Wednesday, December 12, 2007

SEA Games: Little glitter in karate

PETALING JAYA: Lim Lee Lee won the women's kata individual gold medal at the Kebkanjana Hall in Korat on Wednesday, see off a challenge from archrival Nguyen Hoang Ngan to win 3-2 in the final.

It was the third SEA Games final meeting between the two. Lee Lee lost to Hoang Ngan in Hanoi in 2003 but turned the tables on the Vietnamese to win in Manila 2005.

It was a silver lining -- her team-up with Thoe Ai Poh and Chin Fang Yang saw them being beaten 0-5 by two-time defending champions Vietnam in the team final.

Ku Jin Keat made it a memorable start for the national karate squad when he defended his men's individual kata title as well.

The 32-year-old, who bagged the silver medal at the Doha Asiad last year, did not face much difficulty in defeating Noel Espinola 5-0 of the Philippines in the final.

But Jin Keat failed to make it a double celebration after the men's team could only settle for the bronze.

The Star

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