Abstract

In line with global development agendas like the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals that emphasize leaving no on behind, youth development is an essential pillar of national progress, yet marginalized youth defined here as those facing systemic barriers due to socioeconomic status, geographic location, or disability often face barriers that hinder their growth into resilient and productive adults. Positive Youth Development (PYD), through strengths-based approaches emphasizing life skill cultivation, offers promising pathways for empowerment, which in this context refers to the development of competence, confidence, connection, and character. Sport, in particular, serves as a dynamic platform fostering leadership, teamwork, emotional regulation, and social capital. Despite this potential, a clear gap often exists between program participation and measurable outcomes. This conceptual paper synthesizes global and Malaysian literature on sport-based PYD, highlighting the culturally tailored 8Cs framework used in Malaysia. It addresses gaps in empirical evaluation, program design, and socio- cultural influences, advocating for mixed-methods research to deepen understanding of long-term impacts. The paper proposes a framework positioning sport as a strategic vehicle for inclusive youth empowerment, resilience-building, and social integration, emphasizing the critical role of intentional program design and adult mentorship in optimizing outcomes. Policy implications and future research directions for culturally grounded, sustainable PYD initiatives in Malaysia are discussed.