MAKAF suggest 61 kg and above for Syakilla
KUALA LUMPUR: Due to the weight problem faced by Syakilla Salni Jefry Krisnan, the Malaysian Karate Federation (MAKAF) have still not decided the category she will be representing at the 2019 SEA Games in the Philippines in November.
MAKAF secretary general Datuk Nur Azmi Ahmad said MAKAF gave flexibility to Syakilla to pick a suitable category, whether Kumite under 55 kg, under 61 kg or 61 kg and above.
‘’It is only a weight problem, and for the SEA Games, Syakilla really should not have an issue. It is up to her in terms of category. If she can continue with under 55 kg, she must continue to focus and work hard to reach the level. But her chance is not easy.
‘’She has to vie with several athletes in every category to win a slot to the SEA Games. If Syakilla wants to contest in the under 55 kg category she has to compete with three other athletes while for the under 61 kg or 61 kg and above categories, she has to fight with two athletes in each category,’’ he said.
Nur Azmi said MAKAF did not want to put pressure on Syakilla over the weight problem she faced but suggested that the 27-yearold athlete focused on the 61 kg and above category.
Currently, Syakilla weighed 67.95 kg and she would have her work cut out for her if she wanted to contest in the under 55 kg category. She won the gold medal in the under 55 kg Kumite event at the 2017 SEA Games.
In the same development, Nur Azmi said MAKAF had set a target of four gold medals from seven events to be participated at the 2019 SEA Games.
Commenting further, Nur Azmi said MAKAF had listed 22 athletes for the 2019 SEA Games, but only 14 would be picked including five reserves.
At the 2017 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games, the national karate squad emerged overall champions after winning seven gold, two silver and four bronze medals. - Bernama