KUALA LUMPUR – The Sultan Nazrin Shah Men’s International Indoor Hockey Tournament will not take place this year and is expected to return in 2026.
Speaking to Scoop, president of the Perak Hockey Association (PHA), Datuk Sayuti Samat, said the decision was reached after talks with Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, who raised concerns about conflicting sponsorship obligations with the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup.
The Sultan Azlan Shah Cup is scheduled for November.
“We were supposed to organise the indoor tournament in May, but Tuanku was worried because the sponsors are the same for both events,” Sayuti said.
“To avoid overburdening them, we agreed to hold off the tournament this year.”
However, Sayuti assured that the tournament will happen next year, with planning already underway and key sponsors on board.
“I plan to have an audience with Tuanku soon and will explain that we already have strong sponsors lined up,” he said.
The tournament, also known as the Sultan Nazrin and Tuanku Zara Salim Cup, is positioned as an international event, with previous editions attracting teams such as South Africa, Namibia, New Zealand, Australia, and Hong Kong.
“This time, we won’t be inviting Hong Kong. They were thrashed badly, and it lowered the standard of the tournament,” Sayuti added.
“We’re considering inviting one or two teams from Asia — possibly Indonesia or Thailand — but nothing is confirmed yet.”
He added that, although the event falls under PHA’s purview, final approval still rests with the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC).
“Although it’s my tournament, I still need to get the blessings from the national body,” he said.
The inaugural edition of the Sultan Nazrin Shah Men’s International Indoor Hockey Tournament took place in November 2023 at Stadium Indera Mulia in Ipoh.
Namibia emerged as champions after edging out South Africa 3–2 in a penalty shootout following a 2–2 draw in regulation time.
Other teams featured in the tournament included Malaysia, New Zealand, Australia, and Hong Kong. — July 16, 2025
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