DREAMS do come true, just ask Ku Jin Keat. After two chronic injuries and a lifetime of disappointments, Jin Keat plans to bring the curtain down on karate career after winning an historic Asian Games men's kata gold at the Guangdong Gymnasium yesterday.
Struggling to hold back tears as he sought to find the words to describe his joy at an unexpected triumph, Jin Keat said age has caught up with him.
"Finally. I don't know what to say. I've waited for so long after three Asian Games appearances. This is my last Asian Games as I am already 35 and it's not easy to sustain. I'm a bit tired.
"I have been dreaming of winning this gold medal. Now, it's a dream fulfilled," said Jin Keat after receiving his gold medal before he was whisked away to the official press conference.
There, he said he is unlikely to compete again after enduring two serious knee injuries which first cost him gold at the Doha Asian Games in 2006 and then saw him miss last year's Laos Sea Games.
"It would be impossible, let others take my place. It was a long road back to recovery. But I feel proud and satisfied. Winning this gold medal is very meaningful.
"I had a silver and a bronze before and now I've got the entire collection," added Jin Keat, who scored a 3-2 split decision victory in the final against Itaru Oki of Japan.
Oki's defeat was the first time Japan failed to win gold in the event since karate made its debut in 1994.
Some of the credit for Jin Keat's win must go to his Japanese coach Ryoki Abe, who within eight months, instilled the confidence and belief in Jin Keat to dream big.
"My coach was a world champion and in training he thought me everything," said Penang-born Jin Keat. "Previously, each time I faced a Japanese I felt under pressure and stressed.
"Now, I can just go out and perform my techniques freely. But to win today (yesterday) was not easy because karate is Japan's national sport and the Japanese have good foundation."
Jin Keat had more reason than one to be happy as his girlfriend Lim Lee Lee, also 35, picked up bronze in the women's kata, her third bronze in addition to one silver in four appearances.
"I'm so happy, we have a gold and a bronze. This is not just for us but for Malaysia. We have done our job to make the country proud," said Lee Lee, who unlike Jin Keat, has no intention of calling it quits yet.
Read more: NST
Struggling to hold back tears as he sought to find the words to describe his joy at an unexpected triumph, Jin Keat said age has caught up with him.
"Finally. I don't know what to say. I've waited for so long after three Asian Games appearances. This is my last Asian Games as I am already 35 and it's not easy to sustain. I'm a bit tired.
"I have been dreaming of winning this gold medal. Now, it's a dream fulfilled," said Jin Keat after receiving his gold medal before he was whisked away to the official press conference.
There, he said he is unlikely to compete again after enduring two serious knee injuries which first cost him gold at the Doha Asian Games in 2006 and then saw him miss last year's Laos Sea Games.
"It would be impossible, let others take my place. It was a long road back to recovery. But I feel proud and satisfied. Winning this gold medal is very meaningful.
"I had a silver and a bronze before and now I've got the entire collection," added Jin Keat, who scored a 3-2 split decision victory in the final against Itaru Oki of Japan.
Oki's defeat was the first time Japan failed to win gold in the event since karate made its debut in 1994.
Some of the credit for Jin Keat's win must go to his Japanese coach Ryoki Abe, who within eight months, instilled the confidence and belief in Jin Keat to dream big.
"My coach was a world champion and in training he thought me everything," said Penang-born Jin Keat. "Previously, each time I faced a Japanese I felt under pressure and stressed.
"Now, I can just go out and perform my techniques freely. But to win today (yesterday) was not easy because karate is Japan's national sport and the Japanese have good foundation."
Jin Keat had more reason than one to be happy as his girlfriend Lim Lee Lee, also 35, picked up bronze in the women's kata, her third bronze in addition to one silver in four appearances.
"I'm so happy, we have a gold and a bronze. This is not just for us but for Malaysia. We have done our job to make the country proud," said Lee Lee, who unlike Jin Keat, has no intention of calling it quits yet.
Read more: NST
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