
Malaysia to host MITAF 2025 in October
MALAYSIA will host the 'Malaysia International Traditional Archery Festival (MITAF) 2025' in Kwasa Damansara, Selangor, for four days from Oct 9 to 12.
Traditional Archery Association of Malaysia (TAAM) president Zainurin Osman said an estimated 2,000 participants from 15 countries including Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Brunei, Philippines, Korea, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Pakistan and Mongolia are expected to participate in the tournament.
'MITAF 2025 is the first tournament organised by TAAM since its establishment and recognition by the government in 2022, and the response received has been very encouraging.
'A total of nine archers will be selected to represent Malaysia, three each for the male, female and junior categories and they are the winners of the 2025 National Traditional Archery Championship,' he told reporters at Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) Sports Centre here today.
He said this when he met at the 2025 National Traditional Archery Championship, which drew more than 700 participants.
Commenting further, Zainurin said MITAF 2025 was organised not only to bring together all archers across the country in a prestigious tournament but also as a platform to produce future national traditional archers.
'We expect more than 15,000 spectators and visitors from all over the country to attend the four-day tournament, thus elevating the event of traditional archery to the international level.
'In addition, a total prize of USD30,000 is provided for the winners of the tournament,' he said.
In another development, he said that since TAAM was established in 2022, 16 state traditional archery associations have been established nationwide, apart from seven district archery associations and 151 traditional archery clubs.
He said that all the associations and clubs under the auspices of TAAM have received approval from the Sports Commissioner of Malaysia.
'The National Traditional Archery Championship is one of the annual events organised by TAAM and this year is the third edition.
'We can see the response among the people of this country, especially the younger generation and young participants, are increasing for traditional archery,' he said.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New Straits Times
13 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Zii Jia has 'nothing to lose' by joining RTG, says Yeoh
KUALA LUMPUR: Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh hopes that independent shuttler Lee Zii Jia will finally join the ministry's Road to Gold (RTG) programme. Yeoh said she recently met with Zii Jia to explain the benefits of joining the programme for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics cycle. RTG is intended to give Malaysia's top athletes the additional support they need to challenge for gold at the Olympics as well as other major international competitions. Zii Jia had previously turned down an offer to join RTG during the 2024 Paris Olympics cycle. "I met with Zii Jia last week and we have spoken to them (Zii Jia's camp) about the benefits of RTG," said Yeoh today (June 3). "We are offering the RTG services and I do hope Zii Jia will say yes because there is nothing to lose. "RTG is a top-up facility the government is offering to players, even independent players. "The road to LA2028 is still long, we have about three years to go. But with sports there is always the risk of injury. "Under RTG, injured athletes will get the support they need to recover, just like what Azizulhasni Awang and Ng Tze Yong have received. "We have explained all the top-up services we provide and also the improvements we have done since the 2024 Paris Olympics. "It is up to Zii Jia to make the final decision. I am confident he will consider all factors. "The same goes for Izzuddin Rumsani-Goh Sze Fei (independent doubles pair)." Yeoh said she is hoping to have the list of athletes under RTG finalised by the end of this month. "It is difficult because they (athletes) are always travelling to tournaments," said Yeoh. "We want to gather all of them who have agreed to join RTG and have them signing (agreement) together." In addition to sport science support, competition exposure and coaching, athletes under the RTG programme also receive a RM3,000 monthly allowance. Yeoh was speaking after officiating the prize giving ceremony for the Daikin International Badminton Championships in Petaling Jaya today. Young players from 10 countries played in over 1,400 matches throughout the tournament, which is now in its seventh edition.


Borneo Post
19 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Gerawat urges KSH to support young athletes, explore sports tourism potential
Gerawat (centre) receives a souvenir from Romeo as Yii (third right), Dennis (third left) and others look on. MIRI (June 3): The Highlanders Sports Club (KSH) has been urged to take a more proactive role in helping young athletes access higher education and professional sports training through partnerships with local and international institutions. Deputy Minister in the Premier's Department (Labour, Immigration and Project Monitoring), Datuk Gerawat Gala, said KSH could serve as a key bridge connecting talented youths with sports academies such as Akademi Bola Sepak Malaysia, Bukit Jalil Sports School, and overseas universities offering sports scholarships. 'Our outstanding young athletes can pursue their academic and sporting ambitions simultaneously through these institutions,' he said during the closing ceremony of the Highlanders Sports Carnival held at the Federation of Orang Ulu Associations Malaysia (Forum) building at Jalan Padang Kerbau here last night. Gerawat, who is also Mulu assemblyman, encouraged KSH to broaden its outreach by actively participating in initiatives run by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture. He pointed out that excelling in sports can open doors to opportunities that are just as rewarding as those in other professions. 'Some of our national footballers are earning up to RM20,000 per month. I am optimistic that one of our rising young golfers, Abigail Pearson, will continue to excel in State and National tournaments and eventually earn a scholarship to study in the United States, following in the footsteps of others before her,' he said. He further challenged KSH to explore the potential of sports tourism in the Kelabit Highlands through the organisation of events such as marathon runs, mountain biking, cross-country races and activities with groups like the Hash House Harriers. 'With the backing of Rurum Kelabit Sarawak as its umbrella body, KSH has the potential to innovate by identifying and promoting new sports tourism products. By networking with successful sports institutions, they can continue to inspire and attract youth participation,' he added. Gerawat also expressed hope that the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak would consider incorporating such initiatives into the state's tourism calendar for the coming year. Touching on the recently concluded Highlanders Games Carnival, held here from May 31 to June 2, he said 10 contingents from across the country participated in all 14 sports events. He reiterated that the carnival aimed to promote and strengthen the community's engagement in sports, emphasising the need for unity within the Kelabit community, which constitutes less than one per cent of Malaysia's population. 'As a small community, it is vital that we remain cohesive and united. Only then can we make a meaningful impact and draw the attention of government and stakeholders to our needs and aspirations. 'I am heartened to see so many young people involved. It reminds me of the early years of KSH and Rurum Kelabit Sarawak in the 1980s, a time when some of you were not yet born. This strong youth presence gives our community hope and shows that the vision of our pioneers is being carried forward into the next generation,' he said. Among those present were Telang Usan assemblyman who is also Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) chairman Dato Dennis Ngau, Pujut assemblyman who is also Miri mayor Adam Yii Siew Sang, political secretary to the Premier Dominic Nyurang Ajang, KSH president Romeo Peter Raja and several community leaders. athletes gerawat gala Kelab Sukan Highlanders lead youth


New Straits Times
2 days ago
- New Straits Times
Multiple world champions deserve pension scheme, says Syarul
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Syarul Azman Mahen Abdullah has reiterated the need for there to be a pension scheme for retired multiple world champions in non-Olympic sports. Syarul, a six-time world championship winning bodybuilder, believes that athletes who have won two or more world championship titles in their respective sports should be entitled to receive such a pension. "I hope the Youth and Sports Ministry will consider providing a pension to such athletes from non-Olympic sports," said Syarul when met recently. "If an athlete wins a world title once, people can say he or she was lucky, or say that none of the big guns competed that year. "But if an athlete wins the world title two, three, four or five times, that is not luck. "I think a minimal pension amount of RM2,000 would be sufficient. There are also not that many athletes who have won multiple world titles in non-Olympic sports, we are not talking about a battalion here. "I believe this pension is very important. Athletes (once retired from competition) can coach or open an academy when they are still relatively young but what are they going to do once they reach an old age? They can't go on working forever. "I have spoken about this before but it fell on deaf ears." Besides Syarul himself, eight-time world champion Datuk Nicol David (squash) and four-time world champion Al Jufferi Jamari (pencak silat) are among those who would be eligible for the pension proposed by Syarul. Syarul believes athletes who excel at the highest level in non-Olympic sports deserve to be recognised just like their counterparts from Olympic sports. "I sympathise with athletes from non-Olympic sports," said Syarul. "Athletes from Olympic sports are taken care of like the golden child and have plenty of programmes for them. "But you have to remember that athletes from non-Olympic sports also win medals for the country consistently." Olympic gold, silver and bronze medallists receive a lifetime pension of RM5,000, RM3,000 and RM2,000 respectively via the National Athletes Incentive Scheme. The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) has in recent years suggested setting up a trust fund to fund an expanded pension scheme for all Malaysian athletes. The scheme, however, has yet to get off the ground.