Labuan Karate Association achieves another milestone

LABUAN: The Labuan Karate Association (LKA) added another feather in the cap after its female karateka was selected to represent Malaysia in the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games from Aug 19-30.

LKA president Mohd Ismifarizal Mohammed Ishak said Syarulniza Abdul Jamil should be able to win a medal for the country.

“We are very proud of Syarulniza. Her achievements in the last five years in the national arena speak volumes of her longawaited and deserved selection to the national squad,” he told Bernama yesterday.

“Syarulniza won numerous individual kumite (sparring) events in the national junior championships prior to her elevation to the Labuan senior team.

“Accompanied by Christina Edris and Nini Kasman, Syarulniza propelled Labuan to the team kumite final in the 2013 national senior karate championship in Johor.

From then on, there was no turning back for Syarulniza who always made the top three placings in the individual kumite event.

LKA vice-president Bryan Tan said Syarulniza’s two gold medals for Labuan in the 2014 Perlis Sukma helped the Federal Territories contingent to win the overall title.

“She also won the gold in her pet individual event last month in the pre-SEA Games competition, thus cementing her selection in the squad, and was also included in the team kumite event for the Games.

Meanwhile, LKA treasurer cum Labuan karate coach, Aswadee Taba was confident that Syarulniza would contribute positively in the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games.

“This will serve to fire up the sporting spirit of my younger karatekas to follow in her footsteps, to train harder and to maintain our achievements and bring Labuan karate to greater heights,” he added.- Bernama