An Amazing Celebration of Sportsmanship and Community

On 20-22 September 2024, Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia (NUMed) proudly hosted the Medics Intervarsity Games (MIVG) 2024 in collaboration with the Asian Medical Students’ Association (AMSA). This marked a milestone event that brought together the largest number of participants to date with an impressive turnout of 1,912 participants from 26 universities across Malaysia.

MIVG 2024 featured a diverse lineup of activities, encompassing netball, handball, aerodance, table tennis, futsal, football, basketball, volleyball, track and field, swimming, badminton, and frisbee, held across notable venues in Johor, including the Velodrome Iskandar Puteri, Educity Sports Complex, X Park Sunway Iskandar, and J Arena.

This year’s games truly highlighted the vibrant spirit of camaraderie and competition among future healthcare professionals. All the participants competed wholeheartedly in their events, demonstrating remarkable sportsmanship.

During the Opening Ceremony, NUMed’s Dean of Clinical Affairs, Professor Dr Harinarayan Radhakrishna, offered a warm welcome to everybody as well as congratulated the organising committee members for their hard work.

“To the participants, this event is an opportunity to make new friends and showcase your sportsmanship and talents. Just like music, sports help students and future doctors sharpen their focus and instil self-discipline in their lives. Remember, this event isn't about winning or losing. The very fact that you are here makes you all winners,” he added.

By bringing together students from various universities, MIVG created a supportive network that extended beyond the games and highlighted the importance of balancing academics with physical activity, providing a much-needed break from the intense medical school routine and reinforcing the value of personal well-being.

Through the spirit of competition, students developed essential skills like teamwork, resilience, and leadership, which are crucial in their future careers. Moreover, MIVG 2024 strengthened community spirit and subtly promoted mental health awareness, reminding students of the importance of caring for both mind and body.

Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology (AIMST) University triumphed at the games, securing the most medals, followed closely by Manipal University College Malaysia (MUCM) and Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM). NUMed also shone brightly, participating in numerous events like basketball, futsal, frisbee, badminton, swimming, netball, table tennis, and track and field, and clinching medals in the women’s basketball, futsal, and badminton event

MIVG 2024 was a resounding success that left a lasting, positive impact on everyone involved. Participants and spectators alike praised the sense of teamwork and resilience fostered during the games as well as the professionalism of the organising committee.

Reflecting on the success of the event, Rania Ezellya binti Shamshul Baharain, a third-year Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) student at NUMed and one of the chairpersons of the event, expressed immense pride and gratitude. “Despite the obstacles we encountered, we emerged stronger as a team. A memorable highlight was witnessing participants support one another during competitions—truly a testament to our community. I hope that every participant walked away with new skills, experiences, and lasting memories,” she shared.

Her co-organising chairperson, Nadia Zakaria, a second-year MBBS student at NUMed, was also grateful for the event’s success. “To my incredible team, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for making this possible. What began as a small idea grew into something far beyond what I imagined, and I couldn’t be more grateful to have had such a fantastic team by my side.”

Since its inception in 2009, the MIVG has been an annual national sporting event for students from various medical schools across the country. The event aims to promote healthy lifestyles and foster a spirit of camaraderie among Malaysia’s future doctors as well as encouraging them to prioritise both their physical and mental wellbeing. This year’s MIVG was generously sponsored by Jantzen Water, SDS Bakery and Cafeteria Sdn. Bhd, 7Days, and Printcious Gifts (M) Sdn Bhd.