KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia Singapore Sikh Sports Council (MSSSC) wants to set the record straight about an article that appeared in the New Straits Times on June 2, 2024.
The said article claimed that there was no development programmes for athletes in the Sikh Festival of Sports and that the officials have no knowledge of sports.
MSSSC honorary secretary Keshmahinder Singh refuted these allegations, and gave an insight into the workings of the council.
"Firstly, our MSSSC exco consists of office bearers who have played sports for state and national. They are currently active in their respective state associations like as president, vice president, hon. secretary and hon. treasurer with experience of eight years to 20 years.
"They have knowledge of the game rules and they are our game convenors to assist the organising state during the tournament.
"The development programme is under the states. They raise money for the games and use it for their development programme. This benefits the states in developing players and representing their states.
"States currently active in producing players are Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Perak and Penang.
"The new affiliate of MSSSC is from Sarawak. They participated in golf in 2023 and 2024. They said in 2025 they will be participating in more games.
"This year, the host, Kuala Lumpur Sikh Sports & Recreation Club, organised more games like hockey veteran, football veteran, netball Under-18, netball Under-13, darts and pools.
"Our Malaysia Singapore Sikh Sports Council awards the states to host the Gurdwara Cup & Sikh Festival of Sports, a way for them to raise money, and the Sikh community is aware of the games in their states."