Aira makes history with Asian Junior Karate gold
Aira claims the women’s junior individual kata crown in Amman after beating Chinese Taipei’s representative 4-1 in the final
LABUAN – National junior karate exponent Nur Aneesa Aira Mohamad Affendi made history for Malaysia by winning the women’s junior individual kata gold at the 24th Asian Karate Federation (AKF) Cadet, Junior and U21 Karate Championships in Amman, Jordan, yesterday.
The victory also ended Labuan’s 34-year wait for an Asian karate title since the establishment of Labuan Karate in 1992.
Labuan Karate Association president Aswadi Taba said Aira, who won bronze in the same event last year, defeated Jordan’s representative 4-1 in the opening round before overcoming Kuwait’s athlete 5-0 in the semi-finals.
She then clinched the coveted title by defeating the Chinese Taipei representative 4-1 in the final.
“The achievement also highlighted the contribution of Labuan-born national kata coach Mohd Norfarhan Nordin, who has played a key role in developing Malaysia’s young kata athletes,” he told Bernama today.
Aira’s victory adds to Labuan’s record at the championships, following Muhammad Aiqal Asmadie’s bronze in the men’s U21 individual kata in 2022.
Aira has now gone a step further by delivering Labuan’s first gold medal at the Asian championships.
The 2026 AKF Cadet, Junior and U21 Karate Championships bring together young athletes from 21 Asian countries.
He said the Malaysian challenge in Amman continues with another Labuan athlete, Diya Khalish Kasryanto, set to compete in the women’s junior kumite under-66kg category. – BERNAMA
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