THE Hangzhou Asian Games karate competition begins today, but Malaysia are already assured of at least a bronze medal.
Only four countries have entered for the women’s kata competition – Malaysia, Brunei, Cambodia and Vietnam. And there will be two bronzes on offer tomorrow.
Malaysia, represented by Lovely Anne Robberth, Naccy Nelly Evvaferra and Niathalia Sherawinnie Yampil, will take on Brunei while Vietnam will square off against Cambodia. The winners will advance to the final while the losers will both be awarded bronzes.
Malaysia Karate Federation (MKF) deputy president Datuk Vincent Chen is hoping for more medals.
However, it is going to be a tough ask for the kumite team to contribute gold, judging from the draw released yesterday.
Captain R. Sharmendran will open his campaign today. He has a bye in the first round but has to beat Turkmenistan’s Davut Nazmyradov to reach the quarter-finals. If he goes that far, reigning Asian champion Nurkanat Azhikanov awaits.
Two-time SEA Games champion H. Sureeya Shankar has a very tough opening match as he needs to beat reigning Asian champion Kaisar Alpysbay of Kazakhstan just to reach the quarter-finals.
Sureeya, the 2022 Asian championships bronze medallist, has a bye in the first round and also has Indonesia’s Ari Saputra in the lower half of the draw. The Indonesian exponent was the silver medallist at the Cambodia SEA Games in May.
Prem Kumar will need to be at his best in the quarter-final, as he needs to take on either Didar Amirali of Kazakhstan or Hong Kong’s Cheng Hui Pan, the silver and bronze medallists at the recent Asian championships in Melaka in July.
It’s not any easier for the women.
Reigning Asian champion Ksu Tsui-ping awaits P. Madhuri if she goes to the semi-finals while Cambodia SEA Games winner C. Shahmalarani will probably face Filipino World Games winner Junna Tsukii in the last eight.
Tsukii, who is of Japanese-Filipino heritage, cried foul after her sudden death loss to Shahmalarani at the SEA Games in Cambodia, and will be out for revenge.
If Shahmalarani enters the semis, she will face Hong Kong’s reigning Asian champion Tsang Yee Ting.
“A medal is in the bag for Malaysia but we shall see the outcome tomorrow. We hope for the best,” said Chen.
