Karate: Shahmalarani eyes Asian Games after defending regional title

National karate champion C. Shahmalarani is setting her sights on the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, despite recently defending her gold medal at the 2026 Southeast Asian Karate Federation Championship. Shahmalarani secured the gold in the women's kumite under 50kg category. She views her Southeast Asian victory as a positive step after a long break, but recognizes the Asian Games present a far greater challenge.

"The level in Southeast Asia and Asia is very different," Shahmalarani told Mingguan Malaysia. "In Asia, there are athletes from Japan, Kazakhstan, Jordan, and many others who are world champions in my category. The challenge is much harder, but I feel I am on the right track."

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The level in Southeast Asia and Asia is very different. In Asia, there are athletes from Japan, Kazakhstan, Jordan, and many others who are world champions in my category. The challenge is much harder, but I feel I am on the right track.

She noted that the dominance of Asian athletes on the world stage, with four semi-finalists at the recent World Championships hailing from the continent, underscores the intense competition. Shahmalarani emphasized that no single country can be considered the sole contender, as top athletes from various nations are consistently performing at a high level. "If you want to win gold, you ultimately have to beat all the best contenders. It's not an easy task, but I believe it can be done," she stated.

Shahmalarani's successful defense of her SEAKF title involved a 2-1 victory over Vietnam's Pham Thi Dao in the final. She admitted to adopting a cautious approach, competing against a Vietnamese athlete on home soil.

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If you want to win gold, you ultimately have to beat all the best contenders. It's not an easy task, but I believe it can be done.