Badminton has traditionally been the national sport
in Malaysia. Today
football is replacing it in terms of player numbers and surely
television audience numbers, with every move of Manchester United
religiously followed. Badminton still makes the sport pages of all
the newspapers, while live English Premiership football can be heard
and seen around the city’s bars, hotels and even hawker centres.
Kuala Lumpur’s own football team, Kuala Lumpur, play
in the Premier One league at the KLFA Stadium, Jalan Yacob
Ladif, Cheras (telephone: (03) 9131 5757).
The 1st ever Formula One Grand Prix in South-East Asia
was another achievement of the dynamic Malaysian government.
Every October, the Sepang International Circuit (telephone:
(03) 8526 2000; fax: (03) 8526 1000; e-mail: sic@malaysiangp.com.my)
hosts the world’s top racing drivers in the Malaysian Grand
Prix. The state-of-the-art circuit also hosts FIM Motorcycle
Grand Prix and the Grand Touring Championship and rally
and adventure events.
The more traditional sports such as Sepak Takraw (a kind of
volleyball playing by feet) have become unpopular since
many youngsters have lost interest. Although Sepak Takraw is originated in Malaysia, it is presently second best to its neighbour, Thailand.
There is no universal ticketing system in the city and tickets
to sporting events can be bought directly from the venue or upon
arrival.
Bowling<
br>
It is very popular in Kuala Lumpur, where rinks can be found
at some of the shopping centres. At the Golden Triangle, the Federal
Hotel (telephone: (03) 2148 9166), located on Jalan Bukit Bintang, provides
an alley, the Federal Bowl which is open from 10.00 - 01.00 hrs daily.
There is also bowling at the Yow Chuan Plaza (telephone: (03)
243 0953), Jalan Tun Razak.
Fitness
Centres
Fitness centres are available at most four and five star hotels. Amongst
the best public centres are the chain of clubs named the ‘sweat
clubs’. They are situated in the Mid Valley Megamall
(telephone: (03) 2284 3833; fax: (03) 2284 3323), MiCasa Hotel
Apartments (telephone: (03) 2161 1757; fax: (03) 2161 1734)
and the Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel (telephone: (03) 2161
3323; fax: (03) 2162 2232), open 24 hours daily except Sunday, when
it closes at 7.00 pm.
Golf
Golfers are well catered for in the city, with an array of courses
around the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur. Most
courses are happy to take golfers, but it is subject to availability.
Located at 10 Jalan 1/70D, off
Jalan Bukit Kiara, the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club (telephone: (03) 253 1111), opens to non-members
with green fees starting from RM180. The Royal Selangor Golf Club, Jalan
Kelab Golf (telephone: (03) 9284 8433), is a members-only club
that opens to both members’ guests and residents at many
of the city’s luxury hotels with green fees of RM399. Located close to the
old airport is the Saujana Golf and Country Club, Saujana
Resort Section U2, Shah Alam (telephone: (03) 7846 1466) with green
fees starting from RM178.
Swimming
Most hotels that charge over RM200 per night will normally provide a swimming
pool. The public swimming pools are available at Bangsar Sports Complex, 3 Jalan Terasek (telephone: (03) 254 2360) and at Weld Swimming
Pool, adjacent to Chin Woo Stadium, off Jalan Hang Jebat (telephone: (03) 232 4602).
Tennis
The major hotels usually provide at least 1 tennis court. Bangsar Sports Complex
(telephone: (03) 254 2360) and Datuk
Keramat, Taman Keramat at Kampung (telephone: (03) 4256 4853) have tennis courts for hire. |
