Sabah karatekas finish second overall in national senior open
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah karatekas proved their prowess by winning three gold, three silver and seven bronze medals in the 39th MAKAF National Senior Open Karate Championship yesterday.
The total medals won saw them finish second overall in the two-day championship that ended at the MPSJ Stadium in Serdang Jaya, Selangor.
Penang Karate Federation emerged as champions with five gold and three silver while Selangor Karate-Do Association’s inferior bronze medal count saw them settle for third with three gold, three silver and six bronze medals.
President of Sabah Karate Association (SKA), Datuk Jake Jikulin Nointin, was pleased with the performance of the state squad.
He said not only did they achieve the three-gold target that equalled their haul from last year but they also improved from third to second place overall this time around.
“The squad did well to improve their overall standing and it is an improvement.
“Overall I’m happy with the athletes...they tried their best. The championship is tough with some of the country’s best competing.
“Hopefully this will be a motivation for us all to continue working harder to lift Sabah karate to greater heights,” said Jake who was present to give his moral support to the squad.
As expected national elite karateka Pressy Misty Philip delivered one of the three gold when she won in the final of the Female Kumite -68kg category.
The other two gold were from Audrey Jaypus (Female Kumite +68kg) and Bukit Jalil-based Richal Mattan (Male Kumite 55kg).
The three silver were from Ronny Roger Sining (Kumite -84kg), Nurul Shyakira Ayu Zakaria (Kumite +68kg) and the Female Team Kumite comprising Pressy, Audrey, national back-up Amirah Syahirah Azlan, Cairola Cheverry Wong Yee Ying and Maychelle Roger Mool.
As for the bronzes, the individual winners were Amirah (Female Kumite -61kg), Carl Pearson Philip (Male Kumite -67kg), Vellcarollyne Agustine (Female Individual Kata) and Ellen Rachel Samuel (Female Kumite -68kg).
The other two bronzes were from the Male Team Kata comprising Clevelence Carlos, Josvin Jase and Mark Kevin Frederick as well as the Male Team Kumite consisting of Richal, Carl, national back-up Arthuric Gideon Jiwin, Stanley Dulian, Al Nasrin Faisal, Mcroyce Donovan Dagul and Kellyment Kahan.
For the record, SKA sent 29 athletes comprising 14 male and 15 female exponents. to the country’s premier karate championship.