KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 2 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) achieved notable success at the 4th Research in High Performance Sports Colloquium (HPSC 2025), held in conjunction with the ASEAN Symposium in Sports Innovation (ASSI’25) and the 4th International Conference on Innovation and Technology in Sports (ICITS’25), when its delegates secured two major awards.
Norazariena Atirah Che Ab Aziz, a third-year Sports Science student from the Faculty of Educational Sciences and Technology (FEST), was named Best Oral Presenter for her research titled “Effectiveness of Plyometric Training on UTM Netball Athletes’ Jump Height.” Her work was supervised by Dr. Diyana Zulaika Abdul Ghani together with the Sports Science academic panel. The Best Poster Presenter Award was won by Akkas Ahamed Abdul Kareem, a student from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering (FKE), for his research “A Review on Visual and Tactile Communication Strategies in Combat Sports for Deaf Athletes.” The study was supervised by Ts. Dr. Jaysuman Pusppanathan from the Sports Innovation & Technology Centre (SITC) and lecturer at the FKE, who also served as the corresponding author.
Adding to the university’s contributions, Ts. Dr. Hadafi Fitri Mohd Latip from FEST conducted a workshop titled “Tech-Touch Excellence: The Fusion of Human Skills and Innovation in Sports Therapy,” which received strong participation and highlighted the integration of technology in advancing sports therapy.
Themed “Revolutionizing Sports: The Power of AI,” the event provided a platform for leading researchers, practitioners, and innovators to share insights on how artificial intelligence (AI) and technology are reshaping high-performance sports. FEST was represented by 19 delegates, while six delegates from SITC and FKE joined as both participants and presenters through oral and poster sessions, reflecting UTM’s active engagement and visibility at the international level.
Jointly organized with the National Sports Institute of Malaysia (ISN) and the Malaysia Sports Technology Association (MYSTA), the three-day conference gathered sports professionals, researchers, and industry leaders from across Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). HPSC 2025, ASSI’25 and ICITS’25 were held from 30 September to 2 October 2025 at the Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel & Convention Centre.
This dual achievement highlights UTM’s continued excellence in sports science, innovation, and technology at the international level. The outstanding performance of its students and academics not only reflects the university’s research strength but also underscores its commitment to nurturing future leaders in high-performance sports and sports innovation.
