Malaysia has ended an 11-year medal drought at the World Karate Championship after national karate ace, C. Shahmalarani has won the silver medal in the women’s under-50kg kumite event in Cairo.
Shahmalarani has delivered a historic and proud performance, becoming the first Malaysian since 2014 to reach the final of a world championship. She advanced confidently through the early rounds, defeating Ukraine’s Yuliia Palashevska and Ecuador’s Lili Alvarado. In the semi-finals, she achieved a remarkable victory, winning 4-1 against Iran’s Sara Bahmanyar, a top-ranked athlete and recent World Games champion.
In the final, she faced Uzbekistan’s Gulshan Alimardanova in a rematch of their earlier encounter at the Asian Championships this year. Despite her strong effort, Shahmalarani ultimately finished with a silver medal after losing 1-6. Nevertheless, her achievement represents a significant breakthrough for Malaysian karate on the world stage.
Her silver medal marks the end of more than a decade of Malaysia’s absence from the podium at the World Championships and showcases her swift rise on the international stage. Earlier this year, she also secured a silver medal at the Asian Karate Championships, ending a 13-year wait for Malaysia in her category.
The outcome of the World Karate Championship in Cairo has strengthened her position among the world’s top karatekas and raised Malaysia’s hopes for upcoming regional competitions, including the SEA Games. Her achievement is widely regarded as a significant advancement for the sport in the country.
Source: The Hindu Press
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