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Yamini Hopes To Kick Her Way To Third Consecutive SEA Games Gold Medal

By Ahmad Erwan Othman

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 24 (Bernama) -- Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games silver medallist and SEA Games defending champion G. Yamini hopes to kick her way to her third gold medal in the women's Kumite Under 61kg category at the 2011 SEA Games in Indonesia.

Yamini, fresh from a bronze medal feat at the recent Asian Championships in China, will be among national karate exponents who will be competing in an Asian level competition and two other competitions in Europe, to prepare for the SEA Games from Nov 11 to 25.

The 30-year-old Yamini, who bagged two gold medals at the Laos SEA Games in 2009, will be no stranger to competition in Indonesia since she had won the U-61kg category in the Indonesian Open Championships in Jakarta in May.

The seasoned karate exponent said 10 exponents, including her would be competing in a number of international friendly competitions in Japan and later proceed to Switzerland and Turkey for training and competitions.

"Coach P. Arivalagan had informed us of the prospect and I can't wait to see action again.

"The competition in Switzerland will be the Basler Open during the first week of September while another training-cum competition stint will start in mid-September in Istanbul, Turkey," she told Bernama.

Though she is regarded a gold medal prospect, especially after winning gold medals in the Korat SEA Games in 2007 and Laos two years ago, she expects stiff competition from Vietnam and host country, Indonesia.

"Being a subjective combat sports, we know that there might be a slight advantage for exponents from the host country in terms of judging but I do not want to allow such thoughts to disrupt my goal or focus," she said.

At the recent Asian Championships, Malaysia won a gold through Mohd Hatta Mahamut from the men's Under 84kg kumite while Yamini (61kg), Jamaliah Jamaluddin (women's above 68kg) and Loganesha Rao (men's below 55kg) contributed bronze medals.

-- BERNAMA

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