University College TATI may still be one of the newest teams on Malaysia’s university athletics scene, but the Terengganu-based institution is already setting its sights on a bigger stage with ambitions of securing qualification for the upcoming ASEAN University Games (AUG) later this year.
Entering only its second season in the Varsity Track & Field (VTF) Championship, the university college from Kemaman remains confident of making an impact, particularly through its established strength in long-distance running events.
University College TATI team manager Ahmad Nur Aiman Ahmad Jalani said last season’s performance demonstrated the team’s ability to compete alongside more established universities despite finishing sixth overall among 21 participating institutions.
He noted that University College TATI is currently enjoying strong momentum, especially in distance events such as the 5,000m, 3,000m, and 3,000m steeplechase, which have become the team’s hallmark disciplines.
“At the moment, our athletes have a strong opportunity to qualify for the ASEAN University Games squad as many of them are still active full-time athletes competing at a highly competitive level.
“Although we finished sixth overall last season, we consistently performed well in long-distance and steeplechase events, which remain our strongest areas.
“For this season, our objective is not only to improve on last year’s results but also to increase our medal tally,” he said.
University College TATI opened its VTF 2026 campaign on a positive note during the first leg held at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) in April, capturing two gold medals through the men’s 3,000m steeplechase and men’s 400m hurdles events.
According to Ahmad Nur Aiman, those achievements have provided a significant morale boost as the team looks to maintain its winning momentum in the second leg of the championship, currently being held at Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) and running until Sunday.
“For the second leg, we have fielded seven athletes across several track and field events, with the aim of adding more medals to our tally,” he said.
Now in its fifth edition since its introduction in 2022, the Varsity Track & Field Championship has emerged as a key platform for developing university athletes in Malaysia. The competition also serves as an important pathway for athletes seeking selection to major international events, including the ASEAN University Games and the FISU World University Games.
