Asian champ Chee Wei can make history in Germany

Malaysia's karate exponent Lim Chee Wei in action during the 2014 Incheon Asian Games where he won the gold medal in the kata event. - Filepic

PETALING JAYA: Lim Chee Wei has a chance of notching a unique feat for Malaysia in the World Karate Championships, which begin in Bremen, Germany, on Wednesday.

Chee Wei will make his debut at the World Championships in confident mood after winning the men’s kata individual gold in the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, last month.

If the 23-year-old Chee Wei makes his way to the podium in Bremen on Sunday, he will be the first Malaysian to bag a medal at the junior and senior ranks at World Championships-level.

Chee Wei won the bronze in the individual kata at the 2011 World Junior Championships in Malacca and is the only Malaysian medallist so far.

Malaysian Karate Federation (Makaf) secretary Vincent Chen said both Chee Wei and Syakilla Salni Jefry Krisnan, also an Asian Games gold medallist, will lead a 10-member strong Malaysian team for the world meet.

Except for Nisha Alagasan, the others are all making their debut and Makaf hope Malaysia will end their 12-year medal drought.

S. Premila bagged the bronze in the women’s Open category in Madrid in 2002 for Malaysian’s only success to date.

Two years ago, Nisha came close to ending the drought. She lost the bronze medal playoff in the women’s below 55kg in Egypt.

“Chee Wei stands a good chance to go into the medal rounds if the draw is favourable. The Indonesian and Japanese were our main rivals for the Asian Games gold medal and Chee Wei beat them convincingly.

“Chee Wei is now the best in Asia and his coach (Ku Jin Keat) believes he has a strong chance to fight for a medal in Bremen,” said Vincent.

“We are happy that Syakila is able to make the squad. She had a hamstring injury when she fought at the Asian Games. The doctor, however, has given her the clearance last week to compete and we hope she can achieve something.

“We have an untested team, but I believe all of them are determined to give a good account of themselves in karate’s most prestigious tournament.”

For the women’s individual kata, Malaysia have entered Celine Lee while Makaf are exposing Hoe Thomson, Emmanuel Leong and Ricky Leong in the men’s team kata.

The other kumite exponents are Shree Sharmin Segaran (women’s below 61kg), R. Govinash (men’s below 60kg) and R. Sharmendran (men’s below 67kg).

A total of 869 exponents from 111 countries will be involved in the elimination rounds on Wednesday. The medal rounds will only start on Saturday.