Young karatekas shine at AKF meet

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian exponents’ strong performances at the Asian Karate Federation (AKF) Cadet, Junior & U21 Championships which concluded in China on Sunday (Sept 7) bodes well for the future of the sport here.

Malaysia Karate Federation (Makaf) president Datuk Nur Azmi said the success of the squad proves that the development initiatives conducted in the sport are starting to bear fruit.

“I consider this our best achievement so far this year. Our karate academy and development programmes have given athletes from all ages and backgrounds the chance to make the nation proud,” said Azmi today (Sept 9).

“For the Thailand Sea Games (Dec 9-20) this year, we will send a mix of development and senior exponents from the Podium Programme.

“Of course, we will be aiming for gold at the Sea Games.”

Malaysia won a total of three silver and four bronze medals in Shaoguan.

Lalitaanjali Ravindran (women’s cadeit kumite 54kg), Arif Hafizi (men’s under-21 kata) and Abdul Rayyan Shah Zulfaqqar (men’s cadet kata) won silver.

Adeola Fay Robert (women’s under-21 kumite 55kg), Nur Aneesa Affendi (women’s junior kata), Mukhriz MAzlan (men’s junior kata) and Mirza Amirah Faizal (women’s under-21 69kg) claimed bronze.

Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh congratulated the squad for their achievements at the Asian meet.

“They came from different backgrounds but they carried the same flag. They stood united as one Malaysian team,” said Yeoh on social media.

© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd

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