KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysia Karate Federation (Makaf) anticipates a wave of new talent emerging onto the international stage under the guidance of R. Sharmendran.
Sharmendran, 32, regarded as one of Malaysia’s most accomplished karateka with four SEA Games gold medals (2017 Kuala Lumpur, 2019 Manila, 2022 Hanoi, and 2023 Phnom Penh) under his belt, currently leads the national development squad on a two-year contract.
Having undergone six anterior cruciate ligament surgeries over nine years, Sharmendran was forced to retire from the sport last year.
Speaking to Scoop, Makaf president Datuk Nur Azmi Ahmad expressed his hopes for Sharmendran to cultivate the core of the national team with his players for the 2025 Bangkok and 2027 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games.
“Sharmen is currently training around 100 backup athletes in the development team, and I expect all the players he nurtures to join the senior national team before they turn 21.
“We need to ensure that we see 30 to 40% of new faces for the Bangkok SEA Games next year, and he has to start working on it with the development squad.
“At the same time, I also hope to see all karate exponents competing in the 2027 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games to be the athletes that he has produced.
“These are his KPIs, and this is what I want him to accomplish in the next two years,” said Azmi when contacted.
Meanwhile, Azmi also said that Sharmendran is well-suited for the role and has the experience to handle it effectively.
“We chose Sharmen for a reason. He wasn’t just a skilled athlete but also a very good leader during his competitive years.
“I have known him for years, and he’s a person who really knows how to connect well with the youngsters.
“I hope to see him shift his competitive aura to all the youngsters he’s currently assigned to develop.
“Makaf is known for consistently nurturing new talent each year, and we need to continue that process.
“Sharmen is the ideal person to lead the development squad, and we at Makaf are hoping for him to deliver the results that we want to see,” Azmi added.
Malaysia have been a powerhouse in karate at the SEA Games since it was introduced in 1987 in Jakarta, winning a total of 126 medals.
Aside from the SEA Games, karate has been one of the main medal prospects for Malaysia at the Asian Games.
Malaysia collected a total of 31 karate medals in the Asian Games, comprising eight golds, seven silvers, and 16 bronzes, placing the nation fourth in the all-time medal standings. – April 14, 2024