University of Cyberjaya Named 1st Runner-Up at NPSC 2023

University of Cyberjaya recently bagged ten gold medals at the 16th MyPSA National Pharmacy Sports Carnival 2023 (NPSC) and was the 1st runner-up for the national sports event. The sports carnival is an annual event by the Malaysian Pharmacy Students' Association (MyPSA) to create a platform for Pharmacy students to build friendships between universities through sports activities.

The sports carnival was held physically this year after two years of being conducted online due to the pandemic. The sports carnival gathered pharmacy students from 12 Pharmacy schools in the country. The event was hosted by University Sains Malaysia (USM) from 17th to 19th March 2023 and was officiated by Professor Dato' Dr Narimah, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Universiti Sains Malaysia.

University of Cyberjaya Pharmacy students won 10 gold, six silver, and ten bronze medals. The contingent was led by Pharmacy student Muhammad Harith Syahmi and Dr. Najwa Binti Mohamad as the advisor.

The ten gold medals won were from different events such as squash (female), swimming 50m breaststroke (female), 50m backstroke (female) and 4x50m freestyle relay (male). University of Cyberjaya's most significant gold medal winnings were for its track events, which garnered five golds across different categories, including the 100m (female), 200m (female), 800m (male), 4x100m (female), and 4x400m (male) events.

In 2017, the University of Cyberjaya achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first private institution to win the prestigious tournament and secure the highest number of medals in the 11-year history of NPSC. With all the talent and new sportsmanship skills shown by our fellow athletes, UoC has successfully retained the champion title consecutively in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. Nevertheless, through all the sweat and tears the athletes shed, it all paid off as they became the overall first runner-up.

Muhammad Harith Syahmi, the Head of Contingent, said, "This was the first physical NPSC for most of the students; thus, winning 26 medals is a great start and a huge accomplishment for our beloved faculty. We are pleased to be announced as the first runner-up this year. The contingent will come back stronger next year!" he said. He is also a fourth-year Pharmacy student and a bronze medalist for 50m breaststroke (male).

As the head of the contingent, he thinks the winning attitude, togetherness, and unity instilled in the students by the coaches and lecturers throughout the NPSC are invaluable and priceless. "This is one of those values that cannot be taught in the classroom setting; thus, the lecturers and coaches taught us on the court instead. And for that, we as students are very thankful," he adds.

Dr Shairyzah Ahmad Hisham, the Deputy Dean of Academic Affairs of the Faculty of Pharmacy, who is also the coach for the female Basketball and Swimming team, said, "Sports teaches us every single aspect about teamwork, communication, self-confidence, problem-solving, planning and strategies and most importantly the perseverance and aiming for the sky! Apply this in all aspects of your life, and I am certain that you will be the best pharmacist and future leader".