Overall champion of MIVG 2019 goes to Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)

Aerodance champion, USM team with their winning pose at the Medic InterVarsity Games (MIVG) 2019.

Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) team was crowned as the champion of volleyball in the male category.

“The bond we have is so much deeper than the game we play”, Patrick Willis, the former American football linebacker once said.

            With the sole intention of bringing together medical students of all walks of life by taking part in the biggest annual sports meet organised by medical students for the medical students, the Asian Medical Students’ Association (AMSA) Malaysia and UCSI Medical Students’ Association (UCSI MedicSA) joined hands to organise the annual Medics’ Intervarsity Games (MIVG) 2019.

            MIVG 2019 was a two-day programme aimed at strengthening relationships among medical students of various universities in Malaysia through sports. In addition, the objective of this programme was also to encourage the involvement of medical students in sports. The MIVG 2019 encouraged medical students to show their talent in sports other than just in studies. With this, we also strive to raise awareness of the importance of sports and a healthy lifestyle among medical students and Malaysians in general.

            Through sports, students are able to build on a wide range of abilities and skills such as leadership, confidence, teamwork, patience, self-reliance, trust, and many more which facilitate the overall development of an individual. You become proactive when you need to solve problems while playing on the court. Students also learn to manage time between lectures, sports, and personal lives.

            One of the important advantages of MIVG 2019 is developing a positive spirit to achieve success while playing for your university. This passion and positive spirit help students achieve their career goals easily. Through sports, they not only bring laurels to their university but get an opportunity to mingle around with other medical students and attain immense experience.

            UCSI University was very proud to be chosen as the hosting university for MIVG 2019. Other than encouraging the involvement of medical students, this programme also enriched their soft skills.

            This year, there was a total of 32 participating universities with an overwhelming feedback from them and a grand total of approximately 1900 individuals. These participating universities consisted of both public and private universities around the nation.

            This grand event was held on 21 and 22 December 2019 at several different locations catering to 19 different sports and games. These consisted of Frisbee, Track and Field, Volleyball, Basketball, Netball, Badminton, Swimming, Futsal, Tennis, Rubik Cube, Table Tennis, Bowling, Chess, Aerodance, PUBG, Beyond the Voice (Singing), Dota 2, Mr. Holmes (Escape Room) and Handball. Two of the main locations of the event were Panasonic Sports Complex, Shah Alam and UCSI University KL campus.

            This two-day event was filled with athletes and supporters rooting for their respective universities and creating a bond among their fellows with the true essence of sportsmanship. MIVG 2019 kicked off with an opening speech delivered by UCSI MedicSA’s Club Advisor, Associate Professor Dr Cheah Shiau Chuen. The Regional Chairperson of AMSA Malaysia, Lee Wei Wen, also graced the event with a welcoming speech. This was then followed by the inauguration of MIVG 2020 with the oath-taking ceremony led by Natasha Tsen Pei Pei, a fellow UCSI participating athlete.       

            Day 1 of MIVG had a total of 13 games in several locations namely; PanasonicSport Complex, UITM Sport Complex, UCSI University, Ferro Futsal, DWI Emas International School and Blitzone Cyber Café, Sri Petaling. The winners of the games conducted in the first day were awarded with their medals at the end of their respective games. The winners of the games conducted in the second day were presented with their medals in the closing ceremony that took place in Panasonic Sport Complex.

            Alongside the winners of Day 2 MIVG games, 5 other special awards were given out too. The best contingent team went to Asia Metropolitan University (AMU). The best contingent leader was given to Muhammad Syamil bin Mohd Daud from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). The best sportsman trophy was given to Afiq Imran representing Perdana University, whereas the best sportswoman trophy was awarded to Gowreshankere A/P Chandrasagaran representing AIMST University. Finally, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) was the overall champion winning the Champion’s trophy with an outstanding 128 points. USM bagged a grand total of 40 medals consisting of 19 gold medals, 6 silver medals and 15 bronze medals. The runner up of the event was Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) with 85 points, followed by the second runner up AIMST University with 73 points.

Friendships born on the field of athletic strife is the true gold of a game. Medals might corrode through time, yet relationships cannot be reversed. It is UCSI University’s greatest honour to be selected as the host for MIVG 2019. We truly believe that it is indeed good exposure for medical students in Malaysia to meet with our students through sports. One says sports does not build character; it reveals this. If manners do not make man, we can only hope for the least in humanity in the medical field and this event. UCSI MedicSA will do its best to ensure the interest in sport sustains beyond this event.

By: Nivasheini a/p Saravana Ganesalingam (Year 2 UCSI University Medical Student)