Syakilla needs to clear three stages to make 2020 Tokyo Olympics
KUALA LUMPUR: National karate exponent Syakilla Salni Jefry is ranked fifth in the world in the women’s kumite below 55kg category.
But the 2014 Incheon Asian Games gold medallist faces a tough task to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She will have to go through three stages of the World Karate Federation’s (WKF) Karate 1Premier League series.
The Selangor exponent, who won golds in the kumite below 55kg category and the team event at the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games in August, will have to finish in the top 50 in the Premier League in Paris from Jan 2628 to qualify for the second stage of the Premier League in Tokyo from Oct 1214.
In Tokyo, she must finish in the top 25 to qualify for the third and final Premier League in 2019 (venue and dates to be decided).
Syakilla needs to finish in the top 10 in the third Premier League to qualify for the Olympics.
The 25yearold Syakilla, who won the silver in the world meet in Germany in 2014, said that nothing would stop her from featuring in the Olympics.
“I was ranked No. 1 in the world in the below 55kg in 2016 after achieving four podium finishes in seven legs. But I dropped to fifth this year when I missed four Premier League competitions after undergoing surgery on my right elbow last November,” she said.
In last year’s Premier League series, she beat world champion Sara Cardin of Italy to win the gold in Dubai, before taking the silver in Salzburg and Hamburg. She also earned a bronze in Istanbul.
“I’m all fired up to put up a stronger challenge in the Premier League next year to qualify for the Olympics,” said Syakilla after receiving a memento from Milo yesterday for her contribution to Malaysia in the SEA Games.
She was among eight national athletes who were honoured for their contributions to Malaysia in the 29th edition of SEA Games and the 9th edition of the Asean Para Games.
The other athletes who received the recognition from Milo yesterday were Joel van Huizen (hockey), Ng Eain Yow (squash), Nur Izzati Yaakob (basketball), Welson Sim (swimming), Nur Dhabitah Sabri (diving) and para athletes Felicia Mikat (athletics) and Abdul Latif Romly (athletics).