BANGKOK: Malaysia’s hopes for a first gold in poomsae faced a close challenge as Nur Humaira Abdul Karim and Jason Loo Jun Wei bowed out in the SEA Games quarterfinals.
The gold medal duo was eliminated in the quarterfinals despite recording a tied score of 8.460 – but the final decision favoured Thailand at the Fashion Island Shopping Mall.
Humaira, who hails from Bintulu, Sarawak, said she and her partner competed with full confidence after winning gold at the Cambodia SEA Games edition and achieving success in several other tournaments.
“When we faced the Thai team, I felt okay, but anything can happen. Maybe it’s the luck of the host,” she said.
“The coach has done his best and so have we. We started training from the beginning of the year. We tried our best, but we couldn’t do anything more. So, things happen,” she told reporters at the tournament venue.
Humaira also shared that what made her most regretful was that this was the only event she competed in at this SEA Games edition, and she had given her all in training to bring home gold for Malaysia.
Meanwhile, the President of Taekwondo Malaysia (WT) and Sarawak Taekwondo Association (TM/WT), Azizul Annuar Adenan, said that scoring for the poomsae event is very subjective and depends on the judges.
Malaysia, however, still recorded positive progress as the country’s athlete, Chin Ken Haw, secured the second medal by winning bronze in the men’s individual freestyle poomsae category after accumulating 7.740 points.
