KUALA LUMPUR, 29 August 2026 (The Capital Post) – The SUKIPT 2026 Sports Village at Universiti Malaya (UM) has brought together 7,697 athletes from higher education institutions (IPT) nationwide, providing a platform to develop sporting excellence alongside leadership, discipline and character.
Deputy Secretary-General (Policy) of the Ministry of Higher Education (KPT), YBrs. Encik Ahmad Rizal Adnan, today officiated the opening of the SUKIPT 2026 Sports Village at Las Palmas Chancellery, UM.
The village serves as a preparation centre for athletes while providing an opportunity for athletes from public, private and state IPTs from diverse backgrounds to gather, interact and develop friendship, camaraderie, tolerance and mutual respect throughout the tournament.
Ahmad Rizal said students’ achievements should not be measured solely by academic performance, as participation in sports also contributes to character development, leadership, discipline and resilience.
He said this was in line with the aspirations of the Malaysia Higher Education Education Plan (RPTM) 2026-2035 to develop human potential holistically.
The SUKIPT Sports Village programme has also been expanded through National Month celebrations and an Entrepreneurship Carnival, combining elements of sports, education, patriotism, entrepreneurship and character development to provide participants with a more comprehensive experience.
SUKIPT 2026, which runs from 28 August to 6 September, involves 64 contingents comprising 7,697 athletes, around 2,000 officials and staff, and 750 volunteers.
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Competitions are being held across 30 sports at UM and several other venues, including UNITEN, UKM, UiTM, UPNM, UniKL and TAR UMT.
Ahmad Rizal said SUKIPT also serves as a platform for the preparation and selection of IPT athletes for the ASEAN University Games, which will be held in Kuala Lumpur this December.
The tournament also provides athletes with opportunities to test their abilities, improve their performance and gain valuable competition experience.
“We are not merely looking to produce champions on the field; we want to develop individuals with a champion’s spirit,” he said during the opening ceremony, which included an opening gimmick, tournament flag-raising ceremony, presentation of souvenirs and a photo session.
Also present were UM Vice-Chancellor Dato’ Seri Prof. Ir Dr. Noor Azuan Abu Osman; Strategic Planning Division Secretary, KPT, Fazidah Mustafa; and Deputy Division Secretary, Sports Section, Strategic Planning Division, KPT, Dr. Hanafiah Ayub.
According to a post on the official Facebook page of Kementerian Pendidikan Tinggi, SUKIPT 2026 brings together athletes and contingents from various IPTs while supporting holistic student development through sports and related activities. – The Capital Post
