With the countdown to SUKIPT 2026 entering its final stretch, UC TATI Rhino are wasting no time in ramping up preparations as the Kemaman-based side target a top-five finish in this year’s rugby competition.
The seventh edition of the Higher Education Institutions Sports Championship (SUKIPT) is scheduled to get underway on Aug 28 at Universiti Malaya, leaving the Terengganu outfit with limited time to fine-tune their challenge while juggling training commitments with the demands of a new academic semester.
For UC TATI Rhino, the target is clear — to finish among the top five teams in the tournament after their campaign ended in the group stage at the previous edition in Sintok, Kedah.
Team manager Ahmad Farid Ridhwan Zakaria believes the squad are on the right path to achieving that goal, citing the commitment of senior players as well as the arrival of several experienced new students as key factors in strengthening the team.
“SUKIPT, being a biennial tournament, gives teams a reasonable period to prepare. But at the same time, our players are students who must balance their sporting commitments with academic responsibilities.
“We are also realistic enough to know that we are not among the favourites, especially when some of the bigger institutions have players with experience at national and international level. Still, we are optimistic of finishing in the top five,” said Ahmad Farid, who has been managing the team since 2016.
Team captain Muhammad Daniell Aqtar Uzir, meanwhile, is hoping to cap what could be his final SUKIPT appearance with a podium finish.
“This may be my last season with the team as I will be completing my studies soon. I hope we can improve on our previous performance and achieve something memorable together before I leave,” said Daniell, a final-year Bachelor of Electrical Engineering Technology student at TATI University College.
At the last edition, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) were crowned men’s rugby sevens champions after completing an unbeaten run and defeating Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) 21-0 in the final.
This year’s SUKIPT, the seventh edition of the biennial Games, will feature 65 contingents representing higher education institutions from across the country.