Shaharudin makes perfect comeback after eight-year break by winning 10th national title

PETALING JAYA: Shaharudin Jamaludin showed he still got the sting by claiming his 10th national karate champion title after an eight-year break.

The former SEA Games gold medallist, coached by his wife A. Nisha, punched his way to gold in the men’s above 84kg category at the National Championships in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, on Sunday.

Shaharudin, representing Hayashi Ha, defeated Kedah exponent Sirajuddin Mohd Arash 5-3 in the final.

Shaharudin earlier chalked up wins over Sarawakian Anak Haring Michael Owen (8-0), Mohd Aiman Azlan of Negri Sembilan (9-3) and Mohd Khuzairi Ismail of Police (4-0) to enter the final.

What’s astonishing is that the 37-year-old only began serious training for his campaign just three months ago with help from his wife, who was also formerly with the national kumite team.

Shaharudin, who had retired from the national team after the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games in 2017, was delighted to make a winning return to competition.

“It was more of a personal desire to get my 10th national champion title rather than thinking of making a comeback for the SEA Games again. It feels sweet to achieve this despite my age,” said Shaharudin.

“I had to stop competitive karate because of my injuries and I was already a nine-time national champion but I still kept myself fit until now.

“I had to fight in a different weight category since I have gained more weight.

“It was not easy considering I was going up against much younger exponents, all in their 20s but I used my fighting experience to handle the situation,” added Shaharudin, who currently runs a karate academy with his wife.

Prem Kumar was the only reigning SEA Games kumite champion who failed to win when he was eliminated in the second round of the men’s below 55kg category.

It was otherwise smooth sailing for Cambodia SEA Games gold medallists C. Shahmalarani and H. Sureeya Sankar, who claimed gold in the women’s below 55kg for Selangor and men’s below 60kg for Johor respectively.

Hangzhou Asian Games silver medallist Lovelly Anne Robberth also lived up to her billing by winning the women’s individual kata title for Sabah.