Anwar Ibrahim hopes Adeola’s karate gold at Asian Games 2026 will inspire Malaysia’s contingent, as she ends the nation’s 2014 gold drought.
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim congratulated national karate athlete Adeola Fay Robert on winning Malaysia’s first gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games in Japan today.
Anwar expressed hope that the success achieved by the 20-year-old athlete from Sabah at Toyohashi Gymnasium would inspire the entire national contingent currently competing in the quadrennial games.
“Keep fighting and bring glory to Malaysia,” he said via X.
Adeola, making her Asian Games debut, clinched the gold after defeating Iran’s Fatemehzahra Saeidabadi 6-4 in the women’s kumite under-55kg final.
This victory continues the athlete’s positive momentum following her bronze medal win at the Thailand 2025 SEA Games last December.
The gold medal won by Adeola today also ended the Malaysian women’s karate squad’s wait for an Asian Games gold, a feat last achieved by Syakilla Salni at the 2014 edition in Incheon, South Korea.
The Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games, which began last Saturday, will run until Oct 4.
