Melaka: Melaka has registered 790 athletes on its long list as early preparation for the 22nd Malaysia Games (SUKMA) in Selangor next year. State Youth, Sports and Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) Committee chairman Datuk V.P. Shanmugam mentioned that this extensive list will help Melaka assess athletes' potential and select the best candidates for the short list, ensuring that they represent the state rather than opting to represent other states.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the state is actively organizing competitions and training sessions to identify new talent and evaluate current athletes. This effort aims to ensure strong representation across the 37 sports that will be contested in the Selangor SUKMA. Datuk V.P. Shanmugam shared these insights with reporters at the 39th Melaka State Sports Award ceremony.

He further revealed that the Melaka State Sports Council has engaged full-time and part-time coaches to bolster their preparations. The aim is to improve upon their previous medal tally from the 2024 Sarawak SUKMA, where they achieved 17 golds, 23 silvers, and 30 bronzes.

Additionally, the state government has allocated RM1.4 million for the maintenance and refurbishment of sports facilities. Each state constituency has been provided RM50,000 to ensure the safety and usability of older facilities, such as futsal and sepak takraw courts, most of which were constructed in 2009.