KUALA LUMPUR: Former National Sports Council (NSC) director-general Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail has called for the removal of age restrictions for athletes competing in the Malaysia Games (Sukma).
He believes this change would make the Games more competitive and help more elite athletes emerge on the national stage.
Shapawi noted that the current age group for Sukma athletes, which was first introduced in 1986, overlaps with existing competitions like the Malaysian Schools Sports Council (MSSM) and Malaysian University Sports Council (MASUM) championships.
"State sports bodies cannot manage this alone. They require the support of state governments, which have traditionally prioritised preparations for Sukma, still focused on junior athletes under the age of 21," he said.
"Most states disengage when their athletes surpass the Sukma age limit or when they are selected for national junior or backup teams, as they lack resources to continue supporting these athletes."
He argued that extending support to senior athletes who have aged out of Sukma could create new opportunities and reduce Malaysia's reliance on the same group of athletes for international competitions.
Recent reports have highlighted Malaysia's continued dependence on veteran athletes in the quest for its first Olympic gold medal.
Sports analyst Asan Ahmad observed that the national contingent still relies heavily on seasoned athletes, as seen in the recent Paris Olympics.
Shapawi suggested Malaysia could look to Indonesia's Pekan Olahraga Nasional (PON) for inspiration.
PON, a multi-sport event with no age limit, serves as a platform for selecting the best athletes to represent Indonesia at major events like the Sea Games and Asian Games.
"When a prestigious event like this is held, competing states will prepare more rigorously to achieve success, which 'forces' them to field their best athletes," he said. "This collaborative approach would expand the pool of potential athletes, reduce dependence on national sports associations to develop training programmes, and lead to significant cost savings.
"Most importantly, the level of competition at the local level would be higher. If this approach succeeds, it could revolutionise the sports landscape in our country." – BERNAMA