In a landmark moment for inclusive hockey, Malaysia hosted its inaugural National Hockey ID Competition on 28–29 June 2025 at the prestigious Sultan Azlan Shah Stadium in Ipoh, Perak. The event was more than just a tournament, it marked the debut of Hockey ID at the Special Olympics Malaysia National Games, and set a new standard for how nations can build sustainable, community-driven ParaHockey programs.
The competition brought together 11 teams from six states, featuring 110 athletes with intellectual disabilities. They were supported by 33 trained coaches and team managers, along with 16 newly trained officials who ensured the event ran smoothly both on and off the field.
“This first Hockey ID competition was more than a tournament—it was a movement fueled by passion, partnership, and purpose,” said K. Nathan, National Sports Director of Special Olympics Malaysia. “With the unwavering support of the FIH and its Academy, we built not just skills, but confidence, inclusion, and unity. For Special Olympics Malaysia, this was a defining moment where teamwork extended beyond the field, crossing borders and barriers.”
The tournament was the culmination of a strategic capacity-building initiative led by the FIH Academy, in collaboration with Special Olympics Malaysia, the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF), and Hockey Malaysia. A combination of online coaching courses and practical sessions in Ipoh equipped local coaches and officials with the knowledge and confidence to guide their athletes.
Norman Hughes, ParaHockey Project Lead at FIH, praised the methodical approach taken by Malaysia. “It is great to see a step-by-step strategic approach taken to the growth of Hockey ID. Malaysia were keen first of all to use the FIH Academy/LIA educational resources to up-skill their coaches, umpires, and table officials in Hockey ID. This then led to Hockey ID being included in the SO Malaysia National Games for the very first time, and the event proved really successful because of the training and passion of the local volunteer workforce,” he said. “Malaysia is a best practice example for many nations who wish to start Hockey ID in a sustainable way.”
Seizing the opportunity during a rest day from the FIH Nations Cup in Kuala Lumpur, umpire and educator Rob ten Cate travelled to Ipoh to deliver face-to-face umpire training. He was joined by Cookie Tan, FIH umpire from Singapore, whose expertise in officials’ training added further depth to the programme. Their hands-on guidance ensured that 10 out of 16 registered officials successfully completed the full Hockey ID Umpiring Course.
Educator Coen van Putten, who led practicum sessions for coaches and officials, highlighted the importance of Malaysia’s long-term vision. “It is encouraging to see that Special Olympics Malaysia is adopting a long-term approach to developing Hockey ID through structured capacity building and competition planning,” he said. “Working with them as an educator has been an absolute joy. The entire programme — from the coaching course to the umpiring and officiating workshops, and the competition itself — was exceptionally well organised.”
The success of the event was also built upon the generosity of key partners. The AHF provided essential equipment, including sticks, balls, and goalkeeper kits. The EU Love is All Project contributed coaching boards, while Gallagher’s financial grant made it possible to bring this vision to life, from educational courses to the final whistle of the tournament.
As Malaysia celebrates this milestone, preparations are already underway to replicate this success in India. Special Olympics Bharat has expressed interest in developing its Hockey ID workforce for potential inclusion in their National Games later this year. “Step by step, we are increasing our pool of ParaHockey ID educators within each Continental Federation,” Hughes noted, underlining the scalable impact of this project.
Malaysia’s journey from planning to competition underscores a powerful message: when global expertise meets local commitment, inclusive hockey doesn’t just grow, it thrives.
