Sukma XXI: Fruitful outing for Sabah’s karate, taekwondo squads today

KUCHING (Aug 17): Sabahan karateka Lovelly Anne Robberth justified her top billing by winning the women’s Individual Kata gold in the 21st Malaysia Games (Sukma).

The Sabah squad also added one silver and three bronzes on the opening day of karate competition held at IKBN Hall in Miri today.

The Hangzhou Asian Games silver medalist was in her element as she performed extremely well to book her place in the final.

She scored 39.2 points to beat invitational contingent Brunei Darussalam opponent Farhah Syahirah Mohamad Shamrin to the gold.

Farhah settled for the silver with 38.6 points.

Sabah could have added a second karate gold but Adeola Fay Robert missed out on top podium finish after losing to G. Srikah of Selangor in the women’s -55kg Individual Kumite final.

Adeola scored a solitary point to Srikah’s six to settle for the silver.

The other karate medals were from Mohammad Haznil Henry in the men’s Individual Kata, Muhammad Akid Azlan in the men’s -67kg Individual Kumite and Muhammad Syafieqrullah Halim in the men’s -60kg Individual Kumite.

At the Perpaduan Stadium in Petra Jaya, Sabah taekwondo made amends for missing out on medals on Friday’s opening day by winning three bronzes in the Poomsae discipline.

The medals were from Ned Augusti Nelson in the Men’s Freestyle Individual event, Izza Qistina Mat Saidi in the Women’s Freestyle Individual and the Mix Freestyle Open Team comprising Dyana Farwizah Mohd Zaini, Fitri Natasha Sabanah and Harry Lee Clare.

All in all, Sabah won one gold, one silver and six bronzes to bring their total haul to five golds, two silvers and eight bronzes to occupy sixth placing as of 8.15pm.

Meanwhile, 35 gold medals will be up for grabs on Sunday where eight of them will be contested in karate.

Six golds each will be offered in shooting and taekwondo, another four golds each for golf and archery, two each in tenpin bowling, squash, petanque and one from rhythmic gymnastics.