SEA Games 2027: Malaysia to field top athletes
Malaysia will field its top athletes at the 2027 SEA Games, aiming for the overall title when the regional event is hosted across Sarawak, Penang, Johor and Kuala Lumpur from Sept 18 to 29, 2027.
Source: BERNAMA · olympics.com · September 23, 2026 at 7:32 PM · AI-assisted report
Single-sourcePUTRAJAYA, 24 SEPTEMBER 2026 —
Malaysia will field its top athletes at the 2027 SEA Games, aiming for the overall title when the regional event is hosted across Sarawak, Penang, Johor and Kuala Lumpur from Sept 18 to 29, 2027.
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Chef de Mission for the Peninsular cluster Datuk Iruan Zulkefli said no exemptions will be granted to the nation's leading athletes, including Asian Games and Olympic medalists with strong medal potential. He told reporters after the one-year countdown celebration in Putrajaya today that all top athletes capable of winning medals will feature.
"We will not leave behind those who have won at the Asian Games or earned Olympic medals," Iruan said. "However, our preparation for this SEA Games edition also aims to unearth new talents and fresh champions to prepare them for the LA28 Olympics."
Iruan said Malaysia will send what he described as its largest-ever contingent, with around 1,300 athletes expected to compete. He said the large squad gives the country a chance to win gold through experienced athletes while allowing younger competitors to gain experience at the SEA Games.
The 2027 edition marks the first time the Games will be held across four host states. Sarawak, Penang, Johor and Kuala Lumpur will share hosting duties for the 34th SEA Games and 14th ASEAN Para Games.
Iruan said he is optimistic Malaysia can repeat its overall champion finish from the 2017 Kuala Lumpur Games, though a specific gold medal target has not been set. "I believe we are capable of creating history by emerging as overall champions once again," he said. "We have not fixed a specific medal tally, but an official announcement will be made in due course."
The one-year countdown event today officially launched the final preparation phase for both the SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games. Organisers will use the period to finalise venue readiness, athlete qualification pathways and logistics across the four host states.
Related: Ministry of Youth and Sports · Datuk Iruan Zulkefli · Putrajaya