KLANG, Aug 24 — The roar of supporters can be like having a 12th player, giving athletes an extra surge of motivation when facing fierce competition.
That is the view of Noraliya Norazmi, 19, who is serving as a SUKMA 2026 volunteer at the Bayuemas Lawn Bowls Complex here.
The retail management student at Politeknik Metro Kuala Lumpur said she signed up as a volunteer to gain new experiences while playing her part in making the country’s biggest sporting event a success.
“Our role as supporters is to encourage and provide moral support, especially to Selangor athletes. So, we cheer loudly whenever the players put on a great performance.
“Those cheers are like a morale boost for them, especially since we are competing on home ground,” she told Media Selangor.
Meanwhile, another volunteer, Nor Amylia Maztura Mazran, 41, who is stationed at the National Velodrome in Nilai, said the presence of supporters was important in lifting the spirits of athletes competing for their state.
The full-time housewife from Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi, Sepang, answered the Selangor government’s call for volunteers by signing up with her husband, Khairul Ramli.
“Having a cheering squad can help athletes by giving them encouragement and motivation.
“The cheers and support can boost athletes’ confidence, ease their nerves and help them stay focused throughout the competition. It also makes them feel appreciated and reminds them that they are not fighting alone,” she said.
Nor Amylia hopes Selangor can emerge as the overall champion of this year’s SUKMA.
SUKMA Selangor 2026 started on August 15 and ends today, with about 10,000 volunteers serving across SUKMA and Para SUKMA Selangor 2026 in various areas, including technical operations, logistics and competition management.
A total of 469 events across 37 sports are being contested at SUKMA, while Para SUKMA will feature 316 events across 10 sports and is scheduled to take place from September 5 to 14.
