NIBONG TEBAL, 16 April 2026 – The Varsity Sports Championship (VSC) 2026, launched today, serves as a key platform in strengthening high-performance sports development in higher education institutions (HEIs), while acting as a strategic avenue to nurture student-athletes capable of competing at the international level.

Deputy Secretary-General (Policy) of the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), Dato’ Dr. Haji Megat Sany Megat Ahmad Supian, said that VSC is a new model of sports event organisation, rebranded from the Main Sports Programme implemented by the ministry since 2010.

According to him, introduced in 2025, VSC emphasises consistent and high-performance sporting events to ensure that HEI athletes are always at their best to compete at the highest level.

He added that the championship also serves as a primary platform in preparing potential athletes to contribute medals at international sporting events such as the ASEAN University Games (AUG), World University Games (WUG), SEA Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and the Olympic Games.

“For 2026, VSC serves as a highly effective competitive platform, particularly in preparation for Malaysia as the host of the ASEAN University Games (AUG) 2026 scheduled to take place at the end of the year,” he said.

He also expressed hope that all programmes and competitions under VSC, including the ongoing Circuit 1 Varsity Sepaktakraw League and the Higher Education Institutions Sports Games (SUKIPT), will have a significant impact on enhancing the performance of HEI athletes throughout the year.

Meanwhile, Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Professor Dato’ Seri Ir. Dr. Abdul Rahman Mohamed, said the university is honoured to be entrusted as the host for Circuit 1 Varsity Sepaktakraw League (Northern Zone), which brings together athletes from various universities nationwide from April 14 to 18, 2026 at the Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Engineering Campus.

He noted that USM, as a public university, consistently supports the aspirations of the Ministry of Higher Education in strengthening sports development at the higher education level, including by providing suitable space and platforms for such programmes to be implemented comprehensively.

He added that USM’s involvement reflects its commitment to serving as a strategic partner to the ministry and organisers in advancing the national agenda for talent and human capital development.

“In addition, this championship provides an opportunity for student-athletes to compete in a structured environment, and USM remains committed to ensuring that all necessary facilities and support are in place to guarantee the smooth organisation of the event,” he said.

He emphasised that USM will continue to support MOHE’s efforts in strengthening sports development at the higher education level, in line with the aspiration to produce well-balanced and competitive graduates.

Text: Siti Faizah Abd Halim/Photo: Muhammad Taufik Abdul Rahman