Five Sabah karatekas repor ng for na onal duty

Five Sabahan karatekas will be represen ng Malaysia at the 7th Asean Karate Federa on Championships which is happening in Bac Ninh, Vietnam from April 21 to 25.

KOTA KINABALU: Five Sabahan karatekas will be representing Malaysia at the 7th Asean Karate Federation Championships which is happening in Bac Ninh, Vietnam from April 21 to 25.

The Sukma (Malaysia Games)bound athletes include a silver medallist from the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games last year, Pressy Misty Philip.

Also competing in the fiveday championships are Cairola Cheverry Wong Yee Yin, Gwendollyn Gimus, Vellcarollyne Augustine and Maychelle Roger Mool.

“The five Sabahan ladies are among members of the national squad,” said Sabah Karate Association secretary-general Julian Chin when contacted yesterday.

While the SKA expressed pride in the participation of its athletes, it also stressed that all costs were being borne by the association.

The five ladies will be accompanied by the SKA’s newly appointed kumite coach, Mustafa Elsayed Mohamad Elsanbawy from Egypt, and local coach Danny Fredolin.

“Their participation in the championship in Vietnam is among SKA’s preparation for Sukma which is happening in Perak this September.

“It is among the international championships that will help our Sukma-bound athletes to gain experience and exposure before they compete for state honours,” Julian said.

All five ladies will compete in the under-21 category, where Pressy is tipped to bring strong challenges in the kumite 68kg and below while Cairola vies for honours in the kumite 50kg and below, he revealed.

Gwendollyn will fight in the kumite 55kg and below and Maychelle in the kumite 61kg and below, while Vellcarolyne will compete in the individual kata.

“We have not set any target but we hope that all of them would do well in their respective categories, especially Pressy,” Julian said.

He said Pressy could be selected to represent the country at the Asian Championships in Jakarta, Indonesia this August if she shines in Vietnam.

For the record, the previous edition of the Southeast Asian championships in Central Java, Indonesia last year saw four Sabahans compete, namely Ivan Charles, Richal Mattan, Cairola and Ar Nikazmie Ahmad.

Ivan won gold in the cadet kumite 70kg and below, while Richal won bronze in the junior kumite 55kg and below.

(L-R) Pressy, Cairola Gwendollyn and Vellcarollyne. Also making the trip to Vietnam for the Southeast Asian Karate Championships is Maychelle (not pictured).