Shahmalarani trips up at final hurdle in Asian C'ships
Karate exponent C. Shahmalarani has assured herself of a medal at the Asian Championships after she reached the women's kumite below 50kg fnal in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
PETALING JAYA: Karate exponent C. Shahmalarani's hopes of ending Malaysia's 14-year-old gold drought at the Asian Championships were dashed at the final hurdle by home opponent Gulshan Alimardanova today (May 25).
Shahmalarani conceded a 1-7 defeat to her Uzbekistan rival in Tashkent.
The 26-year-old earlier pulled off a big upset by thrashing Kazakhstan's reigning world champion Moldir Zhangbyrby 9-1 to advance to the women's kumite below 50kg final for the first time.
The last time Malaysia took gold at the Asian championships was in the 2011 edition in Quanzhou, China when Mohd Hatta Mahamut won the men's kumite below 84kg category.
It was Malaysia's first silver medal in kumite discipline at the Asian Championships stage in 13 years.
Loganesha Rao reached the men's kumite below 55kg final but settled for silver in the 2012 edition also held in Tashkent.
Newcomer Kaliana Sundram Thevendran also contributed a bronze for Malaysia in the Asian meet after beating Nepal's Moktan Sajan 9-1 in the play-off for the bronze.
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