Henry Gurney athletes seek Sukma success as sport offers second chance

Eight Henry Gurney School athletes will compete for Melaka at the 2026 Selangor Malaysia Games (Sukma), representing the school's ongoing transformation from a juvenile detention center to a sports talent hub. Since participating in Sukma in 2018, SHG Telok Mas athletes have consistently earned medals for the state. The school, formerly known as the High Moral School, was renamed in 1950 in honor of Sir Henry Gurney, the then British High Commissioner to Malaya.

Project Henry, launched in 2017 in partnership with the Malaysian Prisons Department, Youth and Sports Ministry, and Melaka State Sports Council, identifies sports talent among trainees while offering them a second chance at societal reintegration. The program, expanded to include boxing, Muay Thai, and weightlifting in 2023, aims to demonstrate how structured training and support can help young people rebuild their lives through sports.

At the 2024 Sukma, trainees secured four bronze medals in Muay Thai and one silver and two bronzes in boxing, with boxing remaining the primary focus for this year's Games. SHG Telok Mas director Triyo Kurniawan Kusmadi emphasized that the true measure of success lies in transformed lives, with trainees expected to prove they can succeed and contribute positively to society.

Weightlifter Suhaila, now 18, credits sports with helping her develop resilience and confidence, believing she still has a future worth building. Muay Thai coach Wan Mohd Alwi Wan Mohd Nor highlighted the transformation in athletes' attitudes, noting that training fosters discipline, respect, and confidence. Sports psychologist Dr Garry Kuan explained that structured sports serve as practical behavioral therapy for juvenile rehabilitation, helping young people shed negative labels, develop better decision-making skills, and foster a future-focused mindset.