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Saturday November 26, 2005

New challenge for fighters Arivalagan

DEBUTANT’S FIRE: Rookie L. Kunasilan is capable of delivering a point for Malaysia in the team event, says coach P. Arivalagan.
MALAYSIA may not like the idea of the karate team competitions being held ahead of the individual events but national coach P. Arivalagan wants his charges to take it as a challenge.

In a departure from the usual order of things, the team kumite events will kick off the competition in Cebu City tomorrow.

In previous games, the individual events are usually held in the beginning of the programme.

Two gold medals will be on offer tomorrow in team kumite and two more in the individual men's and women's kata (non-sparring).

The change has some people claiming that it is a ploy by the hosts to make sure their best fighters are kept fresh for the challenges in the individual events.

The Philippines have already made known their intentions to take seven gold medals from karate.

While they have never been a force in karate, their exponents have been sent to Italy to prepare for the Games since the beginnning of the year.

“We read about their aim to win seven gold meals from the local newspapers,” said Arivalagan.

“I believe they do not have the depth to challenge strongly in the kumite team events but they do have some good fighters in certain events.

“They may probably want to save their best fighters for the individual honours, which they have a chance to win.”

There will be no surprises from Malaysia. Arivalagan, who is in full charge of the team for the first time, has decided to field his best fighters in the team kumite events.

Seasoned campaigner R. Puvaneswaran will spearhead the men's charge. The other members of the team are S. Mahendran, Lim Yoke Wai, Rayner Kinsiong and rookie L. Kunasilan.

The 20-year-old Kunasilan may be making his debut in Manila but Arivalagan believes he can make an impression.

“Kunasilan has shown he is capable of delivering in the SEA Games. He won the Malaysian Open title by beating Vietnam and Indonesian fighters,” said the coach.

“Like the rest of the seniors, he is also capable of contributing a point to the team.”

The women's team will be led by Asian Championships gold medallist Vasantha Marial. Her teammates are G. Yamini, G. Vathana and Jamaliah Jamaluddin.

The women's team took silver behind Japan in the Asian Championships in Macau in August but Arivalagan felt Malaysia would not find it easy against their strongest rivals Vietnam.

Mahendran and the now retired S. Premila were the only Malaysian exponents to win gold medals in the last Games in Vietnam two years ago. The duo were triumphant in the Open categories.

The karate squad will be looking for a better harvest this time. Although the Malaysia Karate Federation (Makaf) have only targeted four golds from them, Arivalagan felt that his charges were capable of raking in seven.

“Our exponents arrived yesterday but they have settled down.

“We have no problem because we came here early this month for three days to check out the venue first. They are just waiting for the competition to start.”

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