Serious business: (from left) Nathalia Sherawinnie Yampil, Naccy Nelly Evvaferra and Lovelly Anne Robberth during the women’s kata trio event. — Bernama
THREE 19-year-olds came from Sabah to Hangzhou just to gain experience. They will now go home as Asian Games medallists in karate.
The women’s kata trio of Lovelly Anne Robberth, Naccy Nelly Evvaferra and Nathalia Sherawinnie Yampil danced their way to silver on the second day of the karate competition at the Hangzhou Asian Games yesterday.
The trio scored 39.00 to deliver the only medal for Malaysian contingent yesterday while Nguyen Thi Phuong, Nguyen Ngoc Tram and Luu Thi Thu Uyen got the gold with a more polished display of 42.70.
The three Malaysian girls - who had only started training together last year - were all smiles after the final score was flashed on the scoreboard as their Vietnamese rivals hugged each other in joyous celebration.
For the record, it is the first time the team kata event is being contested at the Asian Games.
It was also Lovelly’s second silver medal in Hangzhou. She had pulled off a surprise to reach the women’s individual final before losing to two-time world champion Kiyou Shimizu of Japan on Thursday.
Malaysia advanced to the team final after beating Brunei while Vietnam overcame Cambodia earlier.
A kata performance consists of offensive and defensive movements targeting an imaginary opponent and scores are given based on the technical and athletic performance.
“I feel very satisfied with my performance and I’m very grateful. This is the first time we have gone to the final. We are young compared to the Vietnamese, who are in their 20s. They were also silver medallists behind Japan at the Asian championships three months ago (in Melaka). But Japan did not enter for this Asian Games,” said Niathalia.
Lovelly said she had been optimistic about a medal based on how they performed in training.
“We were nervous in the preliminary round as it was important for us to do well to confirm a medal for Malaysia.
“We managed to pull it off. Two silver medals, I would never dare to expect this from the start,” said Lovelly.
