On 2nd May 2022, V. Yilamaran, the National Hearing-Impaired Karate Exponent made everyone proud by bagging the country’s first medal at the 24th Deaflympics in Caxias do Sul, Brazil.
The 22-year-old received a silver medal after losing to Makhno Oleksanr of Ukraine in the final of the men’s kumite below 84kg.
According to the Malaysian Deaf Sports Association (MSDeaf), Yilamaran had previously defeated Brazilian Sergio Garcia in the first round, Israel’s Avi Bokler in the quarter-finals, and Iran’s Abdolghafour Ebhahim in the semi-finals.
The Johor government will award this silver medallist RM8,000 in recognition of this outstanding feat. According to Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, the gift is in honour of the Johor-born athlete’s achievement.
“As a token of appreciation, the Johor State Government will gift RM8,000 for his success in making the name of the State and the Nation known to the world,” Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said in a Facebook post.
“The proud victory is surely a source of motivation for the entire Johor Nation to continually strive for success in whatever we do.” he remarked.
In the post by Malaysian Deaf Sports Association on Facebook, Ong Shin Ruenn, the National Contingent Head who was in Brazil to watch the final, said he was delighted of Yilamaran’s accomplishment as he was competing in the Deaflympics for the very first time.
“With memories of the first day of the national Deaf contingent playing in the Deaflympic Brazil, the national contingent has the opportunity to increase the number of medals collected through other sports such as badminton, cycling and athletics.”
Malaysia’s Youth and Sports Minister Ahmad Faizal Azumu congratulated Yilamaran on his achievement at the Deaflympics. “Well done to our national deaf athlete. Yilamaran is a national hero! I am very proud of his achievement because this is his first Deaflympics outing and he won a silver medal,” he posted on his Facebook page.
Last November, Yilamaran made history when he captured Malaysia’s first medal (a bronze) at the inaugural World Deaf Karate Championships in Tehran, Iran.
Congratulations Yilamaran for this huge achievement and good luck for your forthcoming endeavour!
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