Shahmalarani hungry for more after Asian Championships breakthrough
KUALA LUMPUR: National karate exponent C. Shahmalarani's steely determination and never-say-die attitude was the key to her success at the Asian Championships which concluded in Uzbekistan yesterday (May 25).
Shahmalarani ended Malaysia's 13-year wait to win a silver medal at the Asian meet.
She scalped Kazakhstan's world champion Moldir Zhangbyrbay in the semi-finals before going down to home crowd favourite Gulshan Alimardanova in the women's kumite under-50kg decider yesterday.
It was nevertheless a proud moment for the 26-year-old who had not made it to the medal rounds in previous editions of the Asian Championships.
Malaysia also won a bronze medal in Tashkent yesterday through K. Thevendran in the men's under-55kg kumite.
"This win is deeply personal, it's more than just a medal - it's a breakthrough," said Shahmalarani on social media today (May 26).
"They say 'fall seven times, stand up eight (times)'. It literally took me seven AKF (Asian Championships) appearances to finally break a 13-year drought and bring Malaysia back to an AKF final.
"This wasn't an overnight success. It took years of perseverance — five early exits, each one a lesson in patience, grit and growth.
"After countless setbacks, I've finally reached the moment I've been striving for.
"But this isn't all! I'm always hungry for more success and (am) driven to chase greater glory because the ultimate goal is to build a lasting legacy."
The two-time Sea Games champion is the first Malaysian kumite exponent in 13 years to contest an Asian Championships final since R. Loganesha Rao took silver in the men's under-55kg kumite during the 2012 edition which was also held in Tashkent.
Malaysia's last gold medal at the Asian Championships came in 2011 through Hatta Mahamut in the men's under-84kg kumite category in Quanzhou, China.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
Sze Fei-Izzuddin feeling the weight of world No.1 crown
KUALA LUMPUR: The world No.1 crown is getting heavy for Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani who sagged under it at this week's Indonesia Open. The Malaysian top seeds unexpectedly went down 21-19, 6-21, 21-19 to Indonesia's world No. 8 Sabar Karyaman-Moh Reza Isfahani in the last eight. Sze Fei-Izzuddin should have won as they were leading 19-17 in the rubber. Perhaps the pressure and the expectations got to them. Sze Fei hopes that the setback will make them stronger. "Painful losses, moments of doubt... but every struggle is shaping something bigger," wrote Sze Fei on Instagram. "Trust the process especially when it's hard." Sze Fei-Izzuddin became the first Malaysians to scale the world No. 1 spot since Lee Chong Wei last held it in June 2017, and the first men's pair since Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong's achievement in March that year. Sze Fei-Izzuddin's struggles were already evident in the first two rounds of the Indonesia Open where they needed three games to overcome Taiwan's world No. 21 Lee Fang Cheh-Lee Fang Jen and 28th-ranked compatriots Nur Mohd Azriyn-Tan Wee Kiong. Beating these opponents used to be routine for the Malaysian duo who captured four World Tour titles — the Japan, China, Arctic and India Opens — since August last year. This is because Sze Fei-Izzuddin's rivals have been analysing their play and coming up with more detailed strategies. Sze Fei-Izzuddin have not reached the semi-finals on the World Tour since their last victory — at the India Open in January. Doubles legend Datuk Razif Sidek had pointed out that it is now tougher for the duo to stay at the top. "Becoming world No. 1 is easier than remaining at the top because every rival will be chasing them now. They need to get used to the pressure and keep working hard and have new goals," said Razif.
The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
May be tough for Tze Yong to regain old form after ACL setback
KUALA LUMPUR: The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury sustained by national men's singles shuttler Ng Tze Yong may well see him struggle to regain his old form, said former world number one Roslin Hashim. The ex-national shuttler also admitted that even before the ACL injury, Tze Yong's performances of late had been quite shaky since returning to action in April following a back injury. 'When Tze Yong sustained the lower back injury previously, he had to undergo surgery... now he has got an ACL injury (knee). These two lower parts of the body are extremely crucial to a shuttler. 'When he came back to action (after his lower back injury), his performance wasn't that stable either. At an age where he should be reaching his peak powers but, unfortunately, he has suffered another serious injury and his recovery this time will take a long time. So, it will be difficult for Tze Yong to regain his old form,' he told Bernama. The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) confirmed in a statement yesterday that Tze Yong suffered an ACL injury, with the 25-year-old shuttler also admitting to finding it hard to accept this latest injury blow after all the efforts he had put in to get back to action. BAM singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen said Tze Yong, who may be sidelined for nine to 12 months, is currently undergoing prehabilitation (prehab) to strengthen the knee and the surrounding muscles ahead of the scheduled surgery for the ACL injury he sustained at the 2025 Malaysia Masters last month. Tze Yong has suffered various injuries, including a muscle tear in his back followed by a spinal injury since last year and underwent a long period of rest and rehabilitation before returning to action in the Badminton Asia Championship 2025 in Ningbo, China, in April. Despite his bleak assessment of Tze Yong's situation, Roslin, however, hopes the 2022 Commonwealth Games men's singles silver medallist possesses a burning desire and determination to fight back from adversity. 'I sympathise with Tze Yong, I hope he remains strong. If he intends to get back on the court, he will need every ounce of his inner strength and remain steadfast in facing this latest setback,' he said. Roslin, winner of the men's singles gold medal at the 2001 SEA Games, said the absence of the Johor-born Tze Yong, ranked 199 in the world, has also been a huge loss for the national camp. He admitted that Tze Yong is a player with huge potential, having once risen to as high as 14th in the world, and has the qualities required to be one of the world's top shuttlers. 'It's like we have lost a truly good player. We could see his potential as he won silver at the 2022 Commonwealth Games... unfortunately, injuries have curtailed his progress,' he said.
The Star
7 hours ago
- The Star
UPSI developing international water sports facility
UNIVERSITI Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) is charting new territory as an international kayaking hub, developing a state-of-the-art water sports facility worth RM1mil at the UPSI Marina in Perak. Its vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Md Amin Md Taff said the initiative, which included enhancement of the lake, acquisition of the latest kayaking equipment, specialised reference materials and the support of sports science expertise, had positioned UPSI as a leading destination for training, research and the management of national water sports events. 'UPSI offers more than just physical infrastructure. We are backed by strong academic capabilities and technical expertise,' he told Bernama. The university currently has four national-level kayaking experts based at the Faculty of Sports Science and Coaching, ready to provide guidance and advisory services to athletes, coaches and sports organisations, he highlighted. With ongoing scientific research, up-to-date reference resources and the application of cutting-edge water sports technology, UPSI is poised to become an integrated training centre for kayaking as well as a platform for organising local and international tournaments, he said. Prof Md Amin said this when opening the 16th UPSI Kayak Regatta at Gerbang Suria on the Sultan Azlan Shah Campus near Tanjong Malim in Perak. 'Our aim is not just to produce excellent athletes but also to develop kayaking through a holistic approach that encompasses training, sports science, management and education,' he said. Prof Md Amin said UPSI was in the process of securing official recognition from the Asian Canoe Confederation as one of the primary venues for canoe and dragon boat sports development and championships in the country. 'Once recognised, UPSI will join the ranks of Malaysian universities with international-class status as a centre for kayaking and dragon boat sports development,' he added. UPSI offers comprehensive educational opportunities for athletes, ranging from diploma to doctorate programme. This includes a special pathway known as Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning for Qualifications (APEL Q), tailored for coaches. 'We believe sports and education should progress together. 'Through this dedicated pathway, coaches with over 20 years of experience can further their studies through the Master of Education programme in Sports Science,' said Prof Md Amin.
