100 UMPSA athletes to compete in 10 events at the 2024 SUKUM Championship

PEKAN, 6 August 2024 – The enthusiastic cheers of “UMPSA! Minda Juara!” echoed as 100 athletes, comprising 65 men and 35 women from Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA), prepared to represent their university in the upcoming 2024 SUKUM Championship.

These athletes will compete for victory at the 45th Malaysian Inter-University Staff Sports Championship (SUKUM), set to take place from 8 to 18 August 2024. 

Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) will serve as the host for this year’s tournament.

During the flag-handing ceremony, UMPSA Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato' Ts. Dr. Yuserrie Zainuddin, presented the UMPSA flag to Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student and Alumni Affairs), Professor Ts. Dr. Mohd Rusllim Mohamed, who also serves as the Chef de Mission for the 2024 SUKUM Championship.

Professor Dato' Ts. Dr. Yuserrie emphasized that UMPSA will be competing in 10 events out of the 23 contested.

“Among the events are cycling, women’s volleyball, golf, pétanque, sepak takraw, women’s tenpin bowling, chess, footgolf, and futsal. 

“The university aims for an improved performance compared to last year, with a target of winning three gold medals, particularly in cycling and golf,” he stated.

He further encouraged the athletes to give their best efforts to meet the medal targets and to enhance the university’s reputation.

Also present at the ceremony were Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International Affairs), Professor Ir. Ts. Dr. Ahmad Ziad Sulaiman; Registrar, Dato' Saiful Bahri Ahmad Bakarim; and Director of the Sports and Culture Centre, Mohd Aznorizamin Haji Ismail.

Additionally, the Staff Welfare and Welfare Association (SEJAHTERA) made a donation of RM5,000 to support the athletes. 

The donation was presented by SEJAHTERA President, Abd. Rahman Haji Safie.

The tournament will feature 21 contingents, including teams from the Ministry of Higher Education and 20 public universities (UA).

By: Siti Nur Azwin Zulkapri, Centre for Corporate Communications

Translation by: Aminatul Nor Mohamed Said, UMPSA Career Centre (UMPSACC)