KOTA SAMARAHAN: Sports should no longer be viewed as merely a side activity in higher education, but as an integral part of developing physically, mentally and emotionally resilient graduates.
Ministry of Higher Education’s (MOHE) Deputy Secretary-General (Policy), Ahmad Rizal Adnan, said sports play an important role in shaping discipline, resilience and leadership among students while complementing their academic development.
“We want to produce athletes who are not only excellent in competition but are also knowledgeable, disciplined and capable of building a better future,” he said when officiating at the opening of SUKAN IPT Sarawak 2026 at DeTAR Putra, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) today.
Ahmad Rizal said institutions of higher learning have become an important platform for identifying and nurturing sporting talent, with many student-athletes possessing the potential to excel if given the right opportunities, guidance and support.
He said athlete development must be holistic, extending beyond physical training to include nutrition, health, mental strength, performance planning and academic balance in line with the aspirations of the Malaysia Higher Education Plan 2026-2035.
Running from July 30 to August 2, the four-day tournament features eight sports involving 28 contingents from public and private higher education institutions, polytechnics, TVET institutions, teacher education institutes and community colleges across Sarawak, with the participation of more than 2,000 athletes.
Ahmad Rizal acknowledged that Sarawak’s geographical landscape presents unique challenges for student-athletes seeking competitive exposure, but said distance should not limit opportunities for local talents to showcase their abilities.
“SUKAN IPT Sarawak provides an important platform for student-athletes in the state to compete, gain recognition and further develop their potential while strengthening collaboration among higher education institutions, coaches, sports administrators and athletes”, he said.
He added that the tournament should also serve as a platform to identify new talents, improve performance standards, and create pathways for university athletes to progress to higher levels of competition.
