Sea Games National Contingent Off To Positive Start In Cambodia

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National karate exponents got the national contingent off to a golden start at the Phnom Penh Sea Games today. - Bernama picKUALA LUMPUR: National karate exponents got the national contingent off to a golden start at the Phnom Penh Sea Games today.
C. Shamalarani against the odds defended the gold she won in Hanoi last year with a close win over tournament favourite Junna Tsukii (Philippines) to secure Malaysia's first gold medal of the games.
The win bodes well for Shamalarani, who competed in the women's kumite Under-50kg class, as Junna is a big name in the sport, having won gold at the World Games last year.
The more senior S. Prem Kumar (men's kumite Under 55kg) then delivered the nation's second gold after clinching a come-from-behind win over Thailand's Chanpet Setthapong.
Obstacle racing athletes Wan Athira Hidayah Ahmad Fuzli and William Yoong, who won a bronze each (men's and women's individual obstacle), had earlier in the day secured the nation's first medals of the games.
Mountain biker Nur Assyira Zainal Abidin successfully defended her silver medal in the women's individual cross country event while Athacai Saiphawat Kiang clinched a surprise bronze in kun khmer (men's kun kruk Under-54kg).
Swimmer Phee Jinq En also claimed a hard-earned bronze in the women's 50m breaststroke, the nation's only medal from the swimming event today.
More gold medals can be expected from the contingent tomorrow.
The men's and women's indoor hockey teams will play Indonesia and Thailand in their respective finals and are favourites to win.
More medals can also be expected from karate via the kumite events as well as mountain biking in the cross country relay event, which Malaysia won last year. - NST

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