Cracked forehead dashes Senthil’s Asian Games hopes
PETALING JAYA: A cracked forehead has dashed karate exponent S. Senthil Kumaran’s hopes of competing in the Asian Games in Indonesia next month.
He will now focus on making a comeback for the major assignments next year.
Senthil, a gold medallist at the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games last year, was withdrawn from the squad bound for Jakarta after he suffered the injury at the Asian Karate Championships in Amman, Jordan, recently.
There will be no replacement for Senthil, who fights in the men’s kumite below 60kg, as the Malaysia Karate Federation (Makaf ) do not have anyone of Asian Games standard in that category.
“I was kicked very hard in the forehead in my quarter-final match against Japan’s Kozaki Yugo.
“It was painful and I had a brief concussion although I won.
“I recovered to fight on but I could not focus after that,” said Senthil, who felt he lost the chance to bring back a gold medal from the Asian meet.
“I lost to the eventual winner (Shaaban Abdullah of Kuwait).
“I was advised by the doctor here to give up my place in the Asian Games for medical reasons as I have a crack on my forehead.
“I feel sad after having to prepare for the Asian Games for some time but there is no other choice.
“I wish my teammates all the best. I will focus on recovery and I look forward to other big events next year like the World Karate Championships and the SEA Games in Manila,” said the 26-year-old, who also bagged a bronze in the below 55kg category at the last Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, in 2014.
Syakilla Salni Jefry Krisnan will be bidding for a second Asian Games gold medal but will compete in the women’s kumite below 55kg category this time. Syakilla won gold in her Asian Games debut in Incheon in the below 61kg category.
Lim Chee Wei will also defend his men’s kata individual title in Jakarta along with Prem Kumar (men’s kumite below 55kg), R. Sharmendran (men’s kumite below 75kg), P. Madhuri (women’s kumite below 50kg) and Celine Lee Xin Yi (women’s kata individual).