Aira delivers gold at Asian Karate Championships

LABUAN: National junior karate exponent Nur Aneesa Aira Mohd Affendi made history for Malaysia by winning the women’s junior individual kata gold at the 24th Asian Karate Federation (AKF) Cadet, Junior and U21 Karate Championships in Amman, Jordan, on Tuesday.

The victory also saw the Labuan-born Aira end the territory’s 34-year wait for an Asian karate title since the establishment of Labuan Karate in 1992.

Labuan Karate Association president Aswadi Taba said Aira, who won bronze in the same event last year, defeated Jordan’s exponent 4-1 in the opening round before overcoming Kuwait’s athlete 5-0 in the semi-finals. 

She then went on to clinch the coveted title by sweeping past a Taiwanese exponent 4-1 in the final. 

“The achievement also highlighted the contribution of Labuan-born national kata coach Mohd Norfarhan Nordin, who has played a key role in developing Malaysia’s young kata athletes,” he said. — Bernama