MALAYSIA’s karate exponents Syakilla Salni and R. Sharmendran were simply magnificent on Wednesday (23 Aug) at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. (KLCC).
A gold medallist in the 2013 Myanmar SEA Games and 2014 Incheon Asian Games, Syakilla downed Vietnamese Trang Cam Lanh 3-0 for the gold in the women’s 55kg kumite final.
The bronze went to Thailand’s Tippawan Khamsi and Philippines’ Mae Soriano.
Next up was R. Sharmendran, who scored an emphatic 7-0 victory over Trang’s compatriot Chu Duc Thinh in the final of the men’s kumite below 75kg category.
Three bronze medals also landed in Malaysia’s way through S. Prem in the men 55kg, M. Mathivani (women’s kumite below 68kg) and A. Somanro in the men’s kumite above 75kg categories.
“I am so happy to win the gold on home ground and I dedicate this gold medal to my family, coach and all the fans for their solid support,” she said. “All the tough training I went through was worth and I am a proud owner of a SEA Games gold medal.”
In other men’s events, Indonesia’s Iwan Bidu Sirait edged John Paul Bejar from the Philippines 10-4 while Cok Istri Agung Sanistya Rani, also of Indonesia, defeated Thailand’s Arm Sukkiaw 7-0 for the women’s kumite below 61kg category.
Vietnam’s Ho Thi Thu Hien claimed the women’s 68kg gold with a 3-0 win over Kanokwan Kwanong from Thailand.
The last gold medal on Day 2 events went to Vietnamese Nguyen Minh Phung following an outright 8-0 win over Theerapat Kangtong from Thailand. Malaysian M. Somanroy Arulveeran and Indonesia’s Hendro Salim won bronze medal.
