KARATE STAR SYAKILLA PICKED AS FLAG BEARER IN INDONESIA
Martial arts exponent Syakilla is Malaysia’s flag bearer at Asiad
KUALA LUMPUR: Syakilla Salni Jefry Krisnan has earned a big honour for karate as she has been named the flag bearer for the Malaysian contingent to the Indonesia Asian Games next month.
The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) executive board, which met yesterday, decided to pick Syakilla as the first karate exponent to be given the honour of leading the nation’s contingent for the marchpast during the opening ceremony in Jakarta on Aug 18.
The other names who were also considered were shuttler Lee Chong Wei, diver Pandelela Rinong, squash player Nicol David, track cyclist Azizulhasni Awang and sailor Khairulnizam Afendy.
OCM president Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria said they decided to settle on a new face in Syakilla this time, especially as karate will be making its Olympic debut in Tokyo in two years’ time.
“She may be a new face but has already made the country proud. She is ranked top in Asia and she was also a gold medallist for Malaysia at the last Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea in 2014.
“We also wanted to promote karate as the sport will be making its first appearance at the Tokyo Olympic Games,” said Norza.
Syakilla is not the first karate exponent to be the flag bearer at a major multi-Games. R. Puvaneswaran, a two-time Asian Games gold medallist, had the honour of leading the contingent in Hanoi, Vietnam for the 2003 SEA Games.
Syakilla bagged the women’s kumite below 55kg title in the Paris Open to mark a perfect start to the year in January.
Malaysia will be sending 447 athletes for the Asian Games, which will be held in Jakarta and Palembang.
A total of 40 sports will be contested this time.
Norza added they will invite the new Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman to attend the OCM council meeting on July 28.
“It’s the first council meeting for the new OCM management and we hope the new Sports Minister will accept our invitation.”