KUALA LUMPUR — Sports governing bodies across the country should learn from the Sepaktakraw Association of Malaysia (PSM) on how effective management, strong leadership and athlete commitment can translate into success on the international stage, says Youth and Sports Minister Dr Taufiq Johari.
He said PSM’s resurgence in recent years, culminating in Malaysia ending a 36-year wait for gold in the men’s team regu event at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, showed what could be achieved when an association and its athletes worked towards a common goal.
Taufiq said PSM’s success was even more significant given the challenges and setbacks the association had faced before rebuilding its standing in the sport.
“I would like to commend and congratulate PSM, its president Datuk Sumali Reduan and the entire team, including the coaches and sepak takraw athletes.
“I believe this reflects very good management by a sports association, matched by the commitment shown by the sepak takraw athletes.
“This is something that all other sports associations should emulate, and I believe that with strength and unity, we can achieve greater success overall, insya-Allah,” he told reporters after welcoming the national sepak takraw team home from Japan at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 early today.
Also present were National Sports Council (NSC) deputy director-general (management) Puah Pei Ling, PSM deputy president Datuk Seri Abdul Puhat Mat Nayan and Telekom Malaysia Berhad chief corporate officer Nor Fadhilah Mohd Ali.
Malaysia ended its campaign in Aichi-Nagoya with two medals in sepak takraw, winning gold in the men’s team regu event and silver in the regu event after losing to traditional rivals Thailand in the final.
The team regu gold ended Malaysia’s 36-year wait for the top prize in the event, underlining the progress made by PSM after years of rebuilding.
Taufiq said the Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) was also open to discussions on increasing funding for sports that had demonstrated genuine potential to deliver gold medals at major international competitions.
He said KBS had taken a different approach by setting targets based on the number of gold medals to be won, rather than focusing solely on the overall medal tally.
“We have taken the bold step of setting targets based on the number of gold medals, rather than just the total number of medals.
“This approach will continue at future competitions, including the 2027 SEA Games, when Malaysia will be the host, as well as in our ambition to qualify for the Olympics and eventually win our first Olympic gold,” he said.
Taufiq said the government would continue to assess the needs and potential of individual sports, with funding decisions guided by their ability to produce sustained performances and medals at major international competitions. – October 1, 2026