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KUCHING: Silambam (an Indian martial art), which is making a return to the 2024 Malaysia Games (Sukma) after it was last contested in 2013, is set to be more exciting with Sabah fielding a completely non-Indian side.

The 16-athlete Sabah squad will compete at Sukma 2024 at the Hikmah Exchange Event Centre here from tomorrow until Thursday (Aug 22).

Team skipper Zeqxvaly Rhajqhay Malor, 19, said he was drawn to learn about the sport about nine years ago due to its uniqueness after watching his siblings undergoing training.

The youngest of five siblings said his two brothers and sisters also took up the sport and only he and his sister Melyrose Flozieqa are competing at Sukma 2024.

“My biggest challenge is twirling the staff (silambam stick)… it’s not easy. I was also attracted to it after watching the sport’s practitioners perform, especially at night when the stick is decorated with lights.

“I’ve also watched silambam in movies and TikTok videos. I’m targeting gold in the men’s 56-65kg  poruthal (combat) and synchronised weapon events,” he told Bernama at the competition venue today.

Meanwhile, his coach, Leorenboy Lawason, who has been involved in the sport for more than a decade, claimed that hundreds of people are taking up silambam in Sabah, especially in Tenom, Keningau, Tambunan and Kemabong.

“I’m glad that this sport is gaining attraction in Sabah. Many support the sport based on the spirit of sportsmanship and unity. Perhaps due to the lack of Indians in Sabah, our team is made up of students from Sabah.

“For me, this is a unique sport compared to other martial arts sports and it has its unique attraction. We have only been preparing for this Sukma for the past year because we only resumed after the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said, adding that he had also trained under experienced coaches in the peninsula.

Malaysian Silambam Association president Dr M. Suraess said about 250 exponents are set to vie for the 14 gold medals on offer at Sukma 2024.

“Silambam was introduced in Sukma during the 2008 edition, and continued to held in the 2010, 2011 and 2013 editions before it was dropped. It returned as a demonstration sport in 2022 and now is back as a medal sport this year,” he said. 

There will be eight categories contested under poruthal (combat) - four each for men and women.

Then, there is the men’s and women’s thanithiramai (individual artistic) staff spinning and the men’s and women’s thanithiramai kuthu varisai (bare hands) events.

Apart from that, silambam will also feature two more events - the mixed team synchronised bare hands and synchronised weapon (involving five fighters from each team).