KUALA LUMPUR, May 3 (Bernama) — A television channel dedicated to Malaysian sports and local sports role models is expected to be launched by the end of the year.
Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) president Tunku Imran ibni Almarhum Tuanku Ja’afar said OCM and Astro, the pay TV operator, were finalising the details of the channel which would cover domestic sports as well as regional and international sports in which Malaysians are participating.
Tunku Imran said a tv sports channel was the “missing link” in the country’s efforts to develop sports to higher levels.
He cited the example of the popularity of squash in Malaysia.
“Why is now squash is so popular? Because everyone is basing themselves on Nicol David,” he said of Malaysia’s world No. 1 squash player.
“The girls want to play squash because they want to be Nicol David, so I think role models are important and television is crucial to that,” he said.
Tunku Imran said he first approached Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek when the latter was still Information Minister about establishing the sports channel via RTM.
But this could not be done as RTM’s channels were not yet digitalised but it could be done easily with Astro. Shabery is now Youth and Sports Minister.
He said as an example, the sports channel might not necessarily cover only the Malaysian Squash Open but the Spanish Squash Open because Malaysian players are participating.
This would also mean coverage of sports like badminton, hockey, sepak takraw and others.
For the full article:Bernama
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