THREE mainstays of the Malaysia Games (Sukma) received a rude shock today when they were dropped from the 2018 programme.

Weightlifting, sepak takraw and taekwondo were dropped from the Perak Sukma due to a decline in performance, doping issues as well as power struggles within the associations.

The development was announced by Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

“The board of the NSC (National Sports Council) has decided to drop three main sports (reducing the number) from 19 to 16. 

“This is the first time we have done so since 2007,” said Khairy, who chaired the NSC managers’ board meeting today.

Khairy said the three associations would be taken out of NSC’s programmes and have their funds revoked.

They will now have to manage and run the associations independently.

With the exclusion of the three sports, there will be only 16 core sports left – archery, cycling, lawn bowls, karate, silat, shooting, sailing, wushu, aquatics, athletics, badminton, hockey, football, gymnastics, squash and bowling. – December 12, 2017.