A high-performance programme has been rolled out for Sarawak’s Malaysia Games (SUKMA) 2026 athletes, focusing on science-based preparation including injury screening, recovery monitoring and mental conditioning.
The initiative is part of the state’s comprehensive preparation strategy ahead of SUKMA which will be held from Aug 15 to 24 across nine districts in Selangor and Nilai, Negeri Sembilan.
Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the Games were confirmed by the Malaysia Games Supreme Committee on April 30 and will be conducted in a more moderate and cost-effective format while maintaining the full roster of sports and events.
“A total of 37 sports will be contested, with 468 gold medals up for contention, comprising 239 men’s events, 211 women’s events and 18 mixed events.
“Following the close of registration on Feb 13, 2026, a total of 1,178 athletes have been listed under the SUKMA longlist. Sarawak will compete in all disciplines except women’s football and women’s softball,” he said during his winding-up speech at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today (May 19).
In preparation, Sarawak State Sports Council (MSNS) conducted the Sarawak Contingent Champion Camp from May 1 to 7 at Kem Putra Sentosa, Sematan, aimed at strengthening athletes’ physical conditioning, mental resilience and team cohesion.
Abdul Karim said that a “100 Days Countdown to SUKMA” programme was also held to build motivation, unity and competitive momentum among athletes and officials
He then said that the athletes are receiving continuous exposure through competitions at the state, national, and international levels to ensure they
remain competitive and performance-ready.
“To further enhance results, a High-Performance Programme has been implemented, which adopts a science-based approach,” he said.
The High-Performance Programme introduced for Sarawak’s contingent adopts a sports science-driven approach, covering five key areas- fitness and injury screening, recovery monitoring; body composition analysis; sports psychology support; and anti-doping education.
