लेख विवरण

Ipoh, Malaysia — In a groundbreaking step for inclusive sports, Malaysia successfully hosted its first-ever National Hockey ID Competition on 28–29 June 2025 at the prestigious Sultan Azlan Shah Stadium in Ipoh, Perak. The event marked a historic debut for Hockey ID at the Special Olympics Malaysia National Games, highlighting the nation’s commitment to building sustainable and community-driven ParaHockey programs.

The competition brought together 11 teams from six Malaysian states, featuring 110 athletes with intellectual disabilities, supported by 33 trained coaches and team managers, and 16 newly trained match officials.

“This first Hockey ID competition was more than a tournament—it was a movement fueled by passion, partnership, and purpose,” said K. Nathan, National Sports Director of Special Olympics Malaysia. “We built not just skills, but confidence, inclusion, and unity.”

The tournament was the culmination of a long-term capacity-building initiative led by the FIH Academy, in collaboration with Special Olympics Malaysia, the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF), and Hockey Malaysia. The initiative included a mix of online coaching courses and practical training sessions to equip local coaches and officials with the skills necessary to support inclusive hockey.

Norman Hughes, ParaHockey Project Lead at the FIH, praised Malaysia’s strategic approach:

“Malaysia is a best-practice example for countries aiming to start Hockey ID sustainably. Their step-by-step planning—starting from training to execution—demonstrates how impactful structured development can be.”

The officiating team received an extra boost when Rob ten Cate, an umpire and educator, and Cookie Tan, FIH umpire from Singapore, provided face-to-face umpiring training in Ipoh. Their mentorship helped 10 out of 16 officials complete the full Hockey ID Umpiring Course.

Coen van Putten, educator and lead for practicum sessions, praised Malaysia’s long-term vision:

“From coaching and officiating workshops to the final whistle of the tournament, the program was exceptionally well-organized.”

The event’s success was made possible through the support of key partners:

• AHF provided essential equipment, including sticks, balls, and goalkeeper kits.

• The EU Love is All Project contributed coaching boards.

• A financial grant from Gallagher helped fund both the training programs and the competition itself.

Following Malaysia’s success, Special Olympics Bharat (India) has expressed interest in launching a similar Hockey ID program at their upcoming National Games.

This event signifies a new chapter for ParaHockey in Asia, proving that with global collaboration and strong local leadership, inclusive sports can thrive and grow.

News Source: HIF