KUCHING: The decision on whether the Women's Team Regu Sepak Takraw event will continue or be dropped from the 21st Malaysia Games (SUKMA XXI) Sarawak 2024 will be determined at the National Level SUKMA Committee meeting on July 18.

Sarawak Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said that based on the latest shortlist, only five states have submitted entries for the event, namely Selangor, Perak, Penang, Sabah, and Sarawak.

As a result, he mentioned that the event might have to be dropped as it does not meet the requirement of a minimum of six participating states.

“However, on July 18, a National SUKMA Committee meeting will decide whether the event will be reinstated or dropped due to the insufficient number of states, as five states have registered and only one more state is needed to meet the requirement,” he said.

He said this in a press conference after chairing the SUKMA XXI Sarawak 2024 Main Committee Meeting at a leading hotel here, on Tuesday.

Dato Sri Abdul Karim also expressed his hope and willingness to accept the final decision later.

“As of today, there are 487 entries for SUKMA sports events. If sepak takraw is included, the total will be 488.

“We are waiting for the outcome of this request. I understand that athletes from the states in Peninsular Malaysia have already bought tickets and made preparations.

“If the event is dropped, they will surely be disappointed, as they have been preparing for years or months to participate in this event.

“I hope the upcoming meeting will consider this perspective, given the participation of the five states. However, I will accept any decision made later,” he said.

Also present were Sarawak Deputy Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development and Chef de Mission of the Sarawak SUKMA XXI Contingent, Dato Gerald Rentap Jabu, Sarawak Deputy Minister for Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development and Chef de Mission of the Sarawak Para SUKMA XXI Contingent, Datuk Mohammad Razi Sitam, Sarawak Deputy Minister for Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development, Datuk Rosey Yunus, Sarawak Deputy Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, Datuk Dr Ripin Lamat, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Malaysia, Ts. Dr Nagulendran Kangayatkarasu, Sarawak Deputy State Secretary (Operation) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the SUKMA XXI Sarawak 2024 Secretariat, Datu Hii Chang Kee, Director General of the National Sports Council Malaysia, Abdul Rashid Yaakub, Permanent Secretary to the Sarawak Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, Morshidi Federick, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development, Datu Felicia Tan Ya Hua, and CEO of the Sarawak Sports Corporation and Director of the Sarawak State Sports Council, Awang Putrayusrie Awang Redzuan. -UKASnews