REALITY CHECK FOR KARATEKAS
Malaysian exponents outshone in Kazakhstan
MALAYSIA’S Sea Gamesbound exponents were given a reality check at the Asian Karate Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan yesterday. Lim Chee Wei and Syakilla Salni Jefry Krishnan, gold medallists at the 2014 Asian Games, were demoted to bronze medal positions while several other national exponents were outshone by their Southeast Asian rivals.
But there was an impressive display by R. Sharmendran which signals a hope for the exponents to achieve the six-gold target set by the Malaysian Karate Federation’s (Makaf) for next month’s Kuala Lumpur Sea Games.
Syakilla, a silver medallist at the 2014 World Championships, won the women’s below-55kg bronze after edging Vietnam’s Trang Cam Lanh 1-0 in the repechage bout having lost 1-0 to Taiwan’s Wen Tzu-Yun in the semi-finals.
Chee Wei was halted in his tracks by world champion Ryo Kiyuna of Japan in the men’s individual kata quarter-finals, losing 5-0, before recovering to win bronze by beating Uzbekistan’s Doniyorbek Abdullaev 5-0.
Sharmendran defeated Japan’s World No 15 Ken Nishimura 1-0 before losing on judges’ decision in the semi-finals against Bahman Asgari Ghoncheh of Iran in the men’s below-75kg event.
However, he claimed the bronze by overcoming 2014 Asian Games runner-up Lee Ka Wai of Hong Kong 4-2 in the repechage.
Several Malaysians exponents were defeated by regional rivals.
S. Prem Kumar lost in the first round of the men’s below-55kg event to Thailand’s Siravit Sawansri while Syarulniza Abdul Jamil was ousted by Thailand’s Arm Sukkiaw 2-0 in the women’s below-61kg quarter-finals.
M. Mathivani fell to Vietnam’s eventual bronze medallist Thi Thu Hien Ho on judges’ decision after a 3-3 draw in the last-eight of the women’s below-68kg.
Celine Lee secured bronze in the women’s individual kata with an unanimous 50 win over India’s Valentina Valena in the repechage having lost to Japan’s Emiri Iwamoto 3-2 in the semi-finals.
Indonesia’s Afustiani Ora Sisilia reached the final which should make her the favourite for the Sea Games title.
S. Shree Sharmini, a Sea Games gold medal hopeful, lost 2-0 to Kazakhstan’s 2014 Asian Games silver medallist Yekaterina Khupovets in the first round of the women’s below-50kg event where Indonesia’s Srunita Sari Sukatendel reached the final.
R. Govinash lost to 2014 Asian Games champion Amir Mehdizadeh of Iran 4-1 in the men’s below-60kg second round and was then denied a bronze by Saudi Arabia’s Saud Albasher 10-4 in the repechage.
Ravin Vijaya Kumar suffered a similar fate as Govinash, ousted 4-0 by Kazakhstan’s Rinat Sagandykov in the men’s below-67kg quarter-finals before going out on judges’ decision in the repechage against Taiwan’s Pan Po-Shen.
Pressy Misty Philip lost to Kazakhstan’s Gaukhar Chaikuzova 4-1 in the women’s over-68kg quarter-finals while A. Soman Roy was an early casualty in the men’s below-84kg event.