SUKMA XX Johor 2020 set for April 2021

ISKANDAR PUTERI, 19 September: The Sukan Malaysia (SUKMA) XX Johor 2020 Supreme Committee has today decided for the PARA SUKMA Games to be held in March 2021 while SUKMA XX to go on in April 2021.

The matter was decided in the SUKMA XX Johor 2020 Supreme Committee meeting, which was chaired by the Minister of Youth and Sports, YB Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican at the Dato’ Jaafar Muhammad Building, Kota Iskandar earlier today.

“After analyzing what was presented by the Johor SUKMA Secretariat, the committee unanimously agreed that – for the first time – PARA SUKMA will be organized first, from 8th to 13th March 2021, followed by SUKMA XX Johor which will be held from 2nd to 10th April next year.

“This is taking into consideration the Malaysian Higher School Certificate (STPM) examination which will take place from 1st to 9th March that will involve 171 athletes.

“I, along with the Members of the Supreme Committee will also hold a final meeting on the confirmed dates in December,” Reezal explained.

Also present at the meeting were the Chairman of the Johor State Tourism, Youth and Sports Committee, YB Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi along with the Johor State Youth and Sports Exco Members, Ministry of Youth & Sports Chief Secretary, Datuk M Noor Azman Taib, Director General of the National Sports Council (NSC), Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail, Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) General Secretary, Dato’ Nazifuddin Najib, Chief Executive Officer of the National Sports Institute (ISN), Ahmad Faedzal Md Ramli as well as Directors of the State Sports Council.

SUKMA XX Johor 2020 will be held in three districts, namely Johor Bahru, Muar and Kota Tinggi. A total of 28 sporting events will take place in the Johor Bahru district while the Muar district will host canoeing, weightlifting and silambam. The Kota Tinggi district will be the venue for sailing and road cycling.

Besides an avenue to scout and nurture young talents, SUKMA XX Johor 2020 is also seen as an important platform for athletes, especially in hunting for a place to represent the national contingent at the 2021 SEA Games in Vietnam.

Meanwhile, a total of RM467.9 million has been spent to complete world-class facilities as well as upgrading existing facilities. A total of RM325.9 million has been spent by the state government while also receiving an allocation from the federal government amounting to RM142 million.

Among the upgraded venues include Taman Daya Hockey Stadium, Arena Larkin Aquatic Center, Pasir Gudang Municipal Council Indoor Stadium, Taman Johor Jaya Multipurpose Hall for Wushu, Johor Cricket Council Academy in Mutiara Rini and Sireh Park and Iskandar Puteri for MTB cycling.