Malaysian Junior Karate Exponent Delivers Gold At Asian Karate Championships

LABUAN (Malaysia), Sept 9 (Bernama) -- National junior karate exponent Nur Aneesa Aira Mohamad Affendi made history for Malaysia by winning the women’s junior individual kata gold at the 24th Asian Karate Federation (AKF) Cadet, Junior and U21 Karate Championships in Amman, Jordan Tuesday.

The victory also saw the Labuan-born Aira end the territory’s 34-year wait for an Asian karate title since the establishment of Labuan Karate in 1992.

Labuan Karate Association president Aswadi Taba said Aira, who won bronze in the same event last year, defeated Jordan’s exponent 4-1 in the opening round before overcoming Kuwait’s athlete 5-0 in the semi-finals.  She then went on to clinch the coveted title by sweeping past the Chinese Taipei exponent 4-1 in the final.

“The achievement also highlighted the contribution of Labuan-born national Kata coach Mohd Norfarhan Nordin, who has played a key role in developing Malaysia's young Kata athletes,” he told Bernama Wednesday.

Aira's victory adds to Labuan's record at the championships, following Muhammad Aiqal Asmadie's bronze in the Men's U21 Individual Kata in 2022. Aira has now gone a step further by delivering Labuan's first gold medal at the Asian championships.

The 2026 AKF Cadet, Junior and U21 Karate Championships bring together young athletes from 21 Asian countries.

He said the Malaysian challenge in Amman continues with another Labuan athlete, Diya Khalish Kasryanto, set to compete in the Women's Junior Kumite under-66 kilogramme category.

-- BERNAMA