Penang picked up three bronze medals on the first day of competition at the 2026 Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Selangor, with judo and taekwondo athletes delivering at the IDCC Convention Centre in Shah Alam.
Judoka Ashley Gan Jia Hui, 17, struck first, beating Johor’s Maryam Ahmad Khairul 16-0 in the women’s Under-44kg bronze-medal playoff. Fellow judoka Ng Wei Rou, 15, followed with bronze in the Under-48kg event. Taekwondo exponent Laksman Om Prakash, 16, rounded out the day with bronze in the men’s Under-54kg category.
Buletin Mutiara, the Penang state government’s official portal, reported that Gan dedicated her win to her mother and sister, thanking them for their constant support throughout her career. The former SMJK Heng Ee student, who recently completed her SPM, now works full-time as a coach at Budo Academy in Tanjung Tokong. She also credited the Penang State Sports Council (MSNPP) and her Japanese coach, Matsaka Chikara, for their guidance.
For Ng, the bronze carried extra weight. She became a major-competition medallist for the first time, following in the footsteps of her two elder brothers, Ng Yi Heng and Ng Yi Xuan, who both won gold for Penang at the previous Sukma. A student of SMJK Union, Ng began learning judo at age eight and now hopes to emulate her idol, Amir Daniel Abdul Majeed, who recently won Malaysia’s first judo gold at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, The Star confirmed.
Penang Judo Association deputy president Justin Khoo praised the team’s showing, saying the priority was to get Penang on the medal table early, with the focus shifting to gold-medal pursuits in the remaining events. Penang entered the judo competition as defending overall champion, having won six golds at the previous Sukma.
Laksman admitted disappointment after losing to Johor in his Under-54kg bout but found comfort in the presence of his parents and his 18-year-old elder brother, Tanesh Om Prakash, who is also a state athlete and made the trip to cheer him on.
Penang Youth, Sports and Health Committee chairman Daniel Gooi Zi Sen and contingent chef de mission Joseph Ng Soon Siang, who is also the Air Itam assemblyman, were at the venue to support the athletes.
With three bronze medals already secured, Penang will look to build momentum as its athletes chase gold across the remaining days of Sukma Selangor 2026.
