IT was exactly 20 years ago when Josiah Ng, then already an Olympic keirin finalist, told this scribe to watch out for a young trainee who had just joined him in Melbourne.

THE future of the 2026 Malaysia Games (Sukma) now hangs in the balance.

FOR most professional athletes, the decision to walk away from the sport they love is often more momentous than the championships they have won.

THE National Sports Council (NSC) have upgraded their incentive scheme (Shakam) by introducing new categories and revising rewards for achievements on the international stage.

IT'S getting harder to be an athlete. In the past, an athlete would only have to answer to their national body but things are different now.

THAILAND have hosted a host of SEA Games.

OUR athletes have always been a source of national pride when they achieve remarkable feats on the global stage, earning medals and waving the Jalur Gemilang high.

POISE under pressure. Not many athletes have it in them, especially while they are still in the early years of their career.

A RECENT report in a news portal that at least 10 ex-national athletes never received their RM5,000 prize money after being named Sportsman or Sportswoman of the Year between 1966 and 1982 has exposed the ills of the Malaysian sporting scene.

IN four months time, almost 900 local athletes will be making the short trip across to converge in three Thai provinces.

THE likes of Pandelela Rinong, Bryan Nickson Lomas and Cheong Jun Hoong have all made their mark in previous diving events at the World Aquatics Championships.

This year's LTdL takes place from Sept 28 to Oct 5 and comprise eight stages.