KUALA LUMPUR – Instead of opening the Malaysia Games (Sukma) to athletes of all ages, the National Sports Council (NSC) is urging sports associations to focus on strengthening their national championships.
NSC deputy director-general Jefri Ngadirin emphasised that national championships provide an ideal platform for senior athletes to showcase their skills without overshadowing younger competitors who are gaining experience and exposure at Sukma.
Jefri also highlighted a concerning trend: few sports associations are currently organising national-level competitions.
“I believe sports associations need to take on the responsibility of organising more open-age national competitions. This would create additional opportunities for athletes over 21 to compete.
“If associations do not fulfil this role, we risk losing valuable platforms. We should not disrupt the Sukma format simply because the necessary competitions are not being organised.
“Not many associations are organising national championships, let alone national youth events.
“Although funding options like matching sports grants and NSC schemes are available, they have not been fully utilised,” Jefri told Scoop.
The Youth and Sports Ministry has allocated RM50 million in matching sports grants for 2024 to support the organisation of sports activities.
Previously, former NSC director-general Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail suggested removing the age limit for athletes at Sukma to allow for more competitive play and the potential development of more elite athletes for higher levels of competition.
In the 2022 Kuala Lumpur edition, the NSC raised the age limit for participants to under 23 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, now that conditions have improved, the age limit for Sukma has returned to its original threshold of under 21.
“Since its inception, Sukma has focused on athletes under 21 to identify and nurture young talent. Senior athletes already have other platforms, such as national and international championships and the Sea Games, so Sukma is not meant for them.
“Sukma is designed to spotlight young athletes and integrate them into the national squad. Without such opportunities, these young talents would lack other competitive platforms.
“In contrast, at Sukma Kuala Lumpur in 2022, many competitors were aged 23, forcing younger athletes to compete against more experienced rivals, which limited the success of emerging talents,” he added. – August 26, 2024