NAGOYA, Sept 23 — National karate exponent C. Shahmalarani delivered gold No. 3 for Malaysia when she won the women’s below 50-kilogramme (kg) kumite event at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games today.
Competing at her second Asiad, Shahmalarani defeated Hong Kong’s Tsang Yee Ting via a judges’ decision after the final three-minute bout ended 0-0 at the Toyohashi Gymnasium.
The national exponent had earlier defeated Uzbekistan’s Gulshan Alimardanova 3-2 in the semi-finals. It was sweet revenge for Shahmalarani, who lost to Alimardanova in the final of the World Karate Championships in Cairo, Egypt, last year.
“It was a roller-coaster ride (in today’s final) but… I’m so happy right now. I just want to enjoy the moment because the journey (to gold) has been very, very tough.
“But being drawn with the world champion and the world number five, who I have met so many times that we know each other (well)... this is the way to win a medal,” she said when met after the final.
Shahmalarani said her road to the Asiad this time had been a rought one, having had to deal with injuries and several disappointing results in previous competitions.
“And you tend to have a lot of self-doubt, like if I’m on the right path for the Asian Games. It’s the Asiad and the responsibility to delver the goods for the country is on my shoulders,” she said.
Shahmalarani began her Asiad campaign with an 8-0 win over Macau’s Fong Man Wai in the first round before edging Bangladesh’s Saiama Jaman 5-4 in the last eight. — Bernama
