Asian Games: Malaysian duo recharged for medals after repechage

KUALA LUMPUR: National karate coach R. Sharmendran praised the determination of K. Thevendran and H. Sureeya Sankar after they secured Malaysia's first two medals at the Asian Games through the repechage on Sunday. Thevendran initially lost to Khumoyunmirzo Khalimov of Uzbekistan (3-2) in the men's below 55kg quarter-finals, while Sureeya was defeated 7-1 by Qatar's Abdelrahman Abdelhamid in the last four of the men's below 60kg event.

Khalimov and Abdelhamid progressed to the final, enabling Thevendran and Sureeya to enter the repechage. Thevendran triumphed over Nepal's Rakesh Manandhar 9-1 to claim Malaysia's first medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Games, and Sureeya secured the second bronze by defeating Vietnam's Chu Van Duc 10-2 at the Toyohashi Gymnasium in Aichi.

Sharmendran remarked, "Two athletes finishing on the podium in a major event like the Asian Games is not easy. Thevendran and Sureeya have given us a spirited start to our campaign." Thevendran's medal was also Malaysia's first at the Games, and Sureeya provided additional delight. Sharmendran expressed satisfaction in witnessing them overcome their losses and outperform their opponents to earn their medals through the repechage.

Thevendran's victory was 9-1, and Sureeya's was 10-2, demonstrating their resolve and determination to fight back. They had made critical errors in their previous matches but managed to recover. The repechage provided them with a second opportunity, and the Malaysian athletes capitalized on it. The men's below 55kg gold medal was won by Zholaman Bigabyl of Kazakhstan, while Abdullah Shbaan of Kuwait took the gold in the men's below 60kg event.

Malaysia's Zakiah Adnan will be aiming for a medal in the women's kumite below-61kg event on Monday, and Haznil Hendry will compete in the men's individual kata.