race.
Highlights (click/tap above):
1:25 ST reporters talk about the mood on the ground at the Marseille Marina after Max won bronze
7:10 ST reporters discuss what is next for Max
15:25 Max surprised he has yet to receive negative messages
23:55 Max on why “connection” is the main takeaway from his debut Olympics
Catch visual snippets of the podcast from ST's sports Instagram page:
S1E18: Why are the Olympics so special?
Season 1 · Episode 18
Tuesday, July 9, 2024 • Duration 41:59
Singaporeans who have been to Olympics tell us why it is so important.
Synopsis: The Straits Times tackles the talking points in sport every second Wednesday of the month.
Whether you are an athlete or a sports enthusiast, it is clear that the Olympics hold a special place in hearts worldwide.
From historic achievements to record breaking feats, the Olympics serve up some unforgettable moments every four years. As Paris 2024 approaches, we enlisted the help of people who have been to the Olympics to tell us why the event captures the imagination the way it does.
In this special episode centred around the Olympics, sports reporter Deepanraj Ganesan is joined by assistant sports editor Rohit Brijnath, former national sprinter C. Kunalan, former national shooter Lee Wung Yew, and current national swimmer Quah Ting Wen as they discuss the significance of the Games.
11:25 C. Kunalan’s memory of his first Olympics representing Singapore
17:33 Ting Wen on her realisation of being at her first Olympics
19:40 Why the Olympics is so inspiring for athletes
23:20 How do athletes wear the pressure of the Games given it comes around only every four years? Why parents should be a safe space for their children who pursue sports
29:30 On the mismatch of expectations of Singaporeans when it comes to the Olympics
37:26 Guests’ favourite Olympics moment
Read:
S1E17: Raising an Olympian in Singapore
Season 1 · Episode 17
Tuesday, June 11, 2024 • Duration 43:16
What does it take for parents to nurture an athlete who wants to reach sport’s pinnacle?
Synopsis: The Straits Times tackles the talking points in sport every second Wednesday of the month.
The Olympics is just around the corner and come July, several Team Singapore athletes will fly the flag for the Republic in Paris. Two of them, kitefoiler Maximilian Maeder and Singapore kayaker Stephenie Chen will make their Olympics debut.
Beyond their individual hustle to get to sports’ grandest stage, Maeder's and Chen’s journey to the Olympics has been helped by their families' relentless support.
In this episode, Maximilian’s parents Valentin Maeder and Hwee Keng and Michael Chen and Sarah-Yvonne, parents of Stephenie, join sports reporter Deepanraj Ganesan to talk about how they have supported their children’s aspirations.
Highlights (click/tap above):
2:00 Did Maximilian Maeder's and Stephenie Chen’s parents have sporting backgrounds that influenced their kids?
13:10 Is there a point in which parents build a roadmap to sporting success?
17:40 Why is there a need to trust the experts and coaches as opposed to intervening?
21:12 Making sacrifices for your children when they pursue sports
26:28 Why parents should be a safe space for their children who pursue sports
35:00 Reacting to naysayers who say there is no future in sports
Produced by: Deepanraj Ganesan (gdeepan@sph.com.sg), Eden Soh and Amirul Karim
Edited by: Amirul Karim
Follow Hard Tackle every month here and get notified for new episode drops:
S1E16: Singapore EPL fans, sports presenter John Dykes debate a thrilling season
Season 1 · Episode 16
Wednesday, May 22, 2024 • Duration 01:02:57
Join in this passionate post mortem of the recently concluded 2023/24 English Premier League season.
Synopsis: The Straits Times tackles the talking points in sport every second Wednesday of the month.
As the dust settles on another thrilling English Premier League (EPL) season, the post-campaign analysis has begun at the Hard Tackle.
ST Sports reporter Deepanraj Ganesan and guest co-host Zia-ul Raushan - assistant program director for Money FM 89.3 - invited nine die-hard EPL fans and renowned sports presenter John Dykes to dissect the highs and lows of their favourite teams, reflect on the past season's triumphs and tribulations and eagerly anticipate what lies ahead.
Is there a world after Jurgen Klopp for Liverpool, and can we talk about Manchester City’s title win without mentioning their alleged breaches?
Will Arsenal return for another tilt at the title next season? We discuss all that and more on this special end-of-season podcast.
Highlights (click/tap above):
5:30 Has Manchester City’s title celebrations been overshadowed by Premier League’s 115 breaches of regulations?
12:44 After finishing second again, can Arsenal continue to challenge for the title next season?
15:04 Do fans agree with Phil Foden being crowned player of the season?
20:55 How are Liverpool fans feeling after the emotional final day farewell to Jurgen Klopp?
32:45 On Aston Villa balancing Europe and Premier League next season
45:57 Will Newcastle be able to hold on to their key assets?
55:17 Erik ten Hag: In or out?
Guests/fans:
Arsenal fan - Eddy Hirono Liverpool fan - Imran Fariz Liverpool fan - Rishi BudhraniMan City fan - Haizam ShahMan Utd fan - Fauzie LailyNewcastle fan - Terence OngSpurs fan - Nitin NambiarAston Villa fan - Jod GillChelsea fan - Kalvinder GillSports presenter - John Dykes
S1E15: What is the state of the Deloitte Women's Premier League?
Season 1 · Episode 15
Tuesday, May 7, 2024 • Duration 55:55
Diving into women’s football in Singapore
Synopsis: The Straits Times tackles the talking points in sport every second Wednesday of the month.
In this episode of Hard Tackle, we look at the state of women’s football in Singapore and what the Republic needs to do to improve its standards.
In the Lionesses’ most recent international friendlies, they suffered 3-0 and 8-0 defeats by Bangladesh. Meanwhile, the Deloitte Women’s Premier League (WPL) kicked off on March 9 but lacklustre field conditions at the Choa Chua Kang stadium caused much frustration and anger to players, coaches and fans.
Join ST Sports reporter Deepanraj Ganesan, current women’s footballer Sara Merican, former national captain Charmaine Lim and former national footballer Chris Yip-Au who is now with Seychelles Football Federation as its head of women’s football and women’s national team coach.
They explore the current issues in women’s football and what the future holds for the ladies.
Highlights (click/tap above):
2:45 How Yip-Au, Sara and Lim were introduced to football in the early days
9:55 Has access to information on women’s football increased in recent years?
18:50 What is needed for countries including Singapore to progress up the rankings in women’s football?
19:55 How do national team players balance work or school with playing football and get that aspect be improved or helped?
S1E14: What Singapore can learn from Joseph Schooling's retirement
Season 1 · Episode 14
Tuesday, April 9, 2024 • Duration 44:39
Did Singapore let its golden boy down in any way?
Synopsis: The Straits Times tackles the talking points in sport every second Wednesday of the month.
In this episode of Hard Tackle, we delve into the lessons from the recent retirement of Singaporean swimming sensation Joseph Schooling on April 2, 2024, at just 28 years of age.
Join ST Sports reporter Deepanraj Ganesan and assistant sports editor Rohit Brijnath as they host two guests - Singapore Aquatics president and former national swimmer Mark Chay and two-time Olympian David Lim.
They explore the implications of Schooling's decision and discuss how Singapore can draw valuable lessons from his meteoric rise to the 100m butterfly gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics and his struggle after that historic win.
Could the Singapore sports ecosystem have done more for Schooling?
Is there a conversation about national service and high performance athletes and crucially, who will be Singapore swimming’s next superstar after Schooling?
We ask the hard questions, the guests respond, and now it is time for you to listen in on our debate.
Highlights (click/tap above):
3:00 Rohit Brijnath on how he felt after speaking to Schooling about his retirement
12:10 Why retirement was the better option for Schooling rather than going for success at regional competitions?
14:05 Could there have been better support for Schooling?
22:30 On how Singapore can do better in drawing on the knowledge, experience and ups and downs of our successful athletes
28:40 Why we need to have a closer look at how Schooling became a success
34:00 Will stakeholders have a conversation about NS and its impact on athletes?
Listen to our earlier episode with Joseph Schooling himself:
S1E1: Get into the new Hard Tackle Podcast channel from The Straits Times
Season 1 · Episode 1
Tuesday, April 9, 2024 • Duration 01:23
Hear the tough questions posed to our sports stars or authorities in our studio, and how they react.
Synopsis: The Straits Times tackles the talking points in sport every second Wednesday of the month.
The Straits Times' sports podcast has been around for the past few years, in different formats - from Game Of Two Halves, to Sports Talk, and now...the Hard Tackle.
We've found that this format has worked the best for us, and the harder the tackle, the more our listeners come back for more.
Host Deepanraj Ganesan's boyhood Manchester United hero Roy Keane would be so proud to hear this.
He will engage guests from the local or foreign sports community as ST looks at the biggest talking points in sport.
S1E13: Olympic champ Joseph Schooling in his own words as he retires
Season 1 · Episode 13
Wednesday, April 3, 2024 • Duration 18:24
Eight years after his stunning success at the 2016 Rio Olympics, Singapore’s greatest athlete has called time on his career.
Synopsis: The Straits Times tackles the talking points in sport every second Wednesday of the month.
In this special episode, we bring you an excerpt of assistant sports editor Rohit Brijnath’s interview with Singapore’s Olympic gold medallist Joseph Schooling.
The swimmer who won the 100m butterfly gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics called time on his career on April 2.
Listen to Schooling as he looks back on his career with honesty and relives the moment he stunned the world and put Singapore on the sporting map.
Highlights (click/tap above):
1:13 Schooling on how life changed after the 2016 Olympic gold
7:20 What was it like to deal with the cannabis saga that put Schooling in the headlines again?
8:00 Is it fair to have expectations on sportsmen to have a certain level of responsibility in how they conduct themselves?
11:04 How Schooling felt on the day he made history
15:11 When did Schooling realise he had won that historic race?
Synopsis: The Straits Times looks at the talking points in sport every second Wednesday of the month.
In this episode of Hard Tackle, Deepanraj Ganesan is joined by former Singapore international Noor Ali and Singapore Premier League commentator and Lions fan Zia-ul Raushan to dissect the Singapore national football team’s first two matches under new coach Tsutomu Ogura.
The Lions played out a hard-fought 2-2 draw against China on March 21 in front of the 28,414 crowd at the National Stadium. Five days later in chilly Tianjin, the Lions fell to a 4-1 loss, although there were signs of progress once again as the Republic showed grit and bravery in their play before being undone by a controversial penalty and two late goals.
So what do our pundits make of the start under Ogura and what is the way forward?
Highlights (click/tap above):
1:30 Why is there a positive feeling amongst fans despite the Lions not posing a victory against China?
8:30 Noor Ali on how the team has shaped up tactically under Ogura
17:15 The need for stronger mentality amongst players and the importance of leadership
21:00 What Ogura and the Lions can improve on
34:00 On the new standards in the national team and why players must step up
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