KUALA LUMPUR, October 22 2026,The Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) will focus on developing 20 high-performance sports for the 2025–2028 period to strengthen Malaysia’s medal prospects at major international competitions, particularly the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Mordi Bimol said the sports were selected by the Cabinet Committee on Sports Development (JKPS) to ensure a more structured approach to nurturing athletes, from talent identification to elite-level preparation.
He said the selection considered existing achievements, athletes’ potential, training requirements and opportunities to compete internationally.
The performance-based strategy would allow the government to direct resources and support towards sports and athletes with medal potential, while taking into account their chances of qualifying for major competitions.
Mordi said the National Sports Council (MSN) was working with National Sports Associations (PSK) and the National Sports Institute (ISN) to enhance coaching quality and provide stronger sports science and sports medicine support.
Preparations for the 2028 Olympics are being carried out through three initiatives: the Podium Programme, Road to Gold (RTG) Programme and Fast Track Programme.
The Podium Programme received RM70 million in 2026 and supports 415 athletes across 20 sports through full-time training for international competitions.
The RTG Programme, allocated RM12 million this year under the 13th Malaysia Plan, supports 15 athletes in weightlifting, badminton, track cycling and squash. The programme aims to help Malaysia win its first Olympic gold medal.
Meanwhile, the Fast Track Programme, which extends the RTG initiative, targets athletes aged 25 and below who rank among the world’s top 20 and have secured medals at the Asian level. Four athletes from track cycling and archery are currently in the programme.
Mordi said preparations for Los Angeles 2028 would be implemented in phases, guided by performance data and international benchmarks. The approach will prioritise targeted training, international competition exposure, sports science, medical support and continuous performance monitoring.
-BERNAMA
