KUALA LUMPUR – With their eyes set on gold, Kelantan’s karate exponents are determined to showcase the strength of the Hayashi Ha Karate Federation at this year’s Sukma on August 17 to August 24.
The training centre, established by the Rukun Tetangga in Taman Sri Sinar, Segambut, and claimed to be in operation for over three decades, became a focal point in the sports community after it was partially demolished on August 7.
A viral video captured a large crowd attempting to prevent the demolition, which was carried out by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and the Federal Territories Land and Mines Office.
In the video, the crowd appeals to Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh to intervene, while several young karate exponents, preparing for Sukma, express concern about where they would now train for the multi-sport event.
The FT Land Office had granted the operator a 30-day grace period to remove their belongings from the premises. At the end of the video, various gym equipment and treadmills were still inside the building.
Speaking to Scoop, 18-year-old Nitellvan Thennavan said that the incident at his training centre, where he has spent years preparing for competitions, has motivated him to go all out to represent Kelantan in this year’s Sukma.
“For our sport (karate), the mood is the most important thing. When you don’t have the right mood, you can’t train properly, and you won’t know exactly what to do.
“We recently attended the flag ceremony and were hyped along with all the other Kelantanese athletes. Then, when we came back, we learned that they were going to demolish our centre.
“For me, I see this place as my second home. I have trained in many places, but this place gives me a different vibe. I will definitely not give up and leave this place that has been established for 30 years.
“It’s going to be a hard fight, but we will take it as motivation to prove ourselves with medals for the country.
“I’m down but not completely defeated, and this event will not stop me from winning medals in Sukma. I want to show the country what this place has contributed,” said Nitellvan.
Meanwhile, 18-year-old Yogith Kumar, a sports science student at University Malaya, described the demolition by DBKL as traumatising, noting the close bond he has developed with his fellow athletes at the training centre over the years.
“It’s mentally disturbing, and witnessing what happened that day was traumatising. With less than a week to Sukma and no place to train, we are risking injuries, which is concerning and disturbing.
“The longer I have trained here, the more these athletes have become like brothers and sisters. Master Thennavan Ponniyah (senior instructor) is a kind person who has helped me a lot with my university enrollment and scholarship.
“However, we are still motivated and hyped. This event has pushed us even more to prove ourselves at the upcoming Sukma,” said Yogith.
Nilambighai Murugan echoed similar sentiments, expressing concerns about safety and the risk of injury without a proper place to train for Sukma.
“I feel a bit down because we trained well last week, but since August 7, we haven’t been able to train properly. There was no electricity or fan, and we trained in the dark, which was uncomfortable.
“Everyone, including myself, is concerned about safety. We need a safe place to train. Sukma is starting next week, and if I get injured, I won’t be able to compete well.
“This is my last Sukma, and I’m more determined to win a medal. Although I didn’t start my journey at this centre, I learned a lot of my techniques here.
“I don’t have any parents, and the owners of this centre have been teaching me for free since the day I joined,” said Nilambighai.
The Hayashi Ha Karate Federation has produced several notable athletes, including Thiagu Ponniyah (Asian Junior Karate Championships gold medallist), Datuk Arivalagan Ponniyah (Asian Senior Karate Championships gold medallist), R. Puvaneswaran (two-time Asian Games gold medallist), Yamini Gopalasamy, Vasantha Marial Anthony, and Vathana Gopalasamy (Asian Senior Karate Championship gold medallist).
Historically, Kelantan has not been a top contender in karate at Sukma, with states like Selangor, Federal Territories, Sarawak, and Penang typically dominating the medal tally.
The 21st edition of Sukma is scheduled to take place from August 17 to 24, with Sarawak hosting the prestigious event for the third time, following 1990 and 2016. – August 10, 2024
