No excuses, just wins: Sharmendran's message to his Asian Games karatekas

KUALA LUMPUR: National karate athletes have been advised to brush off any excuses and focus on achieving victories after a brief accommodation issue in Japan. Upon arriving at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, the team faced a setback due to a shortage of hotel rooms. However, the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) and National Sports Council (NSC) swiftly stepped in to resolve the problem, with Sharmendran, the four-time SEA Games champion, praising their prompt support.

Food options near the hotel were plentiful, eliminating logistical concerns. Rather than allowing this setback to impact their performance, Sharmendran urged his athletes to view it as a test of their mental fortitude, emphasizing that they must compete at their peak even under adverse conditions. The team, historically a top performer in karate at the Asian Games, aims to replicate their previous success, which included one gold and two silver medals at the 2010 Hangzhou Games.

Arif Afifuddin Malik won the men's kumite under-84kg gold to end Malaysia's nine-year wait for a karate title, while Lovelly Anne Robberth secured two silver medals in women's individual kata and women's team kata.