KUALA LUMPUR: Three optional sports, namely muaythai, petanque and silambam, will enliven the 2026 Malaysia Games (SUKMA) in Selangor after their addition was collectively agreed upon in a special meeting of the SUKMA Supreme Committee.
The National Sports Council (NSC) in a statement yesterday announced that the special meeting was attended by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Hannah Yeoh; the Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development of Sarawak, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and the president of the Olympic Council of Malaysia, Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria.
Also present were state sports executive councillors and the chairmen of the State Sports Council.
“The addition of the three optional sports – Muaythai, Petanque and Silambam – was proposed by the Selangor State Youth, Sports and Entrepreneurship Exco who is also the chairman of 2026 SUKMA Implementing Committee, Mohd Najwan Halimi and was unanimously agreed upon by all members of the SUKMA Supreme Committee.
“With the addition, the 2026 SUKMA Selangor Games will feature 30 compulsory sports and seven optional sports and the SUKMA Supreme Committee also decided that no further proposals or appeals for the addition of sports will be considered,” according to the statement.
2026 SUKMA is scheduled to take place from Aug 15 to 24 in nine districts of Selangor.
Meanwhile, Hannah said the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) is studying the initiative to organise ‘Non-Sukma Games’ for sports that are not selected to SUKMA and the new model of organising the biennial games will be held after 2028 SUKMA Kelantan.
According to her, this is to ensure the continuity of sports and athlete development without burdening the government’s allocation in terms of organising. – BERNAMA
