Fitness & Health

How to be healthy? Any sports enthusiast will tell you to exercise. Not just any exercise, but those rigorous, heart-pumping cardio. Recently, in a Malaysian Internet forum, a guy dismissed walking as “useless”.

In the West, some fitness experts pointed out that yoga is ineffective for weight loss, since it doesn’t burn as much calorie as running or spinning. But they are unable to explain why long term yoga practitioners tend to have lean figures.

Which makes me wonder: Does fitness equal health?

Okinawa in Japan has some of the longest living people in the world. Scholars attribute the long life expectancy of the Okinawans to their diet and active style. However, I doubt many of them still do karate fighting at the age of 80.

Hong Kong is another place with very high life expectancy, and scholars attribute it to the fact that Hongkongest walk a lot. Unlike Malaysians and Americans who are terribly car-dependent, Hong Kong people often ride train (MTR). However, walking to and fro the MTR station is not cardio exercise. Taichi is popular in this Southern Chinese city, but again it is not a cardio exercise. (Taichi does have some “fast forms”, which are rigorous, but they are not commonly practiced.)

(source: discoverhongkong.com)

Fitness is essentially a Western concept. There is no Chinese translation for the English word ‘fit’.

Fitness is external; health is internal. Fitness is generally associated with physical exercise, such as running, swimming and weight lifting; health is related to many more factors, such as diet, nutrition, therapy and mental wellness.

American researchers recently compared data from two studies of 33,060 runners and 15,045 walkers. Their findings could surprise many of us. Results showed:

The risk for first-time hypertension was reduced 4.2% by running and 7.2% by walking.

The risk for first-time high cholesterol was reduced 4.3% by running and 7% by walking.

The risk for first-time diabetes was lowered 12.1% by running and 12.3% by walking.

The risk for coronary heart disease was lowered 4.5% by running and 9.3% by walking.

(source)

So, would you say “walking is useless”?

Say No to Man U?

Malaysia is a soccer-mad nation. Manchester United is probably the most popular European football club in this country. However, recently the Islamic authorities have warned that Muslims should not don the jersey of the Red Devils, as its emblem features a devil.

Note: Haram is the Islamic term for ‘unlawful’.

Further, the Islamic authorities have also told the Muslims to not wear the jersey of Barcelona FC, whose logo contains a cross.

Further, Muslims are also told to shun the jersey of Liverpool FC. The main sponsor of the football club is Carlsberg, the bear-maker.

Now, consider this: Malaysia’s national flag has a symbol of Islam – new moon. Should Malaysian Christians to salute it?

FIFA World Cup Post V

Soccer in USA

Note: Football is known as soccer in USA.

Soccer is the world’s most popular sport, but it hasn’t quite caught on in the United States. Traditionally, America’s Big 3 sports are baseball, basketball, American football, while ice hockey can be considered number 4. However, many girls play soccer as they are excluded from American football.

Wanting to know why Americans are not interested in soccer, I browsed through the Web to search for an answer. Based on the info I have, Americans dislike soccer because of the following reasons:

• Low scoring, boring
• Games often end in tie
• Competition from other sports – for players, spectators and sponsorship
• Soccer is difficult to understand (Well, I don’t understand American football either.)
• Soccer is a game for sissies. (Huh!!?)
• Players are not allowed to use their hands (What is wrong with that?)
• Soccer is an English game, therefore un-American. (But American football evolved from rugby, another English game.)

It is true that goals are scarce in soccer. A match with one or no goal can really be boring. On the plus side, fans get excited every time the teams they support score. Too many goals can spoil the fun.

A point in a basketball match is like your weekly wages. A goal in a football match is like hitting the jackpot. We need wages, but we look forward to the jackpot…

P/S I think 2 to 8 goals per match is perfect.

US Soccer Player London Donovan

FIFA World Cup Post IV

Fair or Not Fair

In the World Cup England vs. Germany match, Frank Lampard of England had a goal disallowed. The incident re-ignited the debate over introducing technology to the game to aid referees in making crucial decision. Such technologies include Hawk-Eye, which uses cameras to detect whether the ball has crossed the line, or Cairos, which works on the same principle but uses electromagnetic sensors. Another alternative is to rely on video replay. FIFA has so far been resistant to technology, but it is increasingly under pressure following tons of blunders by the referees and linesmen in the tournament.

Most football fans support goal line technology or video replay, but there are some who have different viewpoints. A Malaysian photographer who went by the nickname rhizomegrass, for example, argued:

I don’t want [technology in football]…

Later nothing interesting is reported on paper. Everything is soooo perfect… Like this, at least I can talk for another 30 years about the blunder done…

Plain boring perfect game is never nice to watch.

= = =

In the quarter match between Ghana and Uruguay, the Black Star had a great chance to score at the dying moment of the game. Uruguayan player Luis Suarez rescued his team by pushing the ball away with his hands, right in front of the goal line. (Note: Suarez was not the goalkeeper.) Suarez was giving matching order for his foul, and Ghana was awarded a penalty kick. Sadly, Ghanaian player Asamoah Gyan failed to convert the penalty. In the end, the Black Star crashed out.

It’s not fair! It’s cheating! Ghana would have won if not for Suarez’s deliberate handball.

But seriously, didn’t the handball drama make World Cup more interesting?

Do you really like fair play???

Suarez (left) handling the ball

FIFA World Cup Post III

The Sorrow of England

English football fans are heartbroken. So are many fans in Malaysia.

English Premier League is the most popular football league in this country. Malaysian football fans love English stars such as Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard (though probably not Wayne Rooney). Perhaps because of that, they extend their love to England team. And they felt sad when England was knocked out of World Cup.

England was beaten by Germany 4-1. This was its worst defeat in World Cup. As expected, fingers were pointed at Capello, the coach. There were already some critics who suggested that he should step down. But seriously, how many coaches England has had in the last few years? My records go as far back as Eriksson. He was replaced by McLaren, who in turn was replaced by Capello. Coaches come and go, but England continues to flop.

I am no pundit, but I think fans and critics alike should look at other factors as well. Were English players suffered from burnout following long season of playing at club level? Does England have a comprehensive system to recruit and nurture young talents?

Now, I am bringing up a crazy idea. I know this is blasphemous. But imagine this: If the four regions of the United Kingdom – England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland form a unified team…

FIFA World Cup Post II

What has an England flag got to do with Thai Cuisine?

Nasi kandar isn’t American food!

Well, it looks like World Cup fever has invaded the KLCC food court…

= = =

Japan vs. South Korea

No, Japan and South Korea are not facing each other in FIFA World Cup. But in a sense, the two nations are competing with each other.

Korean Peninsula was under the harsh rule of Japan before the latter was defeated in World War II. While it has been 65 years since the Land of the Morning Calm gained independence, its people have remained hostile to their former colonizers until today.

On the other hand, few Japanese born after the War knew their history well. Korean TV stars are hugely popular in the Land of the Rising Sun. Unfortunately, good will of the post-war Japanese has failed to melt the ice, or put out the fire, on the other side of Sea of Japan. (Koreans refer to Sea of Japan as East Sea.)

World Cup provides a venue for the Koreans to vent their anger. They want to progress further than the Japanese…

South Korea has already been knocked out in Round of 16. Will the Japanese outlast them? We will know the answer very soon…

FIFA World Cup Post

Hopping on the World Cup bandwagon:

Inside a mamak store:

Not exactly a huge fan, but I have been following the matches of World Cup so that I have some topic to talk/write about. As I haven’t subscribed to Astro, I decided to watch the matches in mamak stores.

Since the tournament started, I went to mamak stores many times. There, I ate food which was very oily and spicy. I had also inhaled much cigarette smoke. I think World Cup is bad for my health…

= = =

Considered this:

China is a sports giant. It is very strong in such events as table tennis, badminton, diving, swimming, weight-lifting and volleyball. The Middle Kingdom topped the Medal Table in Beijing Olympic 2008.

Football is hugely popular in China. The country has the single largest audience in the world. Why do you think FIFA wants to play some of the World Cup matches at 1.30pm South African time, or 7.30pm Beijing time?

But the Dragon is absent in South Africa. In fact, China has only qualified to World Cup finals once, back in 2002, when it lost all matches in group stage without scoring a goal.

Can someone please explain why the Middle Kingdom has persistently underachieved in football?

Exclusive Rights

source: www.dailymail.co.uk

My brother-in-law, who lives in Singapore, is a soccer fan. He has been watching EPL (English Premier League) matches on Starhub pay-TV.

Starting next year, however, Starhub will not be showing EPL matches, as it has lost the broadcasting rights to rival Singtel. Needless to say, soccer fans of the island republic who have subscribed to Starhub must be very frustrated. I expect many of them to defect to Singtel.

Starhub is not going to surrender, though. It still has the exclusive rights to broadcast Spanish La Liga. Both Starhub and Singtel are competing for next year’s World Cup.

It would be easier for the soccer fans should Singtel win the rights over World Cup. All they need to do is to jump ship. Thing would be interesting if Starhub wins. How would the fans choose between EPL and World Cup?

Sometimes I just hate those so-called exclusive rights. (Well, I say ‘sometimes’. If I have invested in Singtel, I may have different feeling.)

I think my brother-in-law should just stick to Starhub and watch La Liga instead. After all, Christiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi play in the bull-fighting kingdom. Ladies should also consider throwing your support behind La Liga, as Ronaldo is good-looking

Singapore Formula 1 Night Race – II

The first ever night race in Formula 1 history was a success. Well done, Lion City.

Before the race, everybody was saying that overtaking was impossible in street circuit. Amazingly, Fernando Alonso, who started from 15^th spot, eventually emerged the winner. Admittedly, safety car intervention helped him, but I did see a few occasions of overtaking.

One advantage of a street race was that TV audience could see the night view of the city. Singapore has scored another marketing point here.

A suggestion to Singapore: Erect a sign which reads “Kimi Raikonnen crashed here” at the spot where the defending world champion ended his race. Tourists would like to take photos there.

Singapore Formula 1 Night Race

Singapore is holding the first ever Formula 1 night race…

But why hold the event at night? I think there are marketing factors at play here.

First, F1 cars racing down the street at night is unique, and uniqueness draws attention. By the way, Singapore tourism’s tagline is Uniquely Singapore.

Second, 8pm at Singapore is 1pm at London, and 2pm at Paris, Berlin and Rome. More Europeans will be able to watch live TV broadcast. If the race starts at 2pm in Singapore, it would clash with church hours.

Now let’s hope that Singapore’s first F1 race will be a successful one…

Marketing Sports

In my earlier post, I wrote that badminton matches need more commercial breaks in order to attract sponsorship. International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has a more radical idea to promote the sport. The secret:

Sex sells!

ITTF vice-president Claude Bergerewas reporting as saying, “We are trying to push the (female) players to use skirts and also nicer shirts, not the shirts that are made for men, but ones with more curves.”

It may seem derogatory to ask women table tennis players to wear skirts and sexy shirts. But think again, female track-and-field athletes are already wearing bikini-typed suits. Of course, there should be no coercion. As a libertarian, I find it acceptable that table tennis players wear sexy attires. On the other hand, if some women from conservative countries wish to wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants, it is also perfectly fine. No veils, though.

I expect many feminists to rebuff ITTF’s proposal, calling it a discrimination against the fairer sex. But wait a minute. Before you object, ask yourself this question, “Why is David Beckham so popular among ladies?”

Shown below are Russian pole-vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva in bikini-typed tracksuit and some stylish table tennis attires.

Related post:

Badminton - why no commercial breaks?

Sporting Defectors

China dominated the table tennis events in the Beijing Olympiad, but there were China-born players who represented other nations.

Singapore’s women table tennis team won the island republic’s first medal in the games. Its players were all imports from China.

Canada also brought four China-born table tennis players to the Olympics. The fifth squad member originated from Sri Lanka.

The International Table Tennis Federation got so alarmed about the number of Chinese-born players representing other countries that it had tightened its rule. After the Beijing Games, anyone aged over 21 will be banned from ‘jumping nation’ and those aged between 18 and 21 will have to wait seven years before they can play for other countries.

Question: Do you think it is ethical for an athlete to switch nationality and play for another country?

Before you make judgment, you may want to read the story of Chire Koyama.

Chire Koyama

Born He Zhili (何智丽), she was a Chinese table tennis player. In the 1987 World Table Tennis Championship, she faced her compatriot Guan Jianhua in the women's singles semi-final. In another semi-final match, a North Korean player was expected to win. He Zhili did not have good track record against the North Korean. So eager to secure a trophy for the nation, the Chinese coach told He Zhili to “give way” to Guan Jianhua. He Zhili refused to follow instruction. She beat Guan in the semi-final and went on to win the championship.

Unfortunately, He Zhili was dropped from the 1988 Olympic squad. The reason given by the coach was that she was ‘overage’. (She was 24!) The distraught He Zhili migrated to Japan and married a Japanese husband. She subsequently played for the Japanese table tennis team under the name Chire Koyama (小山智麗).

In the 1994 Asian Games held in Hiroshima, Chire Koyama won a gold medal in the women's singles event, beating China’s World Champion Deng Yaping in the final.

Chire Koyama (far side) vs. Deng Yaping

From Beijing to London

The 2008 Beijing Olympic has come to an end.

This is the best Olympiad ever. It is near perfect, save for a number of controversies.

I have one minor gripe: the organizing committee has selected some of the most charming women in the country as ushers and cheerleaders. (Remember this is a nation with 1.3 billion populations.) As an avid photographer, I wish I could fly to Beijing to capture them with my camera. Nonetheless, I find their hand gestures to be too boring.

We have witnessed a very memorable opening ceremony on August 8, 2008, and an equally memorable closing ceremony on August 24, 2008. Former IOC president Juan Antonio Samaranch always, at the closing ceremony, praised the games as “the best ever”. The one exemption was Atlanta 1996. Following the dissolution of Soviet Union, the United States became the only superpower. The over-confident Americans made a lot of mistakes in Atlanta. Now, given the success of the Beijing Games, one wonders how London can do better. In fact, the organizing committee of London 2012 has already admitted that the Beijing Games is difficult to surpass.

As the Middle Kingdom rises from a hundred years of humiliation by foreign powers and the peril of Great Cultural Revolution, the Chinese are nearly as confident as the Americans were in 1996. The spectacular opening ceremony was not meant to welcome the visitors, but to showcase their new-found prowess. Do you still remember the fake “ethnic minority kids”? The Britons who performed in the closing ceremony were truly multi-racial.

London can never match Beijing in terms of sheer scale. (North Korea probably can.) However, sincerity was something lacking in Beijing 2008. This is an area London can do better.

International Live Broadcast

There are many soccer leagues in Europe, such as English Premier League (EPL), Spanish La Liga, Italian Serie A and German Bundesliga. Among them, EPL has the largest fan base in Asia.

There are many factors which contribute to the popularity of EPL, but I think one of them has to do with timing. EPL matches are played early. In summer, soccer fans can watch some matches as early as 7.30pm in China, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore, or 6.30pm in Thailand. These are soccer-mad nations. Why bother to pull yourself out of the cozy bed at 2.30am for a Serie A match?

The Beijing Olympic organizers probably have learned a thing or two from EPL. In this game, the finals for swimming events were held in the morning – in Beijing. That’s evening in the Americas. I believe millions of Americans must have glued to the TV to watch Michael Phelps in action.

奥运110米跨栏赛观后感

中国是北京奥运会的大赢家，但田径巨星刘翔却是赛会最失意的选手。

8月18日我恰好休假，所以有机会观看到在早上举行的110米跨栏赛预赛。刘翔一下场，我就觉得他有点不妥。他一拐一拐的，并不时抚摸大腿。比赛开始时，另一位选手起跑犯规，刘翔只跑出几步，就因伤痛退出。看到他一人走出体育场，我为他感到难受。

很明显的，刘翔在赛前就已经受伤，或许他根本不应该下场。但是，当中国十三亿人都期待这位田径巨星摘金时，刘翔又怎能令他们失望呢？

中国奥运选手，名气最大非刘翔和姚明莫属。但篮球是团体赛，中国人原本就不预算姚明能带领篮球队赢取金牌。相比之下，他们对刘翔的期待和要求就大得多。

与此同时，中国人也念念不忘新仇旧恨，他们忘不了“百年屈辱”和几个月前奥运圣火在巴黎传送时被阻挠之耻。刘翔参加奥运，不仅是“为国争光”，还是“为国雪耻”，以让中国人能够“站起来”。他所承受的压力，我只能用“恐怖”二字来形容。

无论如何，刘翔还年轻，他还有机会亮相2012年伦敦奥运会。到那时，希望他能够为自己而跑。

Badminton – why no commercial breaks?

I was watching Olympic badminton matches. As an MBA student, I also pondered a question: How to promote badminton?

In a badminton match, players swap side after each game is played. They also take this opportunity to drink water and probably wipe off their sweat. The interval lasts just 1 or 2 minutes. Such a short interval has two implications.

First, players do not have ample time to rest, and tired players don’t perform well. Second, corporate sponsors may want to shy away, because the interval is not long enough to air their commercials in a live TV broadcast.

Badminton badly needs sponsorship. But to attract sponsorship, there has to be commercial breaks.

Have you ever wondered why NBA basketball matches have so many time-outs? This is because corporate sponsors like them. OK, maybe there are so many time-outs that they break the flow of the game. For a badminton match, perhaps a 3-minute break after first set and a 5-minute break after second set are just nice. As an audience, I hate time-outs.

A side note:

I believe many Chinese Malaysians were happy to see China winning 3 badminton gold medals out of a total of 5. Unfortunately, dominance of a single nation – any nation – is bad for the sport. (I have to stress the words “any nation” or I would be accused of being anti-China.) Where are the excitements if the games are predictable?