MELAKA – Malaysia will be counting on five exponents to shine in the three-day 19th Asian Karate Championships, which will be held at the Melaka International Trade Centre (MITC) in Ayer Keroh here from tomorrow.
The five are Zakiah Adnan, who will compete in the women’s kumite 61-kilogramme (kg) event, Syahirah Amirah Azlan (women’s kumite 68kg), C. Shahmalarani (women’s kumite 50kg); as well as Muhammad Arif Afifudin (men’s kumite 81kg) and Muhammad Aiqal Asmadie (men’s kata).
They will be among the 388 exponents from 32 countries who will be battling it out for glory in the championships.
Malaysia Karate Federation (Makaf) president Datuk Nur Azmi Ahmad said the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah will grace the opening ceremony at 4 pm tomorrow.
“Also present will be the Yang Dipertua Negeri of Melaka, Tun Mohd Ali Rustam, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh and her deputy, Adam Adli Abd Halim,” he said in a statement today.
He also said that the Asian meet will be crucial for 16 national exponents as it will be a precursor to the World Karate Championships in Budapest, Hungary in October.
The second edition of the Asian Para Karate Championships will also be held simultaneously.
Meanwhile, top seeds Japan, who also emerged as overall champions in the previous Asian meet in Uzbekistan last December with eight golds, two silvers and three bronzes, are set to feature 23 exponents this time.
Jordan should pose the biggest threat to Japan while Kazakhstan, who will be fielding 19 exponents, should not be underestimated, either.
All eyes, however, will surely be on the three defending champions – Japan’s Kakeru Nishiyama, Assel Kanay (Kazakhstan) and Abdel Rahman Almasatfa (Jordan). – Bernama
