SPORTS DIRECT Unveils New Flagship Superstore in Bukit Bintang.

Through the loyal support of an expanding customer base, Sports Direct Malaysia today launched its new 5-storey flagship superstore in Bukit Bintang, at the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s Golden Triangle. Marking the company’s unprecedented growth across Malaysia, Sports Direct now currently has 28 stores since making its way into the Malaysian market in 2011.



The launch was officiated by Paul Gibbons, Managing Director of Sports Direct Malaysia and witnessed by H.E. Vicki Treadell CMG MVO, British High Commissioner to Malaysia, Datuk Seri Michael K C Yam, Chairman of InvestKL and Y.A.M. Tunku Tan Sri Imran Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Ja’afar, President of the Olympic Council of Malaysia.



“We have seen a demand for a better quality of life, with an emphasis on health and wellness that has contributed to more and more Malaysians taking up sports. In recent years, Malaysians both young and old, have become interested in group sports activities such as cycling, hiking, running, obstacle courses and general fitness. Being active is no longer a chore, but has evolved into inclusive, communally shared activities that are done with family, friends and even neighbors,” said Paul Gibbons, Managing Director of SportsDirect.com in Malaysia.



“Sports Direct is proud to play a role in helping Malaysians find a sport that they love and building an active sporting community, which is in line with efforts by the Youth and Sports Ministry to transform the country from a sports-watching nation to a sporting nation. Sport does not discriminate and should be enjoyed by everyone, which is the very core of Sports Direct’s business and customer values - to offer a great range of international brands and genuine products at very competitive price points to cater to each individual’s wants and needs. Through this, Sports Direct wants to encourage people to be more active in sports, regardless of age, demographic, level of fitness or involvement,” Gibbons elaborated.



Designed with the consumer in mind, Sports Direct’s big box store model offers a wide selection of global brands in sportswear, footwear and sports equipment. Customers will experience the same look, feel and flow of the modern UK stores, providing the widest and most in-depth range of equipment by brand, technical innovation and value.

The stores are zoned by key sports categories, namely:
 The Boot Room for football
 SheRunsHeRuns for running
 Fitness & Fight Zones for fitness, cross training, gym equipment, weights, boxing, martial arts and yoga
 Racket Centre for badminton, squash and tennis
 Swim Shop for pool, beach, water sports and activities
 Field & Trek for outdoor, hiking, trekking and camping
 The Game Room for table games, darts, table tennis
 Big Action for bikes and skates
 Team Sports for basketball and rugby
 Men Sports Lifestyle
 Women Sports Lifestyle
 Kids Sports Lifestyle.

The new Bukit Bintang flagship concept, differs slightly from the other Malaysian outlets as it will soon stage fitness classes on the rooftop level, where customers will be able to participate. The classes will kick off with Workout Day, organised in conjunction with National Sports Month, between 21–29 October 2017.

As part of Sports Directs further commitment towards investing in people and community, the company is also working to provide employment opportunities for those who are differently-abled. Gibbons explains that the company is “moving towards a more inclusive and diverse working culture, to remove barriers and perceptions, harnessing the value and talent that differently-abled people have to offer.”



As the UK’s #1 largest sporting goods retailer, Sports Direct is a well-known sports shopping destination in the UK and Europe with over 760 stores and a global annual sales revenue of 3.2 billion pounds (RM18 billion). Malaysia marks the first foray in the Southeast-Asian region, establishing a direct retail investment in Asia through a partnership with Malaysian owned MST Golf Group of Companies, a well-established golf retailer and service provider in the region.

Sports Direct is also available online at Lazada, with forthcoming plans to launch SportsDirect.com proprietary e-commerce site. The company is also working towards strategically grow their business in South East Asia, using Malaysia as the regional hub.

In conjunction with National Sports Month, Sports Direct is offering amazing deals to motivate Malaysians to get up and get active! To view more great deals and other instore promotions, visit the website at www.sportsdirect.com.my and follow SportsDirect.com on social media to keep up with the latest product news.

Over​ ​2,200​ ​runners​ ​take part​ ​in​ ​ASICS​ ​Relay​ ​held in​ ​KL’s​ ​City​ ​in​ ​a​ ​Garden

On 7 October 2017, more than 550 teams, each made up of four runners, participated in the ASICS Relay, marking the completion of the second leg of the event, which is taking place in four South-east Asian countries. The relay launched in Indonesia on 19 August.



The KL event, held in Putrajaya, attracted female and male runners, from 16 years old, and comprised fitness explorers, adventure seekers, health enthusiasts and recreational runners.



Guest-of-Honour Dato’ Mohd Nazifuddin bin Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib, Vice President of Olympic Council of Malaysia, flagged off the race at Anjung Floria. Runners sped towards the Heritage Square, passing various iconic buildings like the Attorney General Chambers of Malaysia and the Steel Mosque (Tunki Mizan Zainal Abidin Mosque).



“We love the spirit of working as a team. The competition has been as much about an opportunity to run with friends as it was about the joy of running,” said Thanuja Ananthan, Miss World Malaysia 2009, who joined the run with her family as Team Kacang Panjang Pendek.



The ASICS Relay offers more than a competitive, team-bonding race. In each city, attendees are treated to music entertainment with local musicians and dancers, and a selection of food and beverages.

The event continues in Singapore (4 November) before rounding up in Bangkok (2 December).

Winners and Timing list

Full marathon (42km):
· Male category - Team Subra Running - 02:19:47
· Female category - Team Pacesetters Malaysia - 03:16:47
· Mixed category - Team Arul Running Club - 02:35:34

Half marathon (21km):
· Male category - Team Kelab Olahraga Sungai Besi - 01:16:32
· Female category - Team Kyserun Krew Savannah - 01:48:08
· Mixed category - Team Serious Runners - 01:16:24

BHPetrol Orange Run Celebrates 12 Years

The BHPetrol Orange Run is back for the 12th consecutive year! Organised by BHPetrol in collaboration with Polis DiRaja Malaysia, Majlis Perbandaran Petaling Jaya and Affin Bank, the annual marathon encourages Malaysians to embrace healthier lifestyles while giving back to those in need in society.



Mr Tan Kim Thiam, Managing Director of BHPetrol said, “We are very pleased to mark another successful year of the Orange Run. For 12 years running, the Orange Run has provided a platform for people to join in the fun, stay in shape, and make a positive impact on the community by raising funds for charitable causes. It is great to see that even after all these years, we have so many participants gathering here for such a good cause. We look forward to many more years ahead!”



In line with BHPetrol’s commitment to giving back to the community, following the completion of the run, YBhg Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Lodin Wok Kamaruddin, Deputy Chairman/Group Managing Director of Boustead Holdings Berhad, presented a contribution of RM30,000 to Yayasan Kebajikan Dan Perkhidmatan Perubatan Malaysia, Persatuan Rumah Kanak-kanak Ini Disayangi, and Persatuan Sindrom Down Malaysia, with each charitable organisation receiving RM10,000.

Flagged off today at the Curve, Mutiara Damansara, this year’s run saw over 5,000 runners participating. The 11-km run was open to all aged 13 and above. To encourage runners from all walks of life to participate, there were eight categories of contestants, namely Men Open & Veteran, Women Open & Veteran, Boys & Girls and Men & Women International Open. The winners of the eight categories bagged RM50,000 worth of cash prizes along with BHPetrol vouchers.



The BHPetrol Orange Run 2017 was thoroughly enjoyed by the runners and their families who came along to cheer them on. The crowd was also entertained by other activities such as product offers and sampling by BHPetrol, Affin Bank, Nestlé, Lucozade and many others.

Merrell Malaysia Launches Nature’s Gym Campaign

Petaling Jaya, 21 September 2017 – Merrell, the outdoor performance brand that empowers amazing outdoor lives, is excited to announce the launch of Nature’s Gym—a Merrell movement encouraging people to use nature as their gym. Nature’s Gym is where your active outdoor adventures happen, it’s where you explore, experience, and enjoy the outdoors.



In collaboration with Original Bootcamp Malaysia (OBC), the campaign kicked off with a group fitness bootcamp session at Dataran Petaling Jaya with invited media and guests. The bootcamp was led by experienced trainers from OBC and they started the session with warm ups and continued on with creative mix of bodyweight drills, workouts with ropes & soft medicine balls as well as high intensity interval training (HIIT).



The group was split into pairs and were instructed to perform a different workout from their partner. For instance, while one was doing burpees, the partner was performing a plank. Aside from that, the instructors had set stations on the field and each station was a different workout. Participants had to go through each station for a few minutes before moving on the next workout station. Once the fitness bootcamp was over, the trainers guided the participants on how to properly warm-down and stretch their body to avoid any injury.



In fact, Merrell Malaysia & OBC is planning to have a series of free outdoor fitness bootcamps for the public. Those who are interested in the bootcamps may follow Merrell Malaysia’s Facebook page for details.



In order to provide consumers with the right gear to take on whatever nature means to them, Merrell is rolling out a series of versatile footwear that have been specifically designed to help you take your fitness routine outdoors.



These shoes will give you a greater connection to your terrain, no matter what type of environment you might be in.



FIT: The Re-Booted Barefoot Collection with Trail Glove 4
Merrell’s best-selling barefoot collection is getting an update for 2017. The Trail Glove 4 has been re-designed with a minimal look for maximum performance. This barefoot shoe has a sock -like feel for a locked-down fit, plus a Vibram® sole for lightly cushioned performance. The Trail Glove 4 will be launching in October of 2017, and will be priced at RM459.



RUN: The Bare Access Flex
Merrell’s NEW Bare Access Flex running shoe is powered by FLEXconnect™ for hybrid performance – experience ultimate versatility, comfort, and ground connection on the trail, road and beyond. The shoes feature a 0mm drop, and the FLEXconnect™ technology features a Hyperlock™ heel for security during descents and sharp turns, dual-directional flex groove midsole for agility and stability, and sticky, durable outsole for superior grip. The Bare Access Flex shoes will launch in October of 2017 and will be priced at RM359.



TRAIL: The Agility Peak Flex
An update on this year’s Agility Peak Flex, this new trail runner is made with FLEXconnect™ technology to cushion, flex, and protect your feet on the trail. This shoe gives you the agility to excel on your longest runs and technical terrain. With a built-in engineered gaiter to keep out debris, and visible air cushion technology in the midsole to ensure maximum comfort, the Agility Summit Flex is taking trail running to the next level. This shoe will be launching in September of 2017, and will be priced at RM469.

adidas Runners Take Charge Kuala Lumpur

adidas Malaysia today introduced its global running movement – adidas Runners to its fans in Kuala Lumpur, with an exclusive 8KM run in the city, followed by post-run activities such as trampoline workout and car tyre body strength training. adidas creators, communities of runners and media friends were invited to join this momentous celebration, to be the first batch of adidas Runners Kuala Lumpur members.



“We are very excited to be kicking off adidas Runners here in Kuala Lumpur, one of the key cities in Southeast Asia, to be a part of the global adidas running community. As the number one running brand in the world, we’re committed to deliver only the best training and running experience to our consumers, inspiring positive change and motivate runners to perform better,” said David Wong, Head of Marketing, adidas Malaysia.



“adidas Runners Kuala Lumpur will see like-minded runners coming together, charging through unique routes in the city, training in classes and wholesome experiences, along with expert coaching and pro athlete appearances, be assured that we will have sessions available for all standards and abilities to help unlock our members’ performance,” he added.



One global movement
adidas Runners is a global initiative by adidas to energize, support and unite runners all over the world. Members can find new like-minded friends in their city and around the world, allowing them to extend their physical and digital social networks. In essence, adidas Runners offers an athletic and social improvement platform.

Run hard, play hard
adidas Runners cares about runners’ performance - helping runners in achieving their personal goals and pushing them to the next level. It is a runners’ community to train together while having a good time and to celebrate success with those who share the journey.

Holistic approach
Running will always be at the core of adidas Runners. Upcoming training activities will be planned by designated captains and coaches, catering for all aspects of a healthy lifestyle, i.e. running, full body fitness, nutrition and medical, enabling the members to be better runners to reach their individual goals.



The 8KM city run was led by adidas Runners Kuala Lumpur captains Azwan Bunjing, and Fatin Nabila. Attendees were also treated to an exclusive preview of the all new adidas UltraBOOST All Terrain range at the launch event, one of the perks of joining the adidas Runners community.



To find out more on the upcoming training sessions, join the adidas Runners Kuala Lumpur movement on Facebook and follow these hashtags #adidasrunnersKL #TakeChargeKL #adidasMY on Instagram and Twitter.