Top foreign exponents to spar with SEA Games- bound squad

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 28 -- With the sparring partner problem resolved, the national karate squad can now focus on their preparations for the Philippines SEA Games in November. 

National coach Ali Reza Souleymani said the National Sports Council (NSC) has agreed to the proposal in bringing foreign karate exponents to spar with SEA Games trainees in October.

And with this decision made, the Iranian coach can now shift his focus on beefing up preparations for the biennial Games from Nov 30-Dec 11 by having higher-quality sparring exponents from Iran and Asia to help them out. 

"In our training for the SEA Games, everything is okay so far. But to be medal contenders we need something more, more exposure in competitions as well as sparring partners.

"We have two gold medal prospects as well as others who also have a chance to win medals. But we need sparring partners that can suite our exponents like A. Somanroy who need tall opponents for training," he told reporters at the TEAM Malaysia press conference today.

The Malaysia Karate Federation (Makaf) has set a target of four golds at the SEA Games.

Ali Reza who is back for the second time after Makaf terminated Latvian coach Andris Vasiljevs’ contract, admitted that he was leading an inexperienced team to the Philippines but he believes that his charges will deliver.

"My athletes are all young and inexperienced. But they have improved. I hope in this three months before the SEA Games, we get to participate in some competitions," he added.

Meanwhile, 2018 Asian Games bronze medalist, Prem Kumar admitted the team needed sparring partners to gauge their performances. 

With three months left before the start of the games, Prem said he personally needed some form of competition to test his level of readiness.

"Many of the rival nations are strong, and anything can happen. Anyway, sports is subjective, we cannot base our competition on quality alone. What is important is sparring and exposure in competitions," he said.

Prem is a gold medal hopeful in the under-55kg kumite category, followed by A.Somanroy in the +84kg category and P Madhuri in the women's 50kg.

The Malaysian karate squad emerged overall champions in the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games after scooping seven gold, two silver and three bronze medals. 

-- BERNAMA