SHAH ALAM — The 2026 Malaysia Games (SUKMA) in Selangor will feature the new sports of e-sports, chess, cricket and kabaddi, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said.

She shared that the four sports were approved at the SUKMA Supreme Council meeting that she chaired today, adding that boxing and softball were also selected as mandatory sports for SUKMA effective from the 2026 edition.

“This brings the number of mandatory sports to 30. With the four additional sports approved for SUKMA 2026, 34 sports will be contested,” she said at a media conference after chairing the meeting here today, as she noted that the decision was final and no additional appeals would be entertained.

This would ensure that the organiser had sufficient time to prepare for the Games, scheduled for Aug 15 to 24, 2026 in Selangor, she added.

The meeting today also approved the official participation of the Brunei Darussalam contingent in SUKMA 2026, but the number of sports will be determined by a special technical committee soon, while the State Youth and Sports Exco meeting, which was also held today, agreed that state participation for the Para SUKMA would be managed by state sports councils from 2026, replacing the state youth and sports department to ensure preparation of para athletes was more strategic and focused.