Karate-Do News: Yamini takes aim at Manila double
KUALA LUMPUR: It will be payback time for karate exponent G. Yamini when she makes her second appearance in the Nov 27-Dec 5 Manila SEA Games.
After taking silver in the Asian Championships in Macau recently, Yamini will be aiming for a double victory in Manila – in the individual kumite below 60kg event and also the team competition.
National coach P. Arivalagan named the 20-member Malaysian team for the Games yesterday.
Besides Yamini, the women's kumite exponents in the team are Asian Championships gold medallist Vasantha Marial, G. Vathana, Jamaliah Jamalludin, Ee Pei Kee and Lee Phei Sze.
The 25-year-old Yamini has showed at the Asian meet that she was a worthy replacement for Busan Asian Games gold medallist S. Premila.
At the last SEA Games in Vietnam in 2003, Premila won one of the two gold medals for Malaysia – in the women's individual below 60kg kumite event – and she has since then quit the national team.
Yamini was also a member of the Vietnam SEA Games squad after chalking up an upset win over Premila in the national championships.
“Although I beat her to win the national title, I did not get to compete in the individual event in Vietnam. I was a member of the team that won the bronze,” said Yamini.
“The coach now has the faith in me to deliver the goods. I won a silver in my first outing at the Asian level and I am confident of winning both events in the Manila Games.”
The Kuala Lumpur exponent, who also reached the quarter-finals in the World Championships in Mexico last year, has another reason to do well in Manila because together with Vasantha, they are set to be included in the 2006 elite squad.
Although the official target set by the Malaysian Karate Federation (Makaf) is a modest three gold medals this time, Arivalagan is confident of a bigger haul.
“The kata exponents did not win any gold medal from the four events in the Vietnam Games. We hope they can contribute this time,” he said.
“All the exponents in this team are capable of winning medals in Manila, even the new faces.”
Malaysia will feature in 18 events in Manila. At the last Games, Vietnam were the biggest winners – raking in 13 gold medals.
THE TEAM
MENKumite: R. Puvaneswaran (55kg), L. Kunasilan (60kg), Lim Yoke Wai (65kg), S. Mahendran (70kg), Rayner Kinsiong (75kg), Jarvis Julian (above 75kg), Kelvin Henry (Open), Danny Fredoline (team).Kata: Ku Jin Keat, Cheah Boon Chong, Tan Chee Seng.
WOMENKumite: Vasantha Marial (48kg), G. Vathana (53kg), G. Yamini (60kg), Jamaliah Jamalludin (above 60kg), Ee Pei Kee (Open), Lee Phei Sze (team).Kata: Lim Lee Lee, Jaclyn Chng, Thoe Ai Poh.
After taking silver in the Asian Championships in Macau recently, Yamini will be aiming for a double victory in Manila – in the individual kumite below 60kg event and also the team competition.
National coach P. Arivalagan named the 20-member Malaysian team for the Games yesterday.
Besides Yamini, the women's kumite exponents in the team are Asian Championships gold medallist Vasantha Marial, G. Vathana, Jamaliah Jamalludin, Ee Pei Kee and Lee Phei Sze.
The 25-year-old Yamini has showed at the Asian meet that she was a worthy replacement for Busan Asian Games gold medallist S. Premila.
At the last SEA Games in Vietnam in 2003, Premila won one of the two gold medals for Malaysia – in the women's individual below 60kg kumite event – and she has since then quit the national team.
Yamini was also a member of the Vietnam SEA Games squad after chalking up an upset win over Premila in the national championships.
“Although I beat her to win the national title, I did not get to compete in the individual event in Vietnam. I was a member of the team that won the bronze,” said Yamini.
“The coach now has the faith in me to deliver the goods. I won a silver in my first outing at the Asian level and I am confident of winning both events in the Manila Games.”
The Kuala Lumpur exponent, who also reached the quarter-finals in the World Championships in Mexico last year, has another reason to do well in Manila because together with Vasantha, they are set to be included in the 2006 elite squad.
Although the official target set by the Malaysian Karate Federation (Makaf) is a modest three gold medals this time, Arivalagan is confident of a bigger haul.
“The kata exponents did not win any gold medal from the four events in the Vietnam Games. We hope they can contribute this time,” he said.
“All the exponents in this team are capable of winning medals in Manila, even the new faces.”
Malaysia will feature in 18 events in Manila. At the last Games, Vietnam were the biggest winners – raking in 13 gold medals.
THE TEAM
MENKumite: R. Puvaneswaran (55kg), L. Kunasilan (60kg), Lim Yoke Wai (65kg), S. Mahendran (70kg), Rayner Kinsiong (75kg), Jarvis Julian (above 75kg), Kelvin Henry (Open), Danny Fredoline (team).Kata: Ku Jin Keat, Cheah Boon Chong, Tan Chee Seng.
WOMENKumite: Vasantha Marial (48kg), G. Vathana (53kg), G. Yamini (60kg), Jamaliah Jamalludin (above 60kg), Ee Pei Kee (Open), Lee Phei Sze (team).Kata: Lim Lee Lee, Jaclyn Chng, Thoe Ai Poh.
News by: Shie'dan Husni
posted by Shie'dan Husni @ 11:52 PM
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