Kuala lumpur: The National Sports Council of Malaysia (NSC) and the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) formalised a strategic partnership today with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening cooperation in high-performance sport and related professional fields.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the MoU was signed by NSC director-general Jefri Ngadirin and HKSI chief executive Tony Choi, with Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Mordi Bimol witnessing the event. Mordi stated that the agreement, effective for three years, establishes a structured framework for collaboration between the two institutions to advance sporting excellence through international cooperation.

Mordi highlighted that the partnership focuses on strengthening systems that support elite athlete performance, professional development, and institutional capacity. He emphasized the MoU, which runs from 2026 to 2029, as a commitment to improve sports performance and athlete development. Additionally, he noted that the partnership would bring added value for athletes, particularly in fencing, sailing, and combat sports.

Tony Choi expressed optimism about expanding collaboration between NSC and HKSI. He mentioned the positive feedback from the Athletes Study Tour programme, indicating a potential for closer cooperation in various areas. Choi conveyed that the partnership is just the starting point for further collaboration.

The key areas of cooperation include collaborative research in sports science and medicine; exchange of expertise and best practices in high-performance training and technology; and capacity-building initiatives involving athletes, coaches, support staff, and technical officials. The agreement also encourages joint participation in conferences, seminars, workshops, and other professional platforms to promote knowledge sharing and innovation.