Latest news with #Shahmalarani
The Star
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Exponent Shahmalarani leaps into world's top 10
PETALING JAYA: Karate exponent C. Shahmalarani is back where she belongs – in the world's top 10 standing of the women's kumite below 50kg category. Thanks to her silver medal breakthrough at the Asian Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan last month, Shahmalarani moved six rungs to the 10th spot in the latest World Karate Federation (WKF) rankings.
New Straits Times
26-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
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.
Barnama
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Barnama
Shahmalarani Clinches Silver At Asian Karate Championships In Tashkent
KUALA LUMPUR, May 25 (Bernama) -- National karate ace C. Shahmalarani has done the nation proud by winning a silver medal in the women's kumite under 50 kilogrammes (kg) at the 2025 Asian Karate Championship in Tashkent, Uzbekistan today. The achievement is all the more meaningful as it marks Malaysia's first silver medal in the kumite discipline in 13 years. Shahmalarani's hopes of clinching gold were dashed after the 26-year-old athlete lost in the final to home crowd favourite Gulshan Alimardanova 1-7 in the gold medal bout held at Yunusobod Sports Complex. 'This win is deeply personal, it's more than just a medal, it's a breakthrough. Fall down seven times, stand up eight, they say! It literally took me seven AKF 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,' she said in a Facebook post. She said the achievement has ignited her spirit to continue striving for even greater success. 'I'm always hungry for more success and will chase greater glory - because the ultimate goal is to build a lasting legacy,' she said. For the record, former national karateka R. Loganesha Rao won silver in the men's kumite under 55 kg at the 2012 edition, which was also held in Tashkent, while Malaysia's last gold medal came in 2011 through Mohd Hatta Mahamut in the men's kumite under 84 kg in Quanzhou, China. -- BERNAMA
New Straits Times
25-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Karateka Shahmalarani ends Malaysia's 13-year wait for Asian silver
KUALA LUMPUR: National karate exponent C. Shahmalarani claimed a commendable bronze at the Asian Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan today (May 25). Shahmalarani faced home crowd favourite Gulshan Alimardanova in the women's kumite under-50kg decider and succumbed to a 7-1 defeat at the Yunusobod Sports Complex. Winning the silver was nevertheless a positive achievement for Shahmalarani who had never reached the medal rounds in previous editions of the Asian meet. The 26-year-old had beaten Kazakhstan's world champion Moldir Zhangbyrbay 9-1 in the semi-finals earlier this week. She had defeated China's Wan Junhui 8-1 in the second round before beating Japan's Okazaki Aika 4-1 in the quarterfinals. 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.
New Straits Times
24-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Karateka Shahmalarani stuns world champ to reach Asian final
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's C. Shahmalarani sensationally thrashed Kazakhstan's world karate champion Moldir Zhangbyrbay 9-1 in the Asian Championships semi-final in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, yesterday. World No.16 Shahmalarani will face host nation's Gulshan Alimardanova in the women's below 50kg kumite final tomorrow at the Yunusobod Sports Complex. 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's silver in the men's below 55kg kumite in Tashkent in 2012. Shahmalarani, 26, who received a first round bye, defeated China's Wang Junhui 8-1 to reach the quarter-finals. She then beat Japan's Okazaki Aika 4-1 before dismantling Zhangbyrbay. It is already a major achievement for Shahmalarani who had never reached the medal rounds in the Asian Championships before. Malaysia's last gold medal at the Asian Championships came in 2011 through Hatta Mahamut in the men's below 84kg kumite category in Quanzhou, China.
