Karate exponent Syakilla kickstarts mission to qualify for Olympics.
PETALING JAYA: There have been questions over whether she deserves special attention but Syakilla Salni Jefri Krishnan is not giving up her dream to make history as Malaysia’s first karate exponent to compete in the Olympics in Tokyo in 2020.
Syakilla has started a two-month training stint in Holland under special funding through the National Sports Council (NSC).
Despite failing to retain her gold medal at the Jakarta Asian Games last year, the 26-year-old is still the best hope for Malaysia when karate makes its Olympic debut in August next year.
Syakilla was ranked world No. 1 once in her category and she took silver at the 2014 World Karate Championships in Germany.
Syakilla will kickstart her mission to collect ranking points to qualify for the Olympics in the women’s kumite below 55kg when she competes in the Karate 1 Premier League in Dubai this weekend.
“I will also be taking part in the Karate 1 Series A in Salzburg, Austria, and also the Karate 1 Premier League in Rabat, Morocco, next month.
“All three tournaments carry points for Olympic qualification.
“I believe the training stints in Amsterdam and Rotterdam will help me improve my skills. I can get more quality sparring as the exponents in Europe have the same height and size as me.
“Hopefully, I can do well and get points to improve my rankings.
“It’s harder as the 50kg and 55kg weight categories are combined for the Olympics but I’m optimistic I have a chance to make it there or otherwise, I would not give my commitment,” said the lanky exponent, who has to make it to the Olympics either through the world rankings or world qualification.
Syakilla can confirm a place in the Olympics if she is ranked in the top four in the below 55kg category by April 6 next year. Otherwise, she has to finish in the top three in the world qualification tournament in Paris, France, in May next year.
An exponent has to be ranked in the world’s top 50 to enter the world qualification tournament.