Sabah top National Kata Championships with eight golds

KOTA KINABALU (Feb 2): Sabah karate exponents showed their prowess by returning with the overall title in the 1st National U14, Cadet, Junior and Senior Kata Championships.

The state Kata squad won eight gold, five silver and three bronze medals to top the two-day competition held at the Bukit Jalil Karate Training Centre, Kuala Lumpur.

Sabah Karate Association (SKA) secretary general Julian Chin in a WhatsApp message hailed the outstanding achievement of the Kata exponents.

He said the success was further amplified especially as SKA did not set any medal prior to the tournament.

Sabah’s national karatekas Mohd Haznil Henry and Lovelly Anne Robberth contributed one gold each after winning in the Senior Male and Senior Female Individual Kata events.

The other gold medal winners in the individual Kata event were Danish Rayyan Rajis (Cadet Male), Nur Rasyiqah Fa’riah (Junior Female) and Habib Luthi Habib Taha (U14 Male).

As for the Team Kata competitions, the state squad delivered another three golds from Sierra Dyanne Lorimer, Zoe Moniesha Marius, Siti Nur Zawiyah Zainal Abidin (Cadet and Junior Female Team Kata), Ryyen Ryye Gerrard Rojin, Adlin Vince Viceroy, Al Zovainz Zurizal (Cadet and Junior Male) and Naccy Nelly Evvaferra Rojin, Niathalia Sherawinnie AK Yampil, Ivy Olivera Donny (Senior Female).

The silver medallists were Siti Nur Zawiyah (Junior Female Individual Kata), Niathalia (Senior Female Individual Kata), Mukhriz Mazlan (Senior Male Individual Kata), Aunie Qaisara Mohd Nazri (U14 Female Individual Kata) and Haznil, Mukhriz, Alvince Zurizal (Senior Male Team Kata).

The three bronze medals were won by Sierra (Cadet Female Individual Kata), Al Zovainz (Junior Male Individual Kata) and Ivy (Senior Female Individual Kata).

SKA sent 19 exponents to the national tournament led by team manager Grace Tiwon and coaches Farlin Frederick and Clevelence Carlos.

Pahang collected three gold, five silver and nine bronze medals to finish second overall while Labuan Karate Association was third.