MAKAF KEEP FAITH IN SHARMINI
Podium discard is part of federation’s Asian Games plan
DEVINDER SINGH devinder@nstp.com.my
S. SHREE Sharmini, a bronze medallist at the 2014 Asian Games, retains the confidence of the Malaysian Karate Federation (Makaf) despite being axed from the Podium Programme.
Makaf secretary-general Vincent Chen said Sharmini, 25, remains part of the national team’s plans for next year which is geared towards the Asian Games in Indonesia.
Vincent admitted that Sharmini struggled in 2017 when she lost in the first round of the women’s kumite below-50kg event at the Kuala Lumpur Sea Games but recovered to help Malaysia win the women’s team kumite gold medal.
“Certainly 2017 was not great for her but looking at her situation, it was not too bad,” said Vincent when contacted on Thursday in Okinawa, Japan where he is attending a World Karate Federation meeting.
“I don’t think it warranted her removal from the Podium Programme. She lost in her individual event but she also won vital matches for Malaysia in winning the team gold. You cannot ignore her contribution to that win.”
Sharmini has struggled with weight issues since her switch from the below-68kg category, in which she won bronze at the Incheon Asian Games, to the below-50kg event.
After winning bronze medals in two Karate1 Premier League events in 2016, Sharmini’s best effort in three outings this year was a seventh-place finish in Paris in January to rank 16th in the world.
But Vincent believes Sharmini, will have a major role to play in Malaysia’s hunt for medals at the 2018 Asian Games.
“We at Makaf think Sharmini is a very valuable athlete to us,” said Vincent. “She can fight her way back into the Podium Programme but maybe dropping out could be a blessing in disguise.
“She is more determined than ever and she remains an essential member of the national team.”
The National Sports Council will launch a programme next month for those not part of Podium but have the potential to qualify for the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games and Sharmini is expected to be among those selected.
Meanwhile, Vincent said Makaf decided not to send exponents to the Karate1 Series A event in Okinawa this weekend despite having registered five athletes.
“The national exponents will begin their season at the Paris Open in January because some are still recovering from injury,” said Vincent, referring to Sea Games champion S. Senthilkumaran, who is recuperating from a procedure to remove a screw from his leg.