University of Tsukuba to Propel Malaysia’s Sports Industry
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 5 (Bernama) -- The University of Tsukuba, having recently opened its first branch outside Japan in Malaysia, has set its sights on playing a significant and transformative role in the long-term development of Malaysia’s sports industry
Renowned as one of Japan's top educational and research institutions for sports and physical education, the University of Tsukuba has a reputation for producing elite athletes and over the years, has successfully nurtured athletes to represent Japan in international competitions, including the Olympics.
University of Tsukuba’s President Kyosuke Nagata said the Malaysian branch known as the University of Tsukuba, Malaysia (UTMy), which is located within the Wisma R&D Building in Universiti Malaya, could become a key platform for improving Malaysia’s sports performance.
Speaking to Bernama at the UTMy campus in Kuala Lumpur recently, Nagata believed that the institution’s expertise in sports education and research will be pivotal in enhancing the country's achievements in various international competitions.
“The University of Tsukuba hopes to further contribute to the development of the Malaysian sports community by using the Malaysia branch as a hub,” he said, adding that he hoped to see Malaysia could gain more medals, especially gold in the international sports arena including the Olympics.
The university’s main campus, established 51 years ago, is located in Tsukuba, about 45 minutes by train from Tokyo. It also has a branch in Tokyo.
Reflecting on the recently concluded Paris Olympics, Nagata shared that 32 athletes from the University of Tsukuba competed and won medals including in judo and over 50 personnel from the University of Tsukuba were involved in the Olympics, serving as sports doctors and coaches.
Since its establishment, he said the University of Tsukuba has accumulated 133 Olympics and Paralympics medals, comprising 41 gold, 44 silver and 48 bronze.
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Japan won 20 gold, 12 silver and 13 bronze medals, finishing third in the medal tally behind the United States and China. Malaysia, ranking 80th won two bronze medals in badminton.
“We (University of Tsukuba) always innovate sports by science. Without science, we can’t have any medals.
“Therefore we will try to make Malaysians medalists too. I hope Malaysia’s first gold medal in the Olympics is coached by professors from the University of Tsukuba,” Nagata said.
He said UTMy students will have access to Universiti Malaya’s sports facilities for their physical training and activities, as well as the library for their studies.
Currently, there are 13 students in the first batch of UTMy, comprising seven Malaysians and six Japanese enrolled for the four-year Bachelor of Arts and Science programme at the School of Transdisciplinary Science and Design.
-- BERNAMA
