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.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Malaysia Karatekas in title chase, expected to dominate senior categories
KUCHING: Russia took over as the new leaders in the medal standings when their karatekas went on a gold rush on the third day of the Kobe Osaka International (KOI) World Cup at the State Indoor Stadium yesterday.
The Russians asserted their dominance in the kumite competition, taking five out of the nine gold medals at stake and nudged Malaysia into second place on merit of having two more silver medals. The Russians won the gold medals in the boys’ team kumite (age 12 to 13), mixed team kumite (12 to13), mixed team kumite (14 to 15), mixed team kumite (16 to 17) old and male cadet team kumite (14 to 15). They also won three silver medals in the mixed team kumite (14 to 15), male junior team kumite (16 to 17) and male senior team kumite (18 and above).
Malaysia also performed well yesterday, bagging four gold medals through Lim Lee Lee in female senior individual kata shitoryu, senior team kumite (18 and above), male senior team kumite (18 and above) and mixed gender team kata senior (16 and above).
Lee Lee also won another bronze in the mixed gender team kata senior (16 and above) to bring her personal tally to two gold and one bronze medals.
Mohammad Hatta Mahamut, a member of the Malaysia Team B1 that won the gold medal in the male senior team kumite 18 years, said it was great to be able to beat the Russians again in the category in Kuching this year. He was a member of the Malaysian team that denied the Russians the gold medal in the same category in last year’s KOI World Cup in Latina, Italy.
“Actually we had three Malaysian teams competing in this category today. Two had already been knocked out and that put us under tremendous pressure in the final,” he said.
Hatta, who will also be competing at the Asian Karate Federation Championship in Kwangchou, China in September, said he was confident Malaysia would finish as the overall champions in this World Cup. “This is because many top Malaysian karatekas will be competing in the senior categories today.”
Meanwhile, Malaysia Team A won the only silver medal in the female senior team kumite (18 and above) while the national karatekas also delivered five bronze medals, of which two came from the female senior individual kata shitoryu, and one each from male cadet team kumite (14/14), mixed gender team kata junior (below 16) and mixed gender team kata senior (16 and above).
Australia took the gold in the mixed team kumite (18 and above) while Zohour 2 of Egypt put up a good performance in the mixed gender team kata junior (below 16) to capture the gold.
Jordan also had a gold medal to show for, winning their male junior team kumite (16 and 17).
The Russians asserted their dominance in the kumite competition, taking five out of the nine gold medals at stake and nudged Malaysia into second place on merit of having two more silver medals. The Russians won the gold medals in the boys’ team kumite (age 12 to 13), mixed team kumite (12 to13), mixed team kumite (14 to 15), mixed team kumite (16 to 17) old and male cadet team kumite (14 to 15). They also won three silver medals in the mixed team kumite (14 to 15), male junior team kumite (16 to 17) and male senior team kumite (18 and above).
Malaysia also performed well yesterday, bagging four gold medals through Lim Lee Lee in female senior individual kata shitoryu, senior team kumite (18 and above), male senior team kumite (18 and above) and mixed gender team kata senior (16 and above).
Lee Lee also won another bronze in the mixed gender team kata senior (16 and above) to bring her personal tally to two gold and one bronze medals.
Mohammad Hatta Mahamut, a member of the Malaysia Team B1 that won the gold medal in the male senior team kumite 18 years, said it was great to be able to beat the Russians again in the category in Kuching this year. He was a member of the Malaysian team that denied the Russians the gold medal in the same category in last year’s KOI World Cup in Latina, Italy.
“Actually we had three Malaysian teams competing in this category today. Two had already been knocked out and that put us under tremendous pressure in the final,” he said.
Hatta, who will also be competing at the Asian Karate Federation Championship in Kwangchou, China in September, said he was confident Malaysia would finish as the overall champions in this World Cup. “This is because many top Malaysian karatekas will be competing in the senior categories today.”
Meanwhile, Malaysia Team A won the only silver medal in the female senior team kumite (18 and above) while the national karatekas also delivered five bronze medals, of which two came from the female senior individual kata shitoryu, and one each from male cadet team kumite (14/14), mixed gender team kata junior (below 16) and mixed gender team kata senior (16 and above).
Australia took the gold in the mixed team kumite (18 and above) while Zohour 2 of Egypt put up a good performance in the mixed gender team kata junior (below 16) to capture the gold.
Jordan also had a gold medal to show for, winning their male junior team kumite (16 and 17).
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Karate-Do: Malaysia reap golden harvest on second day
MALAYSIAN national karatekas reaped a golden harvest when they fought their way to three gold medals in the kata competition of the 18th Kobe Osaka International (KOI) World Cup at State Indoor Stadium here yesterday.
The gold medals were delivered by national champion Lim Lee Lee in her pet event - the girls senior individual kata (ages 16 and above) - Emmanuel Leong in the boys senior individual kata gojuryu and Tan Chee Shen in the men’s kata shitoryu.
The national team also won six silver and six bronze to catapult to the top of the medal table standings (as at 5pm).Following closely in second place were Hong Kong with two gold, three silver and one bronze while in third place were Jordan with two gold and one bronze. The silver medals for Malaysia were won by Shamala Rubini in the girls cadet individual kata (ages 14-15), Thoe Ai Poy (girls senior individual kata, ages 16 and above), Muhd Aqmal Asmadie (boys individual kata, ages 8-9), Lim Chee Wei (boys senior individual kata shotokan and boys individual kata shitoryu). The bronze medals came from Mohd Azuh Ansyuh Ag Hashim (boys senior individual kata shotokan and boys individual kata shitoryu), Leong Tze Wai (boys individual kata shitoryu), Siew Wen Jin, Syarulniza Abdul Jamil (girls cadet individual kata, ages 14-15) and Ummi Ahmad (girls individual kata, ages 12-13).
Lee Lee said she was happy to retain her title she won at last year’s KOI World Cup in Latina, Italy. “I’m looking to do my best in the Asian Karate Federation Championship in Guangzhou, China this September. “I’m not setting any target because it would not mean anything if you just set a target and do not achieve it,” she said, adding that she would focus on her training for the coming event. Since taking up the sport at the age of 13, Lee Lee has been constantly representing the country and has won many medals. In the recent Hong Kong Open Karate Championship, she won a gold medal each in the women’s individual kata and team kata.
She also won a gold and a silver in the last SEA Games at Korat, Thailand and a bronze at the KOI World Cup in Bulgaria in 2007.
Meanwhile, the Latvians also put up an excellent showing, winning two gold medals via Patricija Mierkaine in the girls individual kata (ages 10-11) and girls individual kata (ages 12-13).
The other double gold medallist yesterday was Richard Wong of Hong Kong who won the boys individual kata (ages 10-11) and boys individual kata (ages 12-13).
The gold medals were delivered by national champion Lim Lee Lee in her pet event - the girls senior individual kata (ages 16 and above) - Emmanuel Leong in the boys senior individual kata gojuryu and Tan Chee Shen in the men’s kata shitoryu.
The national team also won six silver and six bronze to catapult to the top of the medal table standings (as at 5pm).Following closely in second place were Hong Kong with two gold, three silver and one bronze while in third place were Jordan with two gold and one bronze. The silver medals for Malaysia were won by Shamala Rubini in the girls cadet individual kata (ages 14-15), Thoe Ai Poy (girls senior individual kata, ages 16 and above), Muhd Aqmal Asmadie (boys individual kata, ages 8-9), Lim Chee Wei (boys senior individual kata shotokan and boys individual kata shitoryu). The bronze medals came from Mohd Azuh Ansyuh Ag Hashim (boys senior individual kata shotokan and boys individual kata shitoryu), Leong Tze Wai (boys individual kata shitoryu), Siew Wen Jin, Syarulniza Abdul Jamil (girls cadet individual kata, ages 14-15) and Ummi Ahmad (girls individual kata, ages 12-13).
Lee Lee said she was happy to retain her title she won at last year’s KOI World Cup in Latina, Italy. “I’m looking to do my best in the Asian Karate Federation Championship in Guangzhou, China this September. “I’m not setting any target because it would not mean anything if you just set a target and do not achieve it,” she said, adding that she would focus on her training for the coming event. Since taking up the sport at the age of 13, Lee Lee has been constantly representing the country and has won many medals. In the recent Hong Kong Open Karate Championship, she won a gold medal each in the women’s individual kata and team kata.
She also won a gold and a silver in the last SEA Games at Korat, Thailand and a bronze at the KOI World Cup in Bulgaria in 2007.
Meanwhile, the Latvians also put up an excellent showing, winning two gold medals via Patricija Mierkaine in the girls individual kata (ages 10-11) and girls individual kata (ages 12-13).
The other double gold medallist yesterday was Richard Wong of Hong Kong who won the boys individual kata (ages 10-11) and boys individual kata (ages 12-13).
Friday, July 24, 2009
INTERNATIONAL KARATE-DO COMPETITION
This video was taken on 24 July 09 at Close Stadium, Petra Jaya, Kuching, Sarawak.
International Karate Tournament In Sarawak
First International Karate Tournament in Kuching, Sarawak
held at Close Stadium Petra Jaya
Alrifi scooped the gold after defeating Askanas Megrabyan of Russia 5-2 in the final of the men’s Special Individual Kumite (age 18-20).
In the first round, Alrifi blanked Fahad Al Rashidi 4-0, edged Malaysia’s Nagatheeban Govind 4-3 in the second round and went on to beat Lee Chun Ho of Hong Kong 5-1 in the semi-final.
Jordan bagged another medal through Bashar Alnajjer who beat compatriot Ahmed Khalifieh for the bronze in the repecharge round.
The other bronze in this category went to Nagatheeban who overcame Al Rashidi and Lee in the repecharge round.
Nagatheeban started well in the first round by outpointing Vietnamese Dat Vie 12-3 but fell 3-4 to Alrifi in the next round. In the women’s Special Individual Kumite, defending champion Anna Savitskaya from Russia had an easier time retaining her title she won at last year’s tournament in Latina, Italy.She only had to contend with two opponents - compatriot Ksenia Emelyanenko and Hoa Luu Thi Thuy from Vietnam. The fourth competitor Ahdyeh of Iran did not show up.
The matches were contested on a round robin format where each exponent was involved in two bouts with the one with the most points as the winner.
In the first match, Hoa triumphed 4-1 over Emelyanenko, the Cadet Individual Kumite (age 14-15) gold medallist in last year’s 17th edition.Emelyanenko suffered a second 1-5 loss to Savitskaya.In the deciding match, Savitskaya defeated Hoa 6-5.The score was tied at 3-3 after full-time of three minutes and again level at 2-2 in extra-time of one minute but the referees ruled 3-2 in Savitskaya’s favour.
Only two categories were contested yesterday, more as a test of the new scoring system and the capabilities of the referees. After the first day, Russia are leading with one gold, one silver and one bronze, followed by Jordan with one gold and one bronze and Vietnam with one silver.
Hosts Malaysia are fourth with a bronze.
held at Close Stadium Petra Jaya
Jordan on winning path MOHAMMAD Alrifi won the first gold medal in the 18th Kobe Osaka International (KOI) World Cup yesterday to give Jordan a winning start to the competition at State Indoor Stadium here.
Alrifi scooped the gold after defeating Askanas Megrabyan of Russia 5-2 in the final of the men’s Special Individual Kumite (age 18-20).
In the first round, Alrifi blanked Fahad Al Rashidi 4-0, edged Malaysia’s Nagatheeban Govind 4-3 in the second round and went on to beat Lee Chun Ho of Hong Kong 5-1 in the semi-final.
Jordan bagged another medal through Bashar Alnajjer who beat compatriot Ahmed Khalifieh for the bronze in the repecharge round.
The other bronze in this category went to Nagatheeban who overcame Al Rashidi and Lee in the repecharge round.
Nagatheeban started well in the first round by outpointing Vietnamese Dat Vie 12-3 but fell 3-4 to Alrifi in the next round. In the women’s Special Individual Kumite, defending champion Anna Savitskaya from Russia had an easier time retaining her title she won at last year’s tournament in Latina, Italy.She only had to contend with two opponents - compatriot Ksenia Emelyanenko and Hoa Luu Thi Thuy from Vietnam. The fourth competitor Ahdyeh of Iran did not show up.
The matches were contested on a round robin format where each exponent was involved in two bouts with the one with the most points as the winner.
In the first match, Hoa triumphed 4-1 over Emelyanenko, the Cadet Individual Kumite (age 14-15) gold medallist in last year’s 17th edition.Emelyanenko suffered a second 1-5 loss to Savitskaya.In the deciding match, Savitskaya defeated Hoa 6-5.The score was tied at 3-3 after full-time of three minutes and again level at 2-2 in extra-time of one minute but the referees ruled 3-2 in Savitskaya’s favour.
Only two categories were contested yesterday, more as a test of the new scoring system and the capabilities of the referees. After the first day, Russia are leading with one gold, one silver and one bronze, followed by Jordan with one gold and one bronze and Vietnam with one silver.
Hosts Malaysia are fourth with a bronze.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
18 TH KOI WORLD CUP TOURNAMENT
KUCHING: The national karate team, comprising both elite and back-up exponents, are aiming for a bigger haul of gold medals at the 18th Kobe Osaka International (KOI) World Cup this year.
Chief coach Patrick Lim said Malaysia did very well at the 17th KOI World Cup in Latina, Italy last year, winning five gold, two silver and two bronze medals to finish third overall behind Russia and Egypt.
“We are aiming to capture more gold medals in Kuching, or at least maintain our record in Latina,” he told The Borneo Post at State Indoor Stadium here yesterday.
While banking on the elite team to deliver the medals, Lim is also bringing in the back-up squad for the exposure and experience.
Sixteen of the Malaysian exponents are down for the kata and 26 for the kumite.
Lim said they were able to bring in more exponents this year because the World Cup is held in Malaysia.“Holding the tournament at home means we can save a lot and also expose the back-up team,” he added. Lim said before coming to Kuching, the Malaysian team had been training “very hard” at two national training centres.“The elite and back-up squads trained together … the kata team in Penang and the kumite team at National Sports Council, Bukit Jalil.
“One thing good about our team is that it is made up of seasoned, up and coming and new exponents. The experienced exponents will lead the potential ones while the newcomers will get to learn by watching their seniors in action,” he added.
After the World Cup, the national team will go for the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China in September, the SEA Games in Laos in December and the World Junior Karate Championship in Morocco. Lim is also a technical delegate of the organising committee for the Asian Games and the Asian Martial Games.
Meanwhile, Sabah, represented by Kobe Osaka Sabah, will use the World Cup here to expose their young exponents.The team comprises 35 members, three coaches and two team managers. The chief coach is Lorant Losinbin, assisted by Ian Paul and Kelvin Chin.“This is the first time we are bringing such a big team to the World Cup. We sent only six exponents to Latina last year, also for the exposure,” said Kobe Osaka Sabah president Loh Beng Hooi.
Loh, also the 18th KOI World Cup tournament director and World Karate Federation’s Referees Commission administrative controller, said no medal target had been set for the team.
“However, we are hoping our best bets … 15-year-old Siew Wen Jin and 14-year-old Tan Ming Zu … can deliver a bronze medal each in their individual and team kata events,” he said.
Wen Jin was the silver medallist at the Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur last year.
On a related development, Loh said about 400 exponents from 26 countries would be taking part in more than 30 categories in the competition, starting today.
The teams are Australia, Egypt, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Latvia, Malaysia, Labuan, Sarawak, Sabah, Pahang, The Netherlands, Norway, The Philippines, Russia, Scotland, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Croatia, Morocco, China and Japan.
According to Loh, some of the countries have pulled out for one reason or another.
“We have received a total of 635 competition entries and 300 seminar entries thus far. There will be a slight adjustment to the competition schedules as the remainders of the Iranian team are expected to arrive today. The first batch of about 45 Iranian exponents arrived last night,” he said.
Some of the categories to be contested from July 23-26 are veteran individual kata, boys and girls individual kata, cadet individual kata, junior individual kata, senior individual kata, mixed team kata, boys and girls individual kumite, cadet individual kumite, junior individual kumite, senior individual kumite and special individual kumite. The draw was conducted yesterday.
Chief coach Patrick Lim said Malaysia did very well at the 17th KOI World Cup in Latina, Italy last year, winning five gold, two silver and two bronze medals to finish third overall behind Russia and Egypt.
“We are aiming to capture more gold medals in Kuching, or at least maintain our record in Latina,” he told The Borneo Post at State Indoor Stadium here yesterday.
While banking on the elite team to deliver the medals, Lim is also bringing in the back-up squad for the exposure and experience.
Sixteen of the Malaysian exponents are down for the kata and 26 for the kumite.
Lim said they were able to bring in more exponents this year because the World Cup is held in Malaysia.“Holding the tournament at home means we can save a lot and also expose the back-up team,” he added. Lim said before coming to Kuching, the Malaysian team had been training “very hard” at two national training centres.“The elite and back-up squads trained together … the kata team in Penang and the kumite team at National Sports Council, Bukit Jalil.
“One thing good about our team is that it is made up of seasoned, up and coming and new exponents. The experienced exponents will lead the potential ones while the newcomers will get to learn by watching their seniors in action,” he added.
After the World Cup, the national team will go for the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China in September, the SEA Games in Laos in December and the World Junior Karate Championship in Morocco. Lim is also a technical delegate of the organising committee for the Asian Games and the Asian Martial Games.
Meanwhile, Sabah, represented by Kobe Osaka Sabah, will use the World Cup here to expose their young exponents.The team comprises 35 members, three coaches and two team managers. The chief coach is Lorant Losinbin, assisted by Ian Paul and Kelvin Chin.“This is the first time we are bringing such a big team to the World Cup. We sent only six exponents to Latina last year, also for the exposure,” said Kobe Osaka Sabah president Loh Beng Hooi.
Loh, also the 18th KOI World Cup tournament director and World Karate Federation’s Referees Commission administrative controller, said no medal target had been set for the team.
“However, we are hoping our best bets … 15-year-old Siew Wen Jin and 14-year-old Tan Ming Zu … can deliver a bronze medal each in their individual and team kata events,” he said.
Wen Jin was the silver medallist at the Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur last year.
On a related development, Loh said about 400 exponents from 26 countries would be taking part in more than 30 categories in the competition, starting today.
The teams are Australia, Egypt, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Latvia, Malaysia, Labuan, Sarawak, Sabah, Pahang, The Netherlands, Norway, The Philippines, Russia, Scotland, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Croatia, Morocco, China and Japan.
According to Loh, some of the countries have pulled out for one reason or another.
“We have received a total of 635 competition entries and 300 seminar entries thus far. There will be a slight adjustment to the competition schedules as the remainders of the Iranian team are expected to arrive today. The first batch of about 45 Iranian exponents arrived last night,” he said.
Some of the categories to be contested from July 23-26 are veteran individual kata, boys and girls individual kata, cadet individual kata, junior individual kata, senior individual kata, mixed team kata, boys and girls individual kumite, cadet individual kumite, junior individual kumite, senior individual kumite and special individual kumite. The draw was conducted yesterday.
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