Kota Kinabalu: Karate exponent Adeola Fay Robert’s gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games has been hailed as proof that Sabah-born athletes can compete at the highest level, said Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Women chief Datuk Seri Azizah Mohd Dun (pic).
Azizah said the 20-year-old Tambunan-born athlete’s achievement reflected the talent and discipline of Sabah’s young athletes, adding that opportunities, support and systematic training could help them compete at Asian and international levels.
Adeola made history by winning Malaysia’s first gold medal at the Games after defeating Iran’s Fatemehzahra Saeidabadi 6-4 in the women’s under-55kg kumite final at Toyohashi Gymnasium in Japan.
Before reaching the final, Adeola defeated Kazakhstan’s Bella Samasheva 5-4 in the semi-finals, following earlier wins over Kuwait’s Asrar Jasem 9-1 and Uzbekistan’s Sevinch Rakhimova 8-7.
Azizah said Adeola’s achievement followed her gold medals in the women’s -61kg kumite and team kumite at SUKMA XXII Selangor 2026, while her Asian Games victory also ended Malaysia’s wait for a women’s karate gold at the Games since Syakilla Salni’s triumph at Incheon 2014.
