PETALING JAYA: Karate exponent L. Kunasilan will not get the chance to fight for a second Asian Games medal in Guangzhou in November.
The 23-year-old, who landed a silver medal for Malaysia in his debut in Doha four years ago, is surprisingly not on the list of four candidates under consideration for the final squad.
Kumite coach P. Arivalagan has instead named Laos SEA Games gold medallists R. Puvaneswaran, Mohd Hatta Mahamut, Shaharudin Jamaludin and former Asian champion Lim Yoke Wai.
The final submission of entries by events is next month and each country can enter four men and four women for the karate competitions in Guangzhou.
However, Arivalagan had to drop one man and one woman from his list as Malaysia are also competing in the individual kata categories.
Laos SEA Games gold medallists G. Yamini and Jamaliah Jamaludin are almost certain to make the final squad while G. Vathana and Vasantha Marial may have to fight it out for the remaining slot.
Vasantha, a silver medallist in Doha four years ago, returned to competitive action last year after giving birth.
Arivalagan said it would be tough to decide on the final list of exponents for Guangzhou.
“These are the ones I have shortlisted for final consideration for the Asian Games squad,” he said
“I had to leave out Kunasilan as his form has declined this year and I do not want to take a risk.
“We have a limited chance of striking medals compared to Doha and I have to make sure the ones going will get their act right.”
Kunasilan was a gold medallist at the 2005 SEA Games in Manila but he has since failed to repeat his feat, taking a silver in Laos last year.
Arivalagan is hoping that Yoke Wai, a double SEA Games gold medallist in 2007, will make a full recovery from his injury by next month.
Yoke Wai underwent surgery for a ligament tear just before the Laos SEA Games and has not been training with the national team since then.
“He has not taken part in any competitions so far this year but I expect him to make a full recovery by next month,” said Arivalagan.
“I still believe he will be a medal contender at the Asiad and that’s why I have included him.”
The karate exponents will go for two competitions in France next month – the Lee Hettet Cup from June 19-20 and the Feminin Cup from June 26-27 – as part of their preparations for the Asiad.
At the last Asiad, karate delivered the most medals with four silvers and three bronzes. Besides Kunasilan, the other silver medals were delivered by Puvaneswaran, Vasantha and kata exponent Ku Jin Keat. The bronze medals came from Yamini, Yoke Wai and kata exponent Lim Lee Lee.
The 23-year-old, who landed a silver medal for Malaysia in his debut in Doha four years ago, is surprisingly not on the list of four candidates under consideration for the final squad.
Kumite coach P. Arivalagan has instead named Laos SEA Games gold medallists R. Puvaneswaran, Mohd Hatta Mahamut, Shaharudin Jamaludin and former Asian champion Lim Yoke Wai.
The final submission of entries by events is next month and each country can enter four men and four women for the karate competitions in Guangzhou.
However, Arivalagan had to drop one man and one woman from his list as Malaysia are also competing in the individual kata categories.
Laos SEA Games gold medallists G. Yamini and Jamaliah Jamaludin are almost certain to make the final squad while G. Vathana and Vasantha Marial may have to fight it out for the remaining slot.
Vasantha, a silver medallist in Doha four years ago, returned to competitive action last year after giving birth.
Arivalagan said it would be tough to decide on the final list of exponents for Guangzhou.
“These are the ones I have shortlisted for final consideration for the Asian Games squad,” he said
“I had to leave out Kunasilan as his form has declined this year and I do not want to take a risk.
“We have a limited chance of striking medals compared to Doha and I have to make sure the ones going will get their act right.”
Kunasilan was a gold medallist at the 2005 SEA Games in Manila but he has since failed to repeat his feat, taking a silver in Laos last year.
Arivalagan is hoping that Yoke Wai, a double SEA Games gold medallist in 2007, will make a full recovery from his injury by next month.
Yoke Wai underwent surgery for a ligament tear just before the Laos SEA Games and has not been training with the national team since then.
“He has not taken part in any competitions so far this year but I expect him to make a full recovery by next month,” said Arivalagan.
“I still believe he will be a medal contender at the Asiad and that’s why I have included him.”
The karate exponents will go for two competitions in France next month – the Lee Hettet Cup from June 19-20 and the Feminin Cup from June 26-27 – as part of their preparations for the Asiad.
At the last Asiad, karate delivered the most medals with four silvers and three bronzes. Besides Kunasilan, the other silver medals were delivered by Puvaneswaran, Vasantha and kata exponent Ku Jin Keat. The bronze medals came from Yamini, Yoke Wai and kata exponent Lim Lee Lee.
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