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Tuesday November 24, 2009

Kunasilan gets lucky break as Yoke Wai recovers from surgery

By LIM TEIK HUAT

PETALING JAYA: Karate exponent L. Kunasilan had a reason to make a trip by bus back to his hometown in Ipoh over the weekend when he could have spent the time resting and catching up on his studies.

The university undergraduate had to fulfil a promise to say thanks to the Hindu god as his prayers to fight for individual honours at the Laos SEA Games had been answered.

The exclusion of Korat SEA Games double gold medallist Lim Yoke Wai, who is recovering from an ankle surgery, has paved the way for Kunasilan to take part in the men’s below 60kg kumite competition.

Yoke Wai, the 2006 Doha Asian Games silver medallist in below 65kg weight category, was the toast of the karate team in 2007 Korat SEA Games – winning the below 65kg and Open competitions to become the first Malaysian exponent in the series to clinch two individual gold medals.

And Kunasilan, who is also an Asian Games silver medallist, is looking to take up the challenge in Vientiane.

“First of all, I never expected my luck to change. I was only entered for the team competition as the coach (P. Arivalagan) had to leave out exponents in certain weight categories because of the restrictions on maximum number of entries at the Games this time,” he said.

“However, I have been training for individual competitions besides getting ready for the team event. I will get to compete for an individual medal at the expense of a team-mate and I hope to prove that I am worthy of the spot. I intend to fight every bout like a final and hope to bring home the gold.”

The grateful 23-year-old also returned to his hometown to seek blessings from his parents ahead of the Games.

“We have to concentrate on the final preparations for the SEA Games in the next two weeks. I also want to say my prayers as my wish has been fulfilled,” he said.

Kunasilan first stamped his mark by winning gold in his debut at the SEA Games in Manila in 2005. But he failed in the defence of the title in Korat.

Indonesian Donny Dharmawan is expected to be Kunasilan’s main rival for the gold medal in the Laos Games. Donny defeat Kunasilan in the third round of the Asian championships in China in September.

For the Laos Games, each country can only have five exponents in seven categories of men’s competitions and four of six women’s categories.

This has dented Malaysia’s hopes of matching the eight-gold haul at the 2007 Korat Games. But Arivalagan is hopeful of the squad returning with at least four gold medals.

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