Karate squad excel, bag Malaysia's first two golds in Cambodia

PHNOM PENH - The karate squad kicked off their 2023 Sea Games campaign in style after winning Malaysia's first two gold medals on the first day of the Games today.

Defending champion, C. Shahmalarani contributed the nation's first gold in the women's kumite below 50 kilogrammes (kg) event after defeating 2022 World Games champion from the Philippines, Junna Tsukii Villanueva in the action at the Chroy Changvar Convention Centre, here.

Although Villanueva led 1-0 at the start of the bout, Shahmalarani managed to level the score at 1-1 when Malaysian coach Tamel Abdelraof asked for a video review after his charge was seen doing a yuko (punch) towards the opponent.

However, Shahmalarani was declared the champion by the referee after her moves were more aggressive than her opponent.

Shortly after, it was the turn of the 2019 edition champion, S. Prem Kumar to present the country's second gold, this time in the men's kumite below 55kg event.

Prem Kumar who was battling in pain due to an injury to his left wrist got the first point before trailing 3-1 in an intense bout against Chanphet Setthaphong of Thailand.

However, Prem Kumar showed great fighting spirit when he managed to score two points in a row to level the score at 3-3 until the end of the fight and was named the winner after gaining the first point over Setthaphong. - BERNAMA