National men's hockey head coach Sarjit Singh has declared that the "Speedy Tigers" must secure maximum points in their opening matches at the World Cup Qualifiers in Cairo to keep their 2026 World Cup hopes alive. The team is under immense pressure to perform following a string of inconsistent results. Adding to the stakes, former Malaysia coach Roelant Oltmans has been appointed to lead rivals Pakistan in the same qualifying tournament, which begins on 1 March 2026. 

The national women's team, the "Speedy Tigress," has embarked on its journey to Santiago, Chile, for their own World Cup Qualifiers. Coach Mohd Nasihin Nubli Ibrahim is using the tournament primarily for "performance and process," fielding six players from the 2025 Junior World Cup squad to gain high-level international exposure. 

Meanwhile, in local developments, the Selangor government has proposed re-including silambam, petanque, and Muay Thai in the 2026 Malaysia Games (Sukma) following appeals from various sports bodies. This proposal aims to drive national sports development and promote unity through traditional and emerging disciplines.