KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysia Karate Federation (Makaf) must take urgent action to support karate centres across the nation that are struggling with inadequate training facilities, says national karate exponent Sureeya Sankar.
The two-time Sea Games gold medalist voiced his concerns following the partial demolition of a karate training centre by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and the Federal Territories Land and Mines Office in Taman Sri Sinar, Segambut, on August 7.
Sureeya, expressed disappointment at the persistent neglect of proper training facilities by sports authorities, noting that the situation has seen little improvement since his own childhood.
The 22-year-old, who represented Malaysia at last year’s Hangzhou Asian Games, explained that while he has no direct connection to the Taman Sri Sinar centre, he empathises with the athletes’ struggle due to his own experiences training without proper facilities.
“It’s sad to see these issues still happening, especially considering how much we, as karate exponents, have contributed so many medals to the country over the years,” Sureeya told Scoop.
“When I started my lessons at 15 at the Samping Tamil School, I faced similar challenges to those the athletes in Taman Sri Sinar are facing now—I had to practise on a school field without adequate facilities.
“I can relate to their frustration and sadness, and it’s also frustrating to know that many grassroots athletes across the country are still facing the same challenges without access to proper training centres.
“I was fortunate to have the right support system, which eventually led me to Makaf, putting me in a better situation. But what about other athletes across the country who dream of achieving success in this sport? How can they pursue their dreams without a proper support system?”
Sureeya urged Makaf to take action by identifying struggling training centres and providing necessary support.
“They don’t need to do much – even sponsoring a set of dojo mats would make a significant difference. It’s time we take responsibility and create the change we want to see,” he added.
The Taman Sri Sinar centre, reportedly in operation for over three decades, gained public attention after a viral video showed a large crowd attempting to prevent the demolition.
Some even appealed to Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh for intervention, while young Kelantan karate exponents preparing for this year’s Sukma questioned where they would now train.
The Federal Territories Land Office had given the operator a 30-day grace period to remove belongings from the premises. The video showed various gym equipment, including treadmills, still inside the building.
Despite these concerns, Sureeya, who is also a sports science student at Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia, is focused on his upcoming competition.
He is determined to secure a gold medal at the World Karate Series A Championship in Salzburg, Austria, next month.
“I’m balancing both my studies and karate, and I’m aiming to win gold in Salzburg. This victory would be a significant boost after a tough start to the year due to my knee injury.
“Additionally, I’m focused on improving my world ranking by the end of the year. My ranking dropped to world number 60 due to the injury, but I hope to win more medals this year and climb back into the top 30.”
Sureeya recently won a gold medal at the Asean University Games (AUG) in the under-60kg kumite category, defeating Thailand’s Chalemporn Piwlaaiad 9-1 in the final.
The 21st edition of the AUG concluded on July 6 in Surabaya-Malang, Indonesia, with Malaysia finishing third in the overall medal standings with 147 medals (38 gold, 47 silver, and 62 bronze).
Malaysia is set to host the next edition in 2026. – August 20, 2024
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