Over 2,000 Athletes, Officials Take Part In MASUM Sports Carnival 2025

KUALA NERUS, Sept 17 (Bernama) -- A total of 2,342 athletes and officials from 20 public universities across the country have gathered in Terengganu for the Malaysian Universities Sports Council (MASUM) Carnival, which runs from Sept 15 to 20.

The biennial games feature 10 events, including volleyball, beach volleyball, lawn bowls, softball, and pétanque.

Other events include chess, silat, taekwondo, archery, and karate, taking place at two main venues, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) and Universiti Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA).

Higher Education director-general Datuk Prof Dr Azlinda Azman said the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) is committed to raising the standard of sports in the country, including by organising and taking part in major national and international tournaments.

She said the ministry will fully support sports development in higher learning institutions (IPTs), which are seen as key to sustaining the success of national athletes at the highest level.

“The MASUM Sports Carnival is a great platform for students to showcase their talent and potential, paving the way for them to compete at higher levels and eventually represent MASUM and the country on the international stage.

“This is where universities, MASUM, and MOHE play a role in ensuring athletes can maintain their excellence when they enter IPTs,” she said at the opening of the MASUM Sports Carnival 2025 at UMT last night.

UMT and UniSZA vice chancellors, Prof Dr Mohd Zamri Ibrahim and Prof Datuk Dr Fadzli Adam, were also in attendance.

Azlinda also congratulated MASUM athletes on their success at the 10th Malaysian Educational Institutions Games (SIPMA), held from Sept 1 to 7, where they defended their championship title with a total of 42 gold, 27 silver, and 34 bronze medals.

“Even more encouraging, MASUM athlete Jonah Chang from Universiti Malaya set a new national record in the shot put,” she said.

-- BERNAMA