TAR UMT ended its Sukan Institusi Pendidikan Tinggi (SUKIPT) 2026 campaign as the best-performing private higher education institution (IPTS) with a total medal haul of 14 Gold, 10 Silver, and 19 Bronze medals.

The 43-medal tally put TAR UMT sixth on the medal table, and first among participating IPTSs this year. This result has exceeded TAR UMT’s target of 12 Gold, 10 Silver, 11 Bronze medals, and surpassed the 31-medal haul achieved by TAR UMT two years ago, improving on the University’s best SUKIPT performance to date.

TAR UMT’s swimmers contributed the most medals, with 7 Gold, 3 Silver, and 9 Bronze medals won in the pools. Taekwondo also played a huge part, delivering 2 Gold, 3 Silver, and 5 Bronze medals.

Athletics was the highlight for TAR UMT in this year’s SUKIPT, after Esther Joy Chen Hong Li set two new SUKIPT records en route to her double victory in the women’s 1,500m and 5,000m events.

Pickleball was introduced to SUKIPT for the first time this year, and TAR UMT won 1 Silver and 1 Bronze via the women’s doubles and men’s doubles categories, respectively. Other sports that contributed to TAR UMT’s medal tally this year are basketball, chess, volleyball, karate, and table tennis.

SUKIPT 2026 was held from 28 August – 6 September 2026 and featured 30 different sports categories. The host university, Universiti Malaya (UM), hosted most of the contested sports, with a few held elsewhere, including the basketball event that was held at TAR UMT’s Kuala Lumpur campus.

TAR UMT’s men’s volleyball team after winning the gold medal in SUKIPT 2026.

Esther celebrates after breaking the SUKIPT record in the women’s 5,000m event to win the gold medal.