UMP hosts MASUM Sports Tournament Phase 1

KUANTAN, 24 March 2022 - After two years of MASUM Sports Tournament being suspended, the MASUM Phase 1 sports carnival was held face-to-face involving the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) and Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) as the host.

This tournament managed to bring together nearly 1,000 athletes, contingent officers, technical personnel and volunteers in compliance with the SOPs set by the Sports Commissioner, National Security Council (MKN) and the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH).

The new norm at this tournament is that all sports only allow athletes, managers, coaches and team officials involved in the contested event to be at the competition venue as scheduled.

No supporters or non-contingents are allowed to be at the competition venue.

The venue will be sanitised after the end of the competition every day in collaboration with the Pahang Fire and Rescue Department.

The programme was officiated by the Secretary of Policy Planning and Research Division, Ministry of Higher Education, Dato’ Shaharuddin Abu Sohot accompanied by the UMP Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Ts. Dr. Yuserrie Zainuddin cum the Chairman of the Malaysian Universities Sports Council (MASUM).

According to Dato’ Shaharuddin, sports has now been given the same recognition, respect and promotion as other social sectors to achieve the goals of continuous national development, unity and stability.

“MOHE deeply appreciates the commitment and contribution of MASUM and all IPT sports personnel in boosting national sports at the regional and international levels.

“The Ministry will continue to give full support to any sports programme that helps to develop sports in IPT and the country,” he said in his speech at the opening ceremony last night.

According to Professor Dato’ Ts. Dr. Yuserrie, a total of 37 gold, silver and bronze medals are offered to be won by all athletes.

“All the contested sporting events are also individual and non-contact team events.

“For four days from 24 to 27 March 2022, the UMP Campus and Kuantan city will be lively with the presence of officials and athletes from the public university contingent who will compete in four sports, namely taekwondo, silat, petanque and archery.

“Meanwhile, chess will be conducted online,” he said.

IPT athletes are among the contributors to sports participation in the country.

Based on IPT athlete engagement statistics, 36.1 per cent of IPT athletes represented the country for the 2018 Asian Games Jakarta-Palembang, while 41.7 per cent of IPT athletes represented the country in the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and 47.3 per cent at the 2019 Philippines Sea Games.

It can produce potential and competent athletes for the country.

The MASUM Carnival is also one of the platforms for the selection of athletes for two major sports tournaments, namely the World University Games (UNIVERSIADE) on 26 June to 7 July in Chengdu, China and the ASEAN University Games (AUG) which will take place from 26 July to 6 August, 2022 in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand.

By: Mimi Rabita Abdul Wahit, Corporate Communications Unit, The Office of The Vice-Chancellor

Translation by: Dr. Rozaimi Abu Samah, Engineering College/Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology