Karatekas all out to prove mettle at national open
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah karatekas will be going all out to prove their mettle at the 39th Malaysia Karate Federation (MAKAF) National Senior Karate Open Championship this weekend.
The championship which will end on Sunday will be taking place at the MPSJ Stadium in Serdang Jaya, Selangor.
And president of the Sabah Karate Association, Datuk Jake Jikulin Nointin, has urged the state karatekas to show their utmost best against some of country’s top exponents.
According to him, the country’s premier karate tournament would be an ideal platform for the athletes to get noticed and considered for the national team.
“This is the best venue to make a good impression if they harbour hopes of representing the country,” he said after a handingover of the State Flag ceremony in Likas late Wednesday.
Having said that, Jake also hoped that the state karatekas would be able to maintain or even improve on their performance in the chaampionship.
He said Sabah had done well to be among the top perfoming teams in the championship in the past and he expected them to rise to the occasion again this time around.
For the record, Sabah have been able to finish inside the top three including last year’s overall third placing after bagging three gold, one silver and seven bronze medals.
“We have done well in past senior championships and hopefully we will have another positive outing this year,” he said while giving advice to the athletes to always keep a good discipline and sportsmanship throughout the competition.
The full Sabah squad are Clevelence Carlos (Ind Kata/ Team Kata), Josvin Jase (Ind Kata/Team Kata), Mark Kevin Frederick (Team Kata), Stanley Dulian (Kumite -55kg/Team Kumite), Richal Mattan (Kumite -55kg/Team Kumite), Al Nasrin Faisal (Kumite -60kg/Team Kumite), Reyon Handeri @ Hamzah (Kumite -60kg), Arthuric Gideon Jiwin (Kumite -67kg/Team Kumite), Carl Pearson Philip (Kumite -67kg/Team Kumite), Mcroyce Donovan Dagul (Kumite -75kg/Team Kumite), Darren Ryan Rizal (Kumite -84kg), Ronny Roger Sining (Kumite -84kg), Kellyment Kahan (Kumite +84kg/ Team Kumite), Rayner Subinon (Kumite +84kg).
The female karatekas comprise Vellcarollyne Agustine (Ind. Kata/ Kumite -55kg), Juslin Juman (Ind Kata/Team Kata), Audrey Tay (Team Kata), Nur Ayeen Terance (Team Kata), Dayang Nur Izzati Salem (Kumite -50kg), Nurhanna Nadirah Ridzuan (Kumite -50kg), Gwendollyn Gimus (Kumite 55kg), Alviany Yantoni (Kumite -61kg), Amirah Syahirah Azlan (Kumite -61kg/Team Kumite), Ellen Rachel Samuel (Kumite -68kg), Pressy Misty Philip (Kumite -68kg/Team Kumite), Audrey Jaypus (Kumite +68kg/ Team Kumite), Nurul Shyakira Ayu Zakaria (Kumite +68kg), Cairola Cheverry Wong Yee Ying (Team Kumite), Maychelle Roger Mool (Team Kumite).
Iskhandar Damis will lead the squad as team manager while the coaches are Danny Fredoline, Mohd Azreen and Farlin Fredrick.
The state squad left for the championship yesterday.