SEPANG, Nov 29 (Bernama) -- National karate exponent R. Puvaneswaran announced his retirement from the sport today after achieving his dream of winning the gold at the just-concluded 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.
Puvaneswaran, who won the gold in the men's under-55kg kumite, said he would take a long rest with his family prior to starting a career as a coach.
He said he had worked very hard during the last four years with the sole aim of winning the gold in Guangzhou after failing to do so in Doha, Qatar in 2005.
"I need sufficient rest to recover from the mental exhaustion since the past four years. I also need to spend more time with the family," he told reporters at KL International Airport on arrival from Guangzhou where family members awaited his home-coming.
Puvaneswaran, 36, had voiced out intention to retire from the sport while taking part at the Laos SEA Games last year.
He hoped to be able to help train more karate athletes for international competitions when he became a coach.
Puvaneswaran had taken part in five consecutive Asian Games since 1994.
He won the bronze in Hiroshima in 1994, gold in Busan in 2002 and silver in Doha.
He was disqualified in the second round at the Bangkok 1998 Games after committing a foul.
Puvaneswaran, who won the gold in the men's under-55kg kumite, said he would take a long rest with his family prior to starting a career as a coach.
He said he had worked very hard during the last four years with the sole aim of winning the gold in Guangzhou after failing to do so in Doha, Qatar in 2005.
"I need sufficient rest to recover from the mental exhaustion since the past four years. I also need to spend more time with the family," he told reporters at KL International Airport on arrival from Guangzhou where family members awaited his home-coming.
Puvaneswaran, 36, had voiced out intention to retire from the sport while taking part at the Laos SEA Games last year.
He hoped to be able to help train more karate athletes for international competitions when he became a coach.
Puvaneswaran had taken part in five consecutive Asian Games since 1994.
He won the bronze in Hiroshima in 1994, gold in Busan in 2002 and silver in Doha.
He was disqualified in the second round at the Bangkok 1998 Games after committing a foul.
-- BERNAMA
No comments:
Post a Comment