Malaysian karatekas spar with other nations in Hong Kong

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian karate team had a training stint in Hong Kong recently to prepare for the Asian Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from May 23-25. National karate (kumite) coach R. Sharmendran said: "The Hong Kong camp gave us the opportunity to spar with athletes from Poland, Italy, Canada and Hong Kong.

" The athletes will return to their states for the National Championships (May 13-18), followed by the Asian Championships, Southeast Asian Championships (June 14-19), Karate Serie A (Oct 3-5) and Thailand Sea Games (Dec 9-20)." "We currently have 25 athletes in the training camp, nine under the Podium Programme and 16 from the back-up squad." The national team's best showing at the Asian Championships was winning four golds in 2007 in Nilai.



In Hangzhou last year, Malaysia won a bronze through C. Shahmalarani in the women's below 50kg category.© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd.