Sarawak to nurture Sukma talents for national, international stage

Sarawak contingent during the parade on Para Sukma Sarawak opening ceremony. Photo credit: Ukas

By Karen Bong

KUCHING, Oct 20: Athletes who demonstrate potential at the 2026 Malaysia Games (Sukma) will be identified for continued development through structured programmes tailored to their performance, potential and individual needs, to help them progress to the national and ultimately, international level.

Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the Sarawak government, through his ministry, the Sarawak Sports Corporation (SSC) and the National Sports Council of Sarawak (MSN Sarawak), would strengthen the athlete development pathway from grassroots and junior levels to Sukma and beyond.

“The focus is to ensure promising young athletes did not lose momentum after the Games, but continued to receive the necessary support and opportunities to advance their sporting careers,” he said when delivering his ministerial winding up speech at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUNS) sitting today.

He said the development programmes would include greater exposure to quality competitions, centralised and decentralised training camps, technical and coaching support, performance monitoring, as well as access to sports science and sports medicine services where appropriate.

SSC and MSN Sarawak would also work closely with the respective sports associations to establish clearer athlete development plans, complete with appropriate performance targets and regular monitoring.

“Through this approach, athlete development will be treated as a continuous and long-term process, rather than being focused only on preparation for the next Sukma,” he said.

At Sukma Selangor 2026, held from Aug 15 to 24, Sarawak secured 41 gold, 40 silver and 62 bronze medals to finish fourth overall.

Abdul Karim said while the medal tally remained an important measure of competitive performance, the government viewed the results within the broader context of long-term athlete development and the sustainability of Sarawak’s sports ecosystem.

He said the achievement reflected the determination and fighting spirit of the athletes, the dedication of coaches and officials, and Sarawak government’s continued commitment to sports development.

The government was also encouraged by Sarawakian athletes who had achieved success beyond the Sukma platform, demonstrating their ability to compete not only at national level but also in regional and international competitions.

However, he said the Sukma 2026 results had also highlighted areas requiring further attention, particularly as many of Sarawak’s athletes belonged to the junior and emerging groups.

These included greater competition exposure, improved mental preparedness and confidence, stronger grassroots talent development, enhanced coaching support and better access to regular, high-quality competitions.

“Sarawak’s geographical size also posed additional challenges in identifying and nurturing sporting talent across all divisions,” he noted.

To address these challenges, Abdul Karim emphasised that the ministry and its agencies would focus on strengthening the entire athlete development pipeline, ensuring promising athletes received sustained support beyond a single competition cycle.

Abdul Karim said the ultimate objective was to build a more sustainable sports ecosystem that could consistently produce athletes capable of progressing from State-level competition to national representation and, eventually, the international stage. — DayakDaily