KANGAR, May 13 (Bernama) -- The Perlis contingent is now on the right track to realise its target of winning 20 gold medals at the 2026 Malaysia Games (SUKMA) in Selangor, scheduled to take place this August, following the state athletes’ commendable performances in various tournaments throughout last year.
Perlis Youth and Sports, Communications and Digital, Transport, Science, Technology and Innovation Committee chairman Wan Zikri Afthar Ishak said last year witnessed impressive achievements by Perlis athletes on the international stage, such as at the 33rd SEA Games Thailand 2025 and the 13th ASEAN Para Games Thailand 2025.
In addition, he said the state athletes also excelled in national-level competitions such as the Malaysian Deaf Games (SOPMA), the Malaysian Schools Sports Council (MSSM) Games as well as development and talent tournaments nationwide.
“These successes prove that sports development in Perlis is on a positive and sustainable path, beginning from grassroots development programmes, young talent identification, school-level competitions right up to the high-performance stage,” he said.
He said this while speaking at the 2025 Perlis State Athletes Appreciation Ceremony and the Launch of the Road To SUKMA & Para SUKMA 2026 Selangor at the Perlis National Department for Culture and Arts (JKKN) Auditorium here last night, officiated by the Raja Muda of Perlis Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail.
Also in attendance was the Raja Puan Muda of Perlis Tuanku Dr Hajah Lailatul Shahreen Akashah Khalil.
Wan Zikri said that at the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand, a total of 33 athletes from the state representing 13 selected sports competed for the country, and from that participation, Perlis athletes contributed two gold medals, two silver medals and nine bronze medals to the Malaysian contingent.
“These achievements came through the sports of Hockey, Taekwondo, Woodball, Teqball, Sailing, Sepak Takraw and Tennis. It proves that Perlis athletes have the capability to compete and stand alongside the best athletes in the Southeast Asian region.
“Meanwhile, at the 2025 ASEAN Para Games in Thailand, Perlis para athletes also displayed extraordinary fighting spirit by bringing home three silver medals and five bronze medals through Para Athletics and Wheelchair Fencing,” he said.
He said the state government, through the Perlis State Sports Council, allocated victory incentives totalling RM29,250 to athletes who won medals at the games as a sign of appreciation for their achievements.
Wan Zikri said the target of 20 gold medals carried significant meaning as it was in response to the Raja Muda of Perlis’ royal decree expressing hope that the state contingent would be able to achieve the target at SUKMA.
“The decree, expressed during the 2024 Perlis State-Level National Day Celebration, is a great responsibility for the entire state sports fraternity to continue working hard and elevate Perlis sports to a higher level,” he said.
-- BERNAMA
