KUCHING: Hosts Malaysia created history by becoming the overall champions for the first time in the Kobe Osaka International (KOI) World Cup since 1991. Represented by the national team, Sabah, Sarawak, Labuan and Pahang, Malaysia captured a total of 13 gold, 16 silver and 26 bronze medals to accumulate 97 points to top the medals table.
Although Russia also won 13 gold, they were edged into second place with 10 silver, six less than the Malaysians and seven bronze for a total of 66 points. The two countries were neck and neck in the fight for the lead in the last two days of competition at State Indoor Stadium in Petra Jaya.
Both had four gold medals each to show on the final day yesterday with Jamaluddin Shaharudin delivering a gold for Malaysia in the male senior individual kumite 65kg-72.5kg, Jamalliah Jamaluddin in the female senior individual kumite +60kg, male senior team kumite 18 years old and above and mixed gender team kata senior 16 years old and above.
Apart from the four gold, Malaysia also cap-tured six silver and nine bronze. Russia won their gold medals through Garmaev Veniamin in the male veteran individual kata 40 years old and above, Askanas Megrabyan in the male senior individual kumite +80kg, Anna Savitskaya in the female senior individual kumite -53kg and male cadet team kumite 14-15 years old.
Finishing in third place were Hong Kong who garnered five gold, three silver and five bronze for a total of 26 points. The last gold of the day went to defending champion Rene Smaal of Netherlands who overcame a determined opponent in Malaysia’s S. Jayaseelan 5-1 in the final of the male senior individual kumite 72.5kg to -80kg. Smaal also won a gold in the mixed team kumite (18 and above) on Friday.
Meanwhile, Ramly Abdullah said he was overjoyed with the overall performance of the country’s karatekas and they had surpassed the target of four gold medals.
“We won five gold and two silver at the KOI World Cup in Latina, Italy last year and with our intensive training programme, we have managed a very good result this year,” the national team manager said. Ramly said the performance of the back-up exponents was also very encouraging and they would form the backbone of the national team when the seniors retire.
“We fielded only nine national exponents and 32 back-up exponents in this meet and they have exceeded our expectations,” he added. He said the World Cup was also a venue to prepare the national exponents for the coming SEA Games and Islamic Games.
Asked on the target for the next World Cup, Ramly said Malaysia had to work harder to do better or maintain their performance.
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