Injury, long lay-off can’t stop Sharmendran from glorious outing

Shar­mendran: ‘I only had about six weeks to prepare to defend my title.’

MANY would have given up after a cartilage injury and eight months of recuperation, but not karate exponent R. Sharmendran. Even at 30, he never stopped believing in himself.

And he showed he is still a valuable asset to the national karate team by bringing home their third gold medal yesterday after beating Indonesia’s Kandou Ignatius Joshua 3-1 in the final held in Ninh Binh province.