KUCHING: Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said that Sarawak has been given the leeway to add another four sporting events.
Abdul Karim revealed that the decision was made during the SUKMA supreme council meeting in Kuala Lumpur held on March 16 where Sarawak was announced as the host for the next SUKMA.
“From what I have been told is that the host state is not allowed to add more sporting events but the recent meeting we asked to be given the leeway to add and it was approved.
“We brought up esports in the discussion as it is popular among the youth these days, along with boxing, Muaythai and petanque.
“These additional four sporting events will be added into the event next year, on top of the main 28 games which have been the staple for SUKMA,” he told the reporters during the press conference after officiating at the prize giving ceremony of 38th Premier Sarawak Cup ITF World Tennis Tour Junior J300 (J1) held at Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association (SLTA) Centre here today.
The 28 main sporting events are aquatic (diving and swimming), archery, badminton, basketball, cycling (track and road), fencing, football, golf, gymnastics (artistic and rhythmic), hockey, judo, karate, lawn bowl, netball, pencak silat (martial arts), rugby, sailing, shooting, squash, taekwondo, table tennis, tennis, tenpin bowling, volleyball, weightlifting, and wushu.
Abdul Karim added that Sarawak government will have a meeting soon to discuss on SUKMA 2024.
“We will discuss about the details of the event and what I would like to see is SUKMA not just being held in Kuching but spread out throughout the entire Sarawak.
“We want others outside of Kuching to benefit from the economic spin-off and to also give them a chance to support Sarawak in SUKMA.
“I hope that the venues included will involve facilities in Kota Samarahan, Sri Aman, Betong, Sibu and Miri,” he said.
