KUCHING: Silambam has been described as a sport that brings together communities of different races in the country.
Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said that even in Sabah and Sarawak, where Indian communities are smaller and silambam is not a traditional sport, it is participated by athletes from various racial backgrounds in the ongoing Malaysia Games (SUKMA).
“This demonstrates that this sport have the power to unite all races in Malaysia.
“I also hope that with the return of silambam and kabaddi to SUKMA, we can further empower the Indian youth,” she said.
She said this to reporters after visiting the silambam competition at the Hikmah Exchange Event Centre here yesterday (Aug 20).
Commenting on the introduction of new events in SUKMA, such as the 70-meter archery, which is not included in the Olympic Games, Hannah described it as a positive development.
“SUKMA serves as a platform to discover talent, promote sports, and encourage a healthy lifestyle. It’s essential to keep up with global trends, or we risk falling behind,” she said.
Regarding the potential inclusion of extreme sports like mountain climbing and skateboarding in future SUKMA, Hannah revealed that the National Sports Council is currently studying the feasibility.
“There is also a need for proper infrastructure and an active ecosystem before promoting new sports.
“For now, we have 103 types of sports, and we are actively promoting tax incentives to ensure parents send their children to train,” she said.
Silambam made its debut at SUKMA in the 2008 edition and was contested in the 2010, 2011, and 2013 editions.
In the 2022 SUKMA, it was showcased as a demonstration sport, and this year, it is finally offering medals.
