SHAH ALAM, Aug 5 — Athletes representing Selangor at the 2026 Malaysia Games (SUKMA) have undergone a rigorous and transparent selection process based on a merit scoring system to ensure the state's success at the biennial sporting event.
State executive councillor for youth, sports and entrepreneurship Najwan Halimi said the selection process conducted by the Selangor State Sports Council (MSN Selangor) prioritised athletes who demonstrated high levels of discipline and completed the required training programmes and modules.
"They must complete comprehensive training programmes and follow a holistic development plan. This means there is no room for mistakes. In the past, there may have been issues of favouritism, connections or cronyism.
"We now emphasise selection based on performance. Athletes must undergo training, demonstrate discipline by following their coaches' instructions and maintain their fitness. MSN Selangor also adopts sports science, where every aspect is measured.
"If we have a talented athlete who lacks discipline during training, they will not be selected. Athletes cannot afford to take this lightly. We want to ensure they are chosen based on merit scores as well as the necessary qualifications," he told Media Selangor.
The 22nd edition of SUKMA will feature 469 events across 37 sports in 52 venues spanning nine districts throughout Selangor from August 15 to 24.
The Para SUKMA Games will be held from September 5 to 14, featuring 369 events across 10 sports, including swimming, athletics, badminton, table tennis, tenpin bowling, lawn bowls and archery.
The opening ceremony is scheduled to take place at Dataran Kemerdekaan Shah Alam. Besides the 15 state contingents, Brunei Darussalam will also participate as an invited contingent.
This year's SUKMA is the country's second-last edition before Kelantan hosts the Games in 2028. As host, Selangor has set a target of 80 gold medals.
