The 2026 Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Selangor will feature the additions of e-sports, chess, cricket and kabaddi.
Youth and sports minister Hannah Yeoh said the four sports were approved at the Sukma supreme council meeting she chaired today.
She said boxing and softball were also selected as mandatory Sukma sports effective 2026.
“This brings the number of mandatory sports to 30. With the four additional sports approved for Sukma 2026, 34 sports will be contested,” Bernama reported her as saying after the meeting in Shah Alam today.
Yeoh said the decision was final and no additional appeals would be entertained, ensuring the organisers will have sufficient time to prepare for the games scheduled for Aug 15-24, 2026 in Selangor.
Yeoh said the meeting today also approved the official participation of the Brunei contingent in Sukma 2026.
She said the state youth and sports exco meeting, which was also held today, agreed that state participation for the Para Sukma Games would be managed by state sports councils from 2026, replacing state departments.
This is to ensure more strategic and focused preparations of para athletes.
Yeoh said Sukma would continue developing sports for women, following the lack of female athletes and technical officials in Sukma 2024.
She said today’s meeting agreed that participation of athletes of both genders is compulsory for all open events.
Yeoh said each state contingent had been asked to appoint a female contingent head or deputy head. They must also set a 20% quota for female support officials on secretariat and medical duties, beginning 2026.
“Selangor Sukma will have at least 30% female volunteers and 20% female tournament technical officials.
“I feel these games will be very inclusive. Many will wait to see how this Sukma edition will be different from the ones before this,” she said.
