PETALING JAYA: Sports skills showcased online due to Covid-19 restrictions can be used as a platform to identify new talents and prepare student athletes for future competitions, says Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin.
The Education Minister said the online Malaysia School Sports Council (MSSM) 2021 competition which just concluded is an example of a competition that attracted the participation of 46,269 student athletes.
"The Covid-19 pandemic which began in early 2020 has deeply affected the education and social sector, especially when the government enforced the movement control order to curb the spread of Covid-19," he said.
Radzi then said that this meant that sport activities could not be carried out, including face-to-face training and competitions.
"This, however, did not act as a hindrance for teachers to be more creative and benefit from technology to continue (their students') education, including honing students' sporting skills," added Radzi.
"Therefore, the ministry organised sports competitions online to ensure students remain active and have the opportunity to showcase their sporting talents despite being at home," he said during the online Sports Awards Ceremony Education Ministry-Malaysia School Sports Council-Milo (KPM-MSSM-MILO) 2019 on Thursday (Dec 2).
He said the establishment of sports schools gives talented students wider opportunities to receive systematic training and guidance to be able to compete in international competitions.
Many student athletes, he said, have made the country proud by participating in international competitions, including the Olympics, which has seen the participation of 59 student athletes from Bukit Jalil Sports School from 2000 to 2020.
"Well done and congratulations to 16 recipients of the Sports Awards Ceremony KPM-MSSM-Milo 2019, including the three states who received the MSSM Champion Award 2019.
"We hope this recognition will be a motivator for student athletes and coaches to compete at a higher level," he added.