Shahmalarani adds a third gold as karate and esports carry Malaysia's Aichi-Nagoya campaign

NAGOYA: C. Shahmalarani won the women's under-50 kilogramme kumite event at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Wednesday, delivering Malaysia's third gold medal of the Games.

She beat Hong Kong's Tsang Yee Ting at the Toyohashi Gymnasium on a judges' decision after the bout finished 0-0.

"It's like riding a roller-coaster, but I'm very happy now. I just want to enjoy this moment because the journey was very difficult," she said.

The win came hours after Taj Izrin Aiman Taj Madira took the Gran Turismo 7 esports event at the Aichi Sky Expo, giving Malaysia two golds in a single day.

Malay Mail reported that Malaysia stood eighth on the medal table with three golds, one silver and five bronzes at the time of its report.

Karate carries the campaign

Two of Malaysia's three golds so far have come from the karate squad.

The country's first gold came from Adeola Fay Robert, who won the women's under-55 kilogramme kumite on Tuesday, ending Malaysia's 12-year wait for an Asian Games karate title.

The squad also won two bronzes on Sunday through K Thevendran in the men's under-55kg kumite and H Sureeya Sankar in the men's under-60kg kumite.

The national contingent brought 352 athletes to the Games with a target of 33 medals: six gold, seven silver and 20 bronze. The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games run until October 4.