NST tells the great sport stories — from Malaya to Malaysia

New Straits Times

a day ago

THE New Straits Times (NST) turns 180 tomorrow, a landmark rarely seen in journalism.
Amid its rich heritage, NST's legacy is etched deeply into the story of Malaysian sports.
For generations, NST has gone beyond match results and medal counts.
It has captured the passion, personalities and turning points that have defined Malaysian sporting identity — on and off the field.
When Malaya lifted the Thomas Cup in 1949 for the first time, NST documented every smash and cheer, marking the dawn of Malaysia's badminton dominance.
In 1992, it captured the drama as Cheah Soon Kit-Soo Beng Kiang sealed Malaysia's last Thomas Cup triumph, beating Indonesia 3-2 in front of a packed Stadium Negara, a team built around the famed Sidek brothers.
In 1975, Malaysia's national hockey team stunned the world by finishing fourth at the World Cup in Kuala Lumpur.
NST was in the thick of it, reporting every goal, tackle and standing ovation.
Football, too, has been a constant presence on NST's back pages.
From the 1950s onward, the paper told the stories of some of the greatest footballers to ever wear the Malaysia jersey — Datuk Abdul Ghani Minhat, Edwin Dutton, Datuk Mokhtar Dahari, Datuk Reduan Abdullah, Datuk Soh Chin Ann, Datuk Santokh Singh, Datuk Hassan Sani, Datuk James Wong, Chow Chee Keong, Datuk R. Arumugam, Datuk Isa Bakar, Datuk M. Chandran, Wong Choon Wah, Nasir Yusof, Datuk Dollah Salleh, Datuk Zainal Abidin Hassan and Azman Adnan.
NST brought their brilliance and battles to life, with words and images that made them household names.
Among Malaysia's proudest football feats was qualifying for the 1972 Munich Olympics, where the national team famously beat the United States 3-0.
NST's coverage captured the pride of that campaign. In 1980, the team again qualified for the Moscow Olympics, but never made it due to the boycott.
NST reported the heartbreak, giving voice to players who had earned the right to shine on the world stage.
Fast forward to the modern era, Datuk K. Rajagobal's class of 2009 revived the nation's football spirit with a stunning SEA Games gold medal in Laos, Malaysia's first in two decades.
A year later, they delivered the ultimate prize — the 2010 AFF Cup, Malaysia's first title in the region's top football tournament.
NST's front pages roared with national pride as Safiq Rahim, Safee Sali, Amri Yahyah, Khairul Fahmi Che Mat and S. Kunanlan lifted the trophy.
Amri's heroics extended beyond regional football.
His two goals against former English Premier League champions Manchester United in a 2009 friendly at Bukit Jalil remain one of the most iconic performances by a Malaysian footballer, highlighted in the NST.
NST has also tracked Malaysia's rise on the Olympic stage. Datuk Razif Sidek and Datuk Seri Jalani Sidek bagged the country's first Olympic medal — a men's doubles bronze in Barcelona 1992.
Four years later, Datuk Rashid Sidek won Malaysia's first Olympic medal in men's singles — a bronze — in Atlanta.
Datuk Lee Chong Wei, Malaysia's badminton icon, delivered three Olympic silvers — in Beijing 2008, London 2012, and Rio 2016.
NST followed his every step, from centre court tension to teary finishes, telling the story of a champion who carried a nation's hopes.
And in 2022, Malaysia finally secured its first badminton world title through Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik in Tokyo.
NST gave the achievement the front-page treatment it deserved — an overdue moment of glory for the doubles discipline.
NST also documented the rise of Datuk Azizulhasni Awang, the Pocket Rocketman.
From bronze in London, to silver in Rio, to a world keirin title, his story of power, speed, and heart was told with the detail and energy it deserved.
Pandelela Rinong made waves with her bronze at the London Olympics — the country's first Olympic medal in diving, a sport Malaysia had only taken seriously in mid-1990s.
Then came Cheong Jun Hoong's stunning 10m platform gold at the 2017 World Championships, beating China's best.
NST captured it all, from the podium to the pool deck.
Then there's Datuk Nicol David — Malaysia's greatest individual athlete. With eight world squash titles and a record 108 consecutive months as world No.1, her consistency, class and humility made her a national treasure.
NST told her story from teenage prodigy to squash queen, treating every title like it mattered because it did.
NST's sports journalism was shaped by some of the best minds in the business.
Legendary sports editor Norman Siebel, Datuk Lazarus Rokk, Vijesh Rai and Chan Wai Kong brought leadership, insight and authority to the desk.
Today, Ajitpal Singh continues the tradition, ensuring that NST remains the gold standard in Malaysian sports coverage.
Among its best writers were the late Dan Guen Chin, known for his methodical accuracy, and the late Jugjet Singh, whose sharp hockey columns became must-reads.
Former senior journalist Devinder Singh stood out as one of NST's finest all-rounders, covering everything from youth competitions to world championships with clarity and confidence.
NST's dedication hasn't just been to stars. For decades, it has covered school tournaments, state meets and junior leagues, giving young athletes their first taste of the limelight.
Many national players saw their names in NST long before wearing the Jalur Gemilang.
The paper has also held power to account, reporting on selection controversies, governance missteps and funding gaps, all in the name of a better Malaysian sports system.
Now, as NST celebrates 180 years, its connection to sport remains as strong as ever.
In an age of noise and novelty, NST still values the things that matter — truth, storytelling, and the spirit of competition.
Here's to the memories it has captured, the legends it has honoured, and the dreams it has helped carry.
And here's to many more pages of Malaysian sporting greatness still to be written.