T'ganu Eyes Top-Three Finish At SUKMA 2026

KUALA NERUS, Feb 5 (Bernama) -- Terengganu has set a target of finishing among the top three teams at the 2026 Malaysia Games (SUKMA) in Selangor this August.

Terengganu State Sports Council (MSNT) director Ahmad Shahrizal Yahaya said they are in the final stage of determining the medal target for the contingent this time.

He said for the 22nd edition of the Games, Terengganu will field more than 500 athletes in 35 of the 37 events contested.

“At SUKMA 2024 in Sarawak, the Terengganu contingent finished fifth with a haul of 41 gold, 36 silver and 47 bronze medals.

“For this edition, we are eyeing a realistic top-three finish rather than becoming overall champions, so as not to put excessive pressure on the athletes, 60 per cent of whom are new faces,” he said at the appointment ceremony for the contingent’s chef de mission, sports patrons and adoptive departments for SUKMA 2026 here last night.

The presentation of appointment letters was officiated by Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, accompanied by state Youth, Sports and Non-Governmental Organisations Development Committee chairman Hishamuddin Abdul Karim.

At the ceremony, Deputy State Secretary (Development) Datuk Rosli Latif was appointed as the SUKMA 2026 chef de mission.

Ahmad Shahrizal said the Terengganu contingent is currently in the third phase of preparations and training, which focuses on three main strategies -- selecting the strongest athletes, increasing participation in competitions domestically and overseas, and conducting closed-door training with other teams.

“With an allocation of RM5 million from the state government for SUKMA preparations, we hope the team’s journey towards achieving the set target will run more smoothly,” he said.

At the ceremony, Ahmad Samsuri also presented incentives under the National Representative Scheme and victory rewards totalling RM239,300 to 102 Terengganu athletes who competed in the 2025 SEA Games from Dec 9 to 20 last year and the 2025 ASEAN Para Games held from Jan 20 to 26.

He said 20 athletes from Terengganu contributed seven gold, seven silver and 13 bronze medals for the country at the 2025 SEA Games, while Terengganu athletes at the 2025 ASEAN Para Games won four gold, seven silver and three bronze medals.

“Among the sports that contributed medals were cycling, gymnastics, pencak silat, archery, hockey, para badminton, para athletics and para table tennis.

“These incentives are a token of appreciation from the state government for the athletes’ efforts in bringing honour to the nation and the state. This achievement is better than that recorded at the same Games in Cambodia in 2023,” he said.

-- BERNAMA