SINTOK: Athletes participating in the 2024 Higher Education Institution Games (Sukipt) have been challenged to aim high for the RM20,000 cash reward for breaking national records during this year's edition.
Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapha Sakmud said since it was announced by then prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri at the 2022 edition, none of them has managed to walk home with the award.
"That's why we want to challenge all athletes. If our athletes break a record, they will get RM20,000, which has been kept since the previous editions.
"So we challenge all athletes to show their capability. Reach their highest level so they can break our (national) records, and we will award RM20,000 to them," he told reporters after opening Sukipt 2024 at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) main campus here today.
Sukipt is a biennial event that is part of the Higher Education Ministry's efforts to develop and advance sports at the university, national, and international levels in an integrated manner.
Its participation is open to all university athletes in Malaysia.
This year's edition will feature 223 gold medals across 28 sporting events, and more than 6,000 athletes from 74 contingents are participating.
Commenting further, Mustapha hoped that Sukipt will be a warm-up event for athletes who will compete in this year's Paris Olympics and the 2026 Asean University Games to be held here in Malaysia.
"The most important thing is that we want to ensure their performance keeps improving and we are ready to face challenges.
"We are preparing our athletes for the Olympics, there are eight of them, and we want them to be ready to bring glory to our country.
"Our university team is also the host for the Asean University Games, so we want to be the champions of the tournament," he added.
Meanwhile, UUM vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Mohd Foad Sakdan said Sukipt also fosters unity and networking among higher education institutions.
"I hope that the games will run smoothly and that this sixth edition will produce more high-performing university athletes with a champion mindset to represent the country at higher levels," he added.