SHAH ALAM: Bold decisions to defy doctor's orders paid off in gold for Johor's karate exponents A. Leidaneswaran and S. Vaissnavi at the Malaysia Games (Sukma) on Friday (Aug 21).
As both were competing in their last Sukma, they felt compelled to take a huge risk and the gamble was worth it as they conquered the men’s kumite 67kg and women’s kumite 50kg events respectively at the IDCC in Shah Alam.
Leidaneswaran upgraded his silver medal to a long-awaited gold while Vaissnavi defended her title from the Sarawak Games two years ago.
The 21-year-old Leidaneswaran had been scheduled for surgery on his left knee due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in October, but fought through the pain to beat Sarawak’s Haziq Shamsudin 5-0.
"Although the doctor asked me to rest, I just couldn’t stop. I decided to have the surgery after my final Sukma appearance," he said.
"I didn’t want to tell my coach or anyone else that I was feeling pain, because I knew they would immediately tell me to rest and I wouldn’t have been able to compete.
"During the final, I only had one thought in my mind, and that was to push through the pain I had been dealing with to get the win."
Vaissnavi displayed pure fighting spirit as she defeated Federal Territories’ R. Tharshinny 5-2.
The 21-year-old said she suffered a serious right-knee injury last year, yet returned to competition far earlier than recommended.
"I had a full ACL tear and lateral collateral ligament (LCL) tear. The doctors told me I couldn’t compete for a year, but I was back on the mat within three months," said Vaissnavi.
"There were many who doubted me and said I would not compete again in Sukma because of my injury, but I’m proud to have proved them all wrong."
RESULTS
Kumite
Men
67kg: A. Leidaneswaran (Joh) bt Haziq Shamsudin (Swk) 5-0,
60kg: M. Patrick Jayaraj (Prk) bt Jericho Jones Jason Jr Jiliko (Sab) 1-0,
75kg: Noah Iskandar (Pah) bt Ammar Sirajudeen (Ked) 3-2.
Women
50kg: S. Vaissnavi (Joh) bt R. Tharshinny (FT) 5-2,
68kg: Mirza Athirah Sahira Mohd Faizal (Ter) bt Allyssa Audrey Anthony Tinggi (Sab) 1-0,
68kg and above: Edelweiss Franzel Fancey Sami (Swk) bt Mirza Amirah Syuhada Mohd Faizal (Ter) 3-0.
