Sabah lass remembers mum after silver medal joy

Isn’t she lovely: Lovelly Anne Robberth in action in the women individual kata final. — S.S.KANESAN/The Star

HER mother had always wanted to see Lovelly Ann Robberth become a success. But she died of brain tumour two years ago.

Yesterday, she would have been smiling from the heavens.

The 19-year-old Lovelly ended Malaysia’s long wait for an Asian Games medal in the women’s individual kata, taking the silver at the Linping Sports Centre Gymnasium.

The silver success was not even in Lovelly’s wildest dreams, as she is only making her debut in the Asian Games, but it matched the best achievement in the event by a Malaysian exponent.

Lim Lee Lee took silver in the women’s individual kata for Malaysia in Busan 2002. Lee Lee was also the last Malaysian to win a medal in the event, taking bronze at Guangzhou 2010.

Lovelly, from Penampang in Sabah, put up an energetic and precise routine in the second round to top her group, scoring 40.40 points to ensure a medal for the team on the first day of competition yesterday.

The pressure was off Lovelly in the final as she went up against the two-time world champion and Tokyo Olympic silver medallist Kiyou Shimizu of Japan.

The experienced 29-year-old Japanese ran away with her third straight Asian Games gold medal, scoring 42.60 against Lovelly’s final performance of 39.80.

“I did not expect this medal as this is my first time Asian Games,” said Lovelly. “It means a lot for me to be able to perform well in a multi-Games event at this level as I’ve been in the national team for less than two years.

“I’m happy I was consistent from the first round to the final. This medal is for my family and coach who have supported me from the beginning. Also to my mother who left us (two years ago)... she wanted me to achieve something in karate,” said Lovelly before she was whisked away by the team officials.

Lovelly will be competing in the women’s team event today with Naccy Nelly Evvaferra Rojin dan Niathalia Sherawinnie Yampil. The trio, who took bronze at the SEA Games in Cambodia and Asian championships in Melaka in July, are assured of a medal as only four teams are competing.

Captain R. Sharmendran’s bid for a medal in the men’s below 75kg category ended after he lost 0-8 in the bronze medal match against Nazim Nurlanov of Kyrgyzstan.

Sharmendran, in his third Asian Games, was stopped 3-4 by reigning Asian champion Nurkanat Azhikanov of Kazakhstan in the semi-finals.

Kumite exponents H. Sureeya Sankar and Zakiah Adnan will carry Malaysia’s hopes in the men’s below 60kg and women’s below 61kg categories today.