Masters category by year’s end

KUCHING: The National Sports Council (MSN) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) will be introducing a ‘masters category’ at the end of this year so that Malaysia Games (SUKMA) athletes over the age of 21 still have a platform to compete in Malaysia.

Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said her ministry will look into this matter because athletes’ talents do not end at the age of 21.

Citing the example of the country’s diving queen, Yeoh mentioned that Datuk Pandelela Rinong took about 10 years to progress from SUKMA to the Olympics and bring home a medal.

As such, she said it is not an easy journey, and her ministry’s task is to remove any obstacles in their path to make their journey smoother.

Yeoh said this to reporters after watching the mixed doubles semifinal match between Sarawak and Sarawak at the Sarawak Squash Centre today (Aug18).

In the match, Sarawak’s mixed doubles team, Nathalie Shu and Harith Danial Jefri, defeated teammates Eugenia David and Altamis Aqhar Sallam 8-11, 11-8, 11-9.

The final match for the mixed doubles medal will be decided today.

“Each State Executive Council and state government are requested to invest in women’s sports development programs,” she said.

She said this when met by reporters after watching the mixed doubles match between Sarawak and Sarawak at the Sarawak Squash Centre here today.

Yeoh said she wants to encourage the public to reduce stereotypes and prejudices against women.

She stated that many current regulations do not focus on women in sports.

Therefore, she said at this SUKMA event, all sports are open to the participation of female athletes.

Commenting on the SUKMA event, Yeoh said everything is going smoothly, and she congratulated the Sarawak government for organising the opening ceremony yesterday.