SKA Manggatal win state senior karate championship
KOTA KINABALU: SKA Manggatal/SMK Bandaraya was crowned the overall champions in the 42nd Sabah State Senior Karate Championship which ended at the Kota Kinabalu Sports Complex in Likas near here yesterday.
The squad claimed four gold and two silver medals which saw them beat 16 other teams in the one-day event to clinch their second overall title in the championship.
“We are very happy for the victory...the athletes did well despite facing some tough matches.
“It was also our second overall title after winning it for the first time in 2016...we will train harder to defend the title next year,” said team manager Osman Muamat when met after the prize presentation.
SKA Manggatal/SMK Bandaraya gold were won by Audrey Japyus in the Kumite +68kg Female, Kellyment Kahan (Kumite +84kg Male), Nurhanna Nadirah Ridzuan (Kumite -50kg female) and Stanley Dulian (Kumite -55kg male).
Abby Iysha Abiezarly in the Kumite -61kg Female category and Darren Rizal in the Kumite -84kg Male category delivered the silver medals for the champions.
Inspire Karate Club of Papar finished second overall with three gold, one silver and two bronzes followed by Keningau Sports Complex Karate Club with two gold, one silver and three bronzes.
As for PDRM Sabah who won in 2017 and 2018, they settled for 12th placing with one silver and six bronze medals.
Meanwhile, Sabah Karate Association (SKA) deputy president Datuk Herman Tiongsoh said the championship was important as it served as a trial run before Sabah host the 8th Asian Karate Federation (AKF) Cadet, Junior and Under21 Championship in Likas from April 26-28.
At the same time, the championship was also a platform to select athletes to represent Sabah to the 39th MAKAF National Senior Karate Open Championship that will be held in Selangor, later this month.
Towards this end, Herman urged the senior karatekas to consider becoming a coach once they decided to stop from competitive tournaments, thus helping the association to further develop the sport in the State.
He said SKA would do whatever it could to develop karate and that backing of all branches, clubs as well as athletes and officials would be important for the sport to reach new heights.
Herman, who was representing president Datuk Jake Jikulin Nointin, officially closed the championship which saw around 150 athletes taking part.
Secretary general of SKA, Julian Chin, was among those present at the ceremony.