Malaysia unveils inaugural Bakat Program fencing squad
KUALA LUMPUR (MySports) – The Malaysian Fencing Federation (MFF) has unveiled the inaugural intake for its Bakat Program 2026, with six young fencers and one coach selected to spearhead the nation’s youth development pathway under the Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN).
The athletes were chosen following a comprehensive selection process based on the National Cadet Rankings, together with MSN’s evaluation and approval procedures.
The selected coach is Yu Peng Kean, while the athletes comprise three men’s sabre fencers, two men’s foil fencers and one women’s foil fencer.
The inaugural Bakat Program squad includes:
Coach
* Yu Peng Kean
Cadet Men’s Sabre
* Cyrus Cheah Chee Hang
* Sum Yanson
* William Nigel Lee
Cadet Men’s Foil
* Kamalanathan Reeqhan Vinod
* Saif Nordin
Cadet Women’s Foil
* Nur Qalesha Mohd Radzuan
The seven-member contingent will receive full funding from MSN to represent Malaysia at the Asia Cadet Cup Taipei 2026, scheduled from July 31 to Aug. 2.
MFF also confirmed that the Bakat Program will be expanded following the SUKMA 2026 Games, where additional athletes aged 17 and below will be identified for the next Asia Cadet Cup in Singapore.
The federation said the number of athletes to be selected will depend on performances at SUKMA and remain subject to MSN’s approval process.
MFF described the support from MSN as a significant boost to its long-term athlete development programme, aimed at identifying and nurturing the country’s next generation of elite fencing talent capable of competing on the international stage.
The federation also urged the selected athletes and coaching staff to continue preparing diligently as they embark on their first assignment under the Bakat Program.
-mysports