Puvaneswaran eyes medal

14/11/2002

BUSAN Asian Games gold medallist R. Puvaneswaran has set himself a stiff
target in the 16th World Karate Championships in Madrid, Spain from Nov
19-24.
He wants to break the Malaysian duck in the 16th Edition, as no
Malaysian karate exponent has ever won a medal before.
"It will be extremely difficult to win a medal in the World
Championships because each category will at least have 80 to 90 exponents,
but I aim to give it my best shot and return with a medal," said
Puvaneswaran after receiving the Jalur Gemilang from Sports Minister Datuk
Hishammuddin Hussein Onn yesterday.
Thirteen have been selected for the World Championships in Spain, and
the Malaysian Karate-do Federation (Makaf) believes it has the exponents
capable of breaking the country's medal drought in the World
Championships.
Asian Games and Asian championship gold medallist Puvaneswaran, along
with the women kumite exponents, have been earmarked as potential
medallist in this year's edition.
Puvaneswaran, 28, from Sentul Pasar in Kuala Lumpur, came close to
winning a medal in the last World Championships in Munich, Germany, two
years ago, but lost the bout for bronze by one point to a Japanese
exponent.
"It was so close in Germany two years ago, I fought eight bouts and when
the time came for the bronze fight, I lost out by only one point. It was a
heartbreaking experience and I hope to erase it in Spain," said
Puvaneswaran.
Puvaneswaran kept the promise he made to Malaysians and himself four
years ago when he delivered the nation's fifth gold medal of the Busan
Asian Games by clinching the 55kg kumite gold by beating Otabek Kasimov of
Uzbekistan.
Rated a gold medal prospect in Bangkok `98, Puvaneswaran returned to KL
with nothing when he was disqualified in the bronze medalplay-off.
So, after erasing the Bangkok nightmare, he plans to do the same in
Spain.
The women kumite exponents - Asian Games gold medallist S. Premila, M.
Sri Rajarajeswari and Agnes Tan - have also been earmarked to deliver
medals in the World Championships.
SQUAD - MEN: Ku Jin Keat (individual and team kata), Yeoh Swee King
(men's team kata), Cheah Boon Chong (men's team kata), R. Puvaneswaran
(60kg), Lim Yoke Wai (65kg), A. Alexander (70kg), S. Mahendran (75kg).
Women: Lim Lee Lee (indvidual team kata), Jacklyn Chng (women's team
kata), Thoe Ai Poh (women's team kata), M. Sri Rajarajeswari (53kg), S.
Premila (60kg), Agnes Tan Sze Ching (60kg).
(END)