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Saturday November 28, 2009

No slowing Lee Lee down despite two decades at top level

By LOGANATH VELLOO

GEORGE TOWN: Despite competing at the top level for almost two decades, Malaysia’s top female kata (karate’s non-combat discipline) exponent Lim Lee Lee has no plans to slow down.

The 34-year-old Penangite has no problems keeping herself motivated to continue seeking success at the highest level.

Since making her debut in the 1993 SEA Games in Singapore, Lee Lee has been peerless as the top female kata exponent in the country.

“My commitment towards winning has not waned a bit,” she said.

All the right chops: (From left) Lim Lee Lee, Thoe Ai Poh and Chong Chew Teng at training on Friday. — ZAINUDIN AHAD / The Star

“I have not considered slowing down as there are still several unattained goals in my career, such as winning a medal at the World Championships.” The closest she came to winning a medal at a world meet was in 2002 when she finished fourth.

But she has been more successful in the SEA Games, where she will be seeking a fourth individual gold medal in Laos next month.

She won in 2001 (Kuala Lumpur), 2005 (Manila) and 2007 (Korat). She also has a silver from the 1999 Brunei Games and bronze medals in 1997 (Jakarta) and 2003 (Hanoi).

In Vientiane, Lee Lee is expected to square off with her arch-rival and reigning World Games champion Nguyen Hoang Ngan of Vietnam in the battle for gold.

The Malaysian had upstaged the Vietnamese at the last SEA Games. But Hoang Ngan will be no pushover, especially after her silver medal feat at the recent Asian Championships in China, where Lee Lee bagged a bronze.

“Unlike physical combat sports, it is difficult to rate the winning chances in a subjective sport like kata, which is performance-based,” said Lee Lee.

“We can only train hard and try to put on a flawless performance when it matters most.”

Besides defending her individual gold, Lee Lee will also compete in the women’s kata team event with Thoe Ai Poh and greenhorn Chong Chew Teng.

“With a newcomer in the team, we had to relearn all the steps. Vietnam is our biggest threat but we have been working hard in training and will give our best to win the gold medal,” said Lee Lee.

In Korat two years ago, the trio of Lee Lee, Ai Poh and Chin Fang Ying settled for silver after going down in the final to Vietnam.

The men’s kata challenge will be led by reigning Asian Championships silver medalist Tan Chee Sheng, who will also line up alongside Kam Kah Sam and Ricky Leong in the team event.

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