
What’s one thing Malaysians love more than milo, gambling and beaches? Obviously the answer is Sports in Malaysia.
And if you ask around “what are the popular sports in Malaysia?”, everyone will have different answers. Some would say the national sport, Sepak Takraw, while others would say the more globally-recognized sports like Football or Badminton.
They say that knowing a country’s favorite past time and activities reveals what kind of a country it really is. So we made a list of what we think are the most beloved sports in Malaysia!
Top 5 Popular Sports in Malaysia Every Malaysian Loves
1. Football
Football is a very popular sport, not just in Malaysia but the whole world! Millions celebrate The World Cup every 4 years and Malaysians always wonder when we’ll make it into the International Tournament. It’s one of the biggest sports in the world, after all, beating basketball or even ice skating.
In 2018, almost half the world’s population tuned in to watch the World Cup held in Russia. It was unfortunate that Malaysia’s National Football Team didn’t qualify. Still, many Malaysians enjoyed watching their favorite International players dominate the playing field.
Neymar is one of the most popular football players in the world right now.
Although Malaysia isn’t so lucky in the International field, there’s still our own national football league.
DID YOU KNOW
There's also been a trend in football recently.
They’re getting other races from Chinese and Indian communities to join in playing the sport again.
Football is for everyone! That’s what we Malaysians would like to say. We want to bring back the glory days of Malaysian football where every race took part in the beautiful game.
2. Badminton
Let’s admit it, Malaysia’s Football Team is having a hard time breaking into the International league.
But Badminton, on the other hand, is actually thriving! Even Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said that badminton is now the #1 Malaysia Sport.
Badminton legends like Datuk Lee Chong Wei is as beloved as the sport itself. He’s one of th Sports Icons that helped badminton become one of Malaysia’s National Sports (unofficially).
Plus, there’s more familiarity to Badminton than Football since our main competition comes from our Asian neighbors like Indonesia, China and South Korea.This gives a more local feel that isn’t found in football.
3. Sepak Takraw



Sepak Takraw in Action
Sepak Takraw Ball



2 Kinds of Sepak Takraw
Sepak Takraw also has two variations, the Bulatan and the Jaring. For the Bulatan, players gather around in a circle and must pass the ball to each other, keeping the ball in the air as much as possible. Also known as Sepak Raga Bulatan, this is the original version of the beloved national sport.


Jaring – Sepak Takraw
To us Malaysians, Sepak Takraw is more than just a sport. It’s a celebration of culture, a tradition that gives light to the country’s rich history.4. Rugby



Malaysia Rugby Team vs. Singapore
In Malaysia, the sport Rugby is governed by the Malaysian Rugby Union or Kesatuan Ragbi Malaysia.
The sport is also getting more popular over the years thanks to countless efforts like the Get Into Rugby programme (GIR).
GIR was initiated by the formal general manager of the Malaysia Rugby Union, Mohd Mazuri, back in 2014.
Get into Rugby has been getting Malaysians into rugby, especially the youth from the countryside. In Malaysia, a sport is not just a sport–it’s a way to unite people together despite their differences in culture and circumstance. It’s a beautiful, beautiful thing.
5. Hoki



Austria vs. Malaysia: Men’s FIH Series Finals Highlights
DID YOU KNOW
National Teams’ players are extremely committed to Hoki.
They still manage to play official games despite having day jobs as Policemen, Teachers and more.
This is a small sacrifice to pay since these players get to play internationally, representing Malaysia in the grand sport of field hockey.
We’re not one to lose either. In 1975, Malaysia was actually the first country to host the Hockey World Cup, ranking 4th worldwide. It’s our highest ranking so far.
Oh, and did I mention that our men’s team is nicknamed ‘Speedy Tigers’?
Bet on Popular Sports in Malaysia
Since it’s pretty evident that a lot of Malaysians love sports, it’s no mystery that we also love sports betting.
Although gambling is prohibited, it can’t be denied that many Malaysians still love betting. Other races like Chinese and Indian communities love to bet and gamble as a way of socializing with one another. That’s why horse-race betting and sports betting has become popular over the years.