Latest news with #Sukma2026
The Star
08-08-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Selangor proposes petanque, muaythai, silambam for Sukma 2026
THE Selangor State Government has officially proposed the inclusion of petanque, muaythai, and silambam in the upcoming Sukma 2026. This was announced by a statement issued by Selangor state executive councillor for youth, sports and entrepreneurship Mohd Najwan Halimi ( pic ), who is also chairman of the Sukma Selangor 2026 organising committee, on Friday (Aug 8). 'After examining all the applications, appeals and responses presented, the Selangor State Government Council chaired by the Mentri Besar today, it was decided that the Selangor Sukma secretariat submit a proposal for three additional sports to be contested in Sukma 2026. 'However, any decision regarding this proposal is subject to the agreement of all state representatives who are members of the Sukma Supreme Committee chaired by the Youth and Sports Ministry and must be finalised no later than August 15,' he said. Najwan said this proposal shows Selangor's commitment to expanding participation and empowering various sports disciplines, starting from the grassroots level to the national level. He also calls on all parties to stop any efforts to politicise sports by playing on narrow and ingrained racial sentiments. 'Sports are a field of unity that unites Malaysians across races, religions and political ideologies, and should be celebrated in a genuine and inclusive spirit of sportsmanship,' he said. Selangor, he said, is determined and committed to ensuring that the organisation of the 22nd Sukma Selangor next year will run smoothly and achieve its main goal of producing more junior athletes, in line with the government's desire to win a gold medal at the highest international sports championship, which is the 2028 Olympic Games.
Malaysiakini
08-08-2025
- Sport
- Malaysiakini
Silambam among new sports proposed for Sukma 2026
The Selangor government has proposed adding petanque, muay thai, and silambam as new sports for the 2026 Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Selangor, said state Youth, Sports and Entrepreneurship Committee chairperson Najwan Halimi. Najwan, also the Sukma 2026 Selangor Organising Committee chairperson, said the proposal will be submitted soon to the..
New Straits Times
07-08-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Yeoh: Don't racialise decision to leave out silambam from Sukma
KUALA LUMPUR: Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh has urged the public not to racialise the exclusion of silambam from the 2026 Malaysia Games (Sukma). This, she said, was as host states have always had the autonomy to select the sports they wish to feature, and Selangor was simply exercising that right. "In every edition of Sukma, the host state is free to choose the sports they want. Selangor is no different," Free Malaysia Today reported her as saying. Yeoh acknowledged the disappointment over silambam being left out, but stressed that other sports such as muay thai had also not been selected, without stirring similar racial sentiments. "What we can do at the National Sports Council (NSC) is to look into organising non-Sukma competitions. But let's not racialise the issue when we talk about sports," she said. Her remarks follow criticism by PKR Youth arts and culture executive committee member Gopiraj Nair, who called the exclusion of silambam a dismissal of Malaysia's legacy sports. He had also rejected the notion that Indian representation in other sports like kabaddi and karate was sufficient, pointing out silambam's strong grassroots following in the country. On Tuesday, Yeoh had announced that e-sports, chess, cricket and kabaddi would be among the additional sports for Sukma 2026, on top of 30 mandatory disciplines. Boxing and softball were also confirmed as compulsory sports beginning that year. With the four additions, a total of 34 sports will be contested at the Selangor-hosted edition, Yeoh had said, adding that the decision was final and no further appeals would be considered. Yeoh also revealed that the government is studying a possible shift in Sukma's format to allow for greater consistency in athlete development. "After Kelantan hosts Sukma following Selangor, the full cycle of state hosts will be completed. "We're looking into the option of having Putrajaya or the NSC as the permanent host. This will help ensure continuity and fairness in the selection of sports," she said.
The Star
05-08-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Hannah: Selangor Sukma to feature e-sports, chess, cricket and kabaddi
Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh together with Mohd Najwan Halimi, Selangor's state executive councillor for youth, sports, and entrepreneurship after the Sukma supreme council meeting. - Bernama SHAH ALAM: The 2026 Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Selangor will feature the new sports of e-sports, chess, cricket and kabaddi, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said. She shared that the four sports were approved at the Sukma supreme council meeting that she chaired today (Aug 5), adding that boxing and softball were also selected as mandatory sports for Sukma effective from the 2026 edition. "This brings the number of mandatory sports to 30. With the four additional sports approved for Sukma 2026, 34 sports will be contested,' she said at a media conference after chairing the meeting, as she noted that the decision was final and no additional appeals would be entertained. This would ensure that the organiser had sufficient time to prepare for the Games, scheduled for Aug 15-24 in Selangor. They also approved the official participation of the Brunei contingent but the number of sports will be determined by a special technical committee soon, while the State Youth and Sports Exco meeting, which was also today, agreed that state participation for the Para Sukma would be managed by state sports councils, replacing the state youth and sports department to ensure preparation of para athletes was more strategic and focused. Hannah also shared that they would continue developing sports for women following the lack of female athletes and technical officials in Sukma 2024 in Sarawak, with today's meeting agreeing that for every open event, participation of athletes of different genders were compulsory. "For sports events contested at the Olympic Games, they will be held and not dropped according to previous Sukma regulations even if the number of women athletes did not meet the minimum requirement of six states. "This is a very important departure to encourage women sports continue to provide opportunities to compete, even with the lack of investment and funds from all states,' Hannah said. Also, each state contingent has been asked to appoint a woman head of contingent or deputy head and to have a 20 per cent quota of female support officials for secretariat and medical duties beginning from Sukma 2026. "Selangor Sukma will have at least 30 per cent female volunteers and 20 per cent female tournament technical officials. I feel this is a very inclusive Games and many will wait to see how this Sukma is different from the ones before,' she added. - Bernama
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sepang International Circuit to host 2026 Malaysia Games opening ceremony
The 2026 Selangor Malaysia Games (Sukma) opening ceremony will be held at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC), marking the first time in history the event will be staged outside a stadium. SIC will also feature in the road cycling events, serving as either the start or finish line. Track cycling events will take place at the Nilai Velodrome in Negeri Sembilan. Selangor Youth, Sports and Entrepreneurship Committee chairman Mohd Najwan Halimi said the idea to hold the opening ceremony at SIC was aimed at creating something different. The inspiration came partly from the Paris Olympics, which held its opening ceremony on the Seine River. Mohd Najwan, who met senior editors and journalists in Setia Alam, Selangor, this afternoon, also revealed that the organising committee has approved upgrades to aquatics, shooting, and archery venues across the state, as well as to the Pandamaran and Petaling Jaya City Council hockey stadiums. ADVERTISEMENT No new stadiums will be built for the 2026 Sukma, which Selangor aims to organise within a budget of approximately RM200 million. 'As the main stadium at the Shah Alam Sports Complex will only be ready in 2027, we decided to create something different and memorable for the 2026 Sukma opening ceremony,' said Mohd Najwan. 'We saw how unique the Paris Olympics opening ceremony was, and we plan to deliver something just as exciting to showcase the state's uniqueness. 'Sepang International Circuit would be perfect. I can't reveal the plans yet, but we have more than a year to prepare. We don't want a clichéd opening ceremony.' Mohd Najwan added that the exact date of the 2026 Sukma will be announced by Aug 15, when the Sukma Supreme Council is also expected to unveil the complete list of sports. There will be 28 core sports, along with five optional ones. ADVERTISEMENT Among the sports under consideration are chess, Chinese chess, boxing, silambam, kabaddi, Muay Thai, cricket, softball, pickleball, and e-sports. Joining Mohd Najwan in the media engagement were two officials from the organising committee – Venu Ramadass (deputy chief executive officer-cum-chief operating officer) and Selangor Sports Council executive director Mohamad Nizam Marjugi – who also shared the state's vision for the Games.
