Karate: KK lead with two gold
KOTA KINABALU: Team Kota Kinabalu got off to a fine start at the opening day of the karate competition in the VIII Sabah Games (SAGA) at Libaran Community Hall in Sandakan yesterday.
Kota Kinabalu won two out of the six gold medals on offer with Keningau, Tambunan, Penampang and Tuaran bagging one each.
Nurul Ayeen, 15, delivered the first gold for the City contingent in the women’s Individual Kata before Stanley Dulian added a second from the men’s Kumite -55kg.
It was their first gold in the biennial event.
Nurul Ayeen edged Vinnie Rofena Felex of Tawau in the final while the bronze were won by Alysheron Maunsiong of Tambunan and Elyanna Chrisma Jupin Penampang.
Stanley, 18, on the other hand, defeated Nabawan’s Alvin Oliver Embon in the final while the joint third placing were Rexpher Godfrey of Tambunan) and Ellvien Dylien Marcellus of Keningau.
The gold medallists shared the same target that would launch their careers as they look to reach new heights with wins at the national level and go on to represent the country in the future.
Meanwhile, the other gold winner yesterday was Allyanna Appolony Appolong of Tuaran in the women’s Kumite +68kg where she beat Roziana Adnan Agukal (Lahad Datu).
In the women’s Kumite -45kg, Elvira Godfrey of Tambunan topped Dona Mila Padarik of Keningau in the final while Nur Waznah Farzana Kahar Tahir (Sandakan) and Glendiana Johny (Putatan) settled for the bronze.
Arthuric Gideon of Penampang won the men’s Kumite +84kg gold followed by Chuchill Glenn Saimon of Tenom and Raymond Shang Jeun Yuan of Sandakan.
The men’s Individual Kata gold went to Keningau’s Josvin Jase, silver for Kenlorenson Nam of Kota Kinabalu and the bronze to Nur Aliff Ruzdee Ruzlee of Papar and Aaron King Rodil of Tawau.
For the record, the Kumite events for women’s +68kg and men’s +84kg saw only two or three athletes contested after several entries were rejected due to failure to meet the competition rules.
Karate will conclude its competition with another 10 sets of gold medals to be won today.