Training for contact sports can resume from July 15, competitions from Aug 15

PETALING JAYA: The long wait is over. After weeks of athletes having to resort to non-contact training, the government is allowing sports that involve contact to resume regular training from July 15.

Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that the National Security Council was allowing training from July 15 for contact sports like football, rugby, hockey, sepak takraw, basketball and squash, as well as for combat sports like karate, silat and taekwondo.

In line with that, commercial field, futsal, academy and sports facility operators would also be allowed to resume operations on the same date, he said in his regular briefing on Friday (July 10).

Competition for non-contact sports can start from July 15 onwards, and this includes motorsports competitions at the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) and other local circuits, badminton competitions for singles, chess competitions and others.

For contact sports, there is another month's wait for resumption of competitions as the government will only allow football, rugby, hockey, sepak takraw, squash and basketball competitions to return from Aug 15 onwards.

A standard operating procedure (SOP) will be put in place, including taking temperature, registering via MySejahtera, and sanitising the arenas, Ismail said.

However, no spectators would be allowed for contact and non-contact sports competitions.