Adeola delivers Malaysia’s first gold medal at Asian Games

 The Sabahan beat Iran’s Fatemeh Zahra Saeidabadi 6-4 in the final of the women’s under-55kg kumite competition.

Adeola Fay Robert (right) had earlier won the women’s under-55kg kumite semi-final against Kazakhstan’s Smasheva Bella. (National Sports Council pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Adeola Fay Robert secured Malaysia’s first gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games after winning the women’s under-55kg kumite competition.

Adeola, 20, beat Iran’s Fatemeh Zahra Saeidabadi 6-4 in the final. Her victory in Aichi, Japan, added to the two bronze medals won by the karate team on Sunday.

The Sabahan booked her place in today’s final at the Toyohashi Gymnasium after defeating Kazakhstan’s Smasheva Bella 5-4, reported Stadium Astro.

Adeola took a 4-0 lead in the championship decider before Fatemeh Zahra fought back to reduce the deficit.

However, Adeola, who won bronze at the Bangkok SEA Games last December, held her nerve to claim her maiden Asian Games gold.

The Malaysia Karate Federation had previously pledged a Proton e.MAS electric vehicle to any national athlete who won a gold medal at the Games.

Malaysia got on the Asian Games medal table on Sunday when K Thevendran claimed bronze in the men’s kumite under-55kg and H Sureeya Sankar clinched bronze in the men’s under-60kg.

Meanwhile, national wushu exponent Tan Cheong Min had to settle for the bronze medal in the women’s combined nanquan and nandao event. - FMT