A LAST-minute decision to stick with the old knockout format for the Asian Games karate competition could benefit the Malaysian kumite team as they bid to end a nine-year gold drought.
The Asian Games organisers have decided to do away with the current format in place in the World Karate Federation (WKF) events, which starts with the round robin followed by the knockout stage for the medal rounds.
And former Asian Games medallist L. Kunasilan urged the athletes to seize the opportunity and rise to the occasion in Hangzhou.
“Our athletes are used to competing in the knockout format. This system also minimises the risk of injury unlike when you are fighting in the group stage,” said Kunasilan, who is one of the coaches for the team.
“But at the same time, it also forces you to be more alert. In the knockout stage, every opponent needs to fight each round as though it’s the final to progress to the next round.
“We have not won the gold for a long time and I really hope we can end the wait.
“But having been involved in the coaching side for the exponents, I can say that they know what they need to do.
“Karate is not in the next Olympics, so an Asian Games medal holds prestige next to the World Championships for us.
“Our exponents went to Tunisia to train before the Asian Games and we hope it will bear fruit,” said Kunasilan, who bagged silver in the men’s below 60kg category at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha.
The 11-member strong karate team checked into the Athletes Village on Monday and Kunasilan also has one piece of advice for them.
“The tactical preparation has been done and now our exponents only need to remind themselves of their individual strength.
‘‘They have to visualise themselves performing well.
“It’s also good for them to use the next few days to get comfortable with the warm-up area and competition venue,” said the former SEA Games champion.
Former Asian Games champion R. Puvaneswaran is also hoping to hear good news when the karate competition starts tomorrow.
“All the preparations have been done and it is now left to the exponents to perform.
Whether newcomers or not, everyone stands a good chance as long as they do not let the pressure get to them,” said Puvaneswaran, who is also the only Malaysian to win the Asian Games gold medal twice - in the below 55kg category.
“I’ve seen defending champions or favourites succumb to pressure and don’t know how to deal with someone with nothing to lose.
“I was also young and had no experience when I went for my first Asiad in Hiroshima in 1994.
“I fought without pressure and came back with a bronze. Hopefully, we have another winner again.”
Puvaneswaran bagged gold in 2002 in Busan, then silver in Doha four years later before regaining the gold in Guangzhou in 2010.
Of the seven exponents, only S. Prem Kumar (men’s below 67kg), R. Sharmendran (men’s below 75kg) and P. Madhuri (women’s below 50kg) have taken part in the last Asiad in Indonesia five years ago.
H. Sureeya Sankar (men’s below 60kg), Arif Afifuddin Malik (men’s below 84kg), C. Shahmalarani (women’s below 50kg) and Zakiah Adnan (women’s below 61kg) are all making their debuts in Hangzhou.
At the last Asiad in Indonesia, Prem was the only Malaysian medallist when he won bronze in the men’s below 60kg category.
