Karate Exponents Hoping Coach Arivalagan's Contract Will Be Renewed

SERDANG, Dec 29 (Bernama) -- The national karate exponents are hoping that the National Sports Council will renew the contract of their kumite coach P. Arivalagan but will not object if a new foreign coach is enlisted as wanted by the Malaysian Karate Federation (Makaf).

Arivalagan's contract ends on Saturday.

K. Theagarajan, the gold medallist in the kumite individual 84kg category at last month's Indonesian SEA Games, said a decision on the matter would be announced next week.

"I am not opposed to the hiring of a foreign coach but I prefer that Arivalagan continues as coach. My teammates also feel the same way," he told reporters here Thursday.

He added that Arivalagan should be allowed to continue as coach, saying he (Arivalagan) was a committed and dedicated person.

He was met by reporters at a special ceremony held by Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) to honour four of its students who won gold medals at the Indonesian SEA Games.

Besides Theagarajan, the other three athletes were S. Kannathasan, a member of the men's 4x400, quartet; Liong Ming Chang (Fencing-men's Sabre team) and Koo Chee Zhong (Wushu- men's Nandao/Nangun).

The four received scholarships worth RM5,500 each.

-- BERNAMA

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