World City Guide

Sport

The national sport in Malaysia has traditionally been badminton, although football is increasingly replacing it in terms of player numbers and certainly television audience figures, with every move of Manchester United religiously followed. Badminton may still make the sport pages of all the newspapers, but live English Premiership football blasts around the city’s bars, hotels and even hawker centres with disturbing regularity, while replica English football tops are en vogue. Kuala Lumpur’s own eponymous football team, Kuala Lumpur, play in the Premier One league at the KLFA Stadium, Jalan Yacob Ladif, Cheras (tel: (03) 9131 5757) and are currently one of the best teams in the country, though they may never replace Manchester United in local affections. Kuala Lumpur’s recent sporting highlight came with the successful staging of the 1998 Commonwealth Games. Winning the rights to stage the first ever Formula One Grand Prix in South-East Asia was another impressive achievement of the go-getting Malaysian government. Every October, the Sepang International Circuit (tel: (03) 8526 2000; fax: (03) 8526 1000; e-mail: sic@malaysiangp.com.my; website: www.malaysiangp.com/my) plays host to the world’s top racing drivers in the Malaysian Grand Prix. The state-of-the-art circuit also hosts a round of the FIM Motorcycle Grand Prix and the Grand Touring Championship as well as rally and adventure events.

More traditional sports like sepak takraw (a kind of volleyball with feet rather than hands) are on the way out, with many youngsters losing interest – Malaysia, the birthplace of sepak takraw, is now second best to its neighbour, Thailand.

There is no umbrella ticketing organisation in Kuala Lumpur and tickets to sporting events can be purchased direct from the venue or upon arrival.

Bowling: Ten-pin bowling is very popular in Kuala Lumpur, with rinks in some of the shopping malls. At the heart of the Golden Triangle, the Federal Hotel (tel: (03) 2148 9166), Jalan Bukit Bintang, has a ten-pin bowling alley, the Federal Bowl which is open daily 1000-0100. There is also bowling at the Yow Chuan Plaza (tel: (03) 243 0953), Jalan Tun Razak.

Fitness Centres: Most top and mid-range hotels have their own fitness centres. Amongst the best public fitness centres are the chain of clubs aptly named the ‘sweat clubs’. These are located in the Mid Valley Megamall (tel: (03) 2284 3833; fax: (03) 2284 3323), MiCasa Hotel Apartments (tel: (03) 2161 1757; fax: (03) 2161 1734) and the Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel (tel: (03) 2161 3323; fax: (03) 2162 2232), which is open 24 hours a day except Sunday, when it closes at 1900.

Golf: Golf lovers are well catered for in Kuala Lumpur, with a number of courses dotted around the outskirts of the city. Depending on availability, most courses are happy to take visiting golfers with fees paid per round for either 9 or 18 holes. The Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club, 10 Jalan 1/70D, off Jalan Bukit Kiara (tel: (03) 253 1111), is open to non-members with green fees from RM180. The Royal Selangor Golf Club, Jalan Kelab Golf (tel: (03) 9284 8433), is a members-only club that is also open to both members’ guests and residents at many of the city’s luxury hotels. Green fees are RM399. Near the old airport is the Saujana Golf and Country Club, Saujana Resort Section U2, Shah Alam (tel: (03) 7846 1466), where green fees start at RM178.

Swimming: Most hotels charging over RM200 a night will have their own swimming pool. Alternatively, there are public swimming pools at Bangsar Sports Complex (tel: (03) 254 2360), 3 Jalan Terasek and at Weld Swimming Pool (tel: (03) 232 4602) next to Chin Woo Stadium, off Jalan Hang Jebat.

Tennis: The top hotels will have at least one tennis court. Alternatively, there are tennis courts for hire at Bangsar Sports Complex (tel: (03) 254 2360), 3 Jalan Terasek, and at Kampung, Datuk Keramat, Taman Keramat (tel: (03) 4256 4853).